Psion Netbook
Encyclopedia
The Psion netBook is a small subnotebook
type computer developed by Psion. Released in 1999, it was aimed at the mobile enterprise
market.
SA-1100 processor and a QWERTY
keyboard. The RAM is upgradeable through the addition of an extra 32 MB chip. The netBook is powered by a removable Lithium Ion rechargeable battery, giving a battery life of between eight and ten hours.
The netBook runs the EPOC ER5 operating system
(the predecessor of SymbianOS). Unlike the Psion Series 7, the netBook operating system runs from RAM. A Java
run time environment, conforming to Java version 1.1.8, is available.
In October 2003 Psion Teklogix announced the NETBOOK PRO, replacing the original netBook. This was similar to the earlier model, but upgraded with a 16-bit colour SVGA (800 × 600 pixel) display, 128 MB of RAM, and a 400 MHz Intel XScale
PXA255 processor running Windows CE
.NET 4.2 instead of EPOC. It is also possible to run Linux
on this model.
An open source project OpenPsion, formerly PsiLinux, aims to port Linux
to the Psion netBook and other Psion PDAs.
Intel began use of the term netbook
in March 2008 as a generic term to describe "small laptops that are designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet", believing they were "not offering a branded line of computers here" and "see no naming conflict".
In response to the growing use of this term, on 23 December 2008 Psion Teklogix sent cease and desist letters to various parties including enthusiast website(s) demanding they no longer use the term "netbook".
Similar marks were rejected by the USPTO citing a "likelihood of confusion" under section 2(d), including 'G NETBOOK' ( rejected 31 October 2008), MSI
's 'WIND NETBOOK' and Coby Electronics' 'COBY NETBOOK' ( rejected 13 January 2009)
Subnotebook
A subnotebook is a class of laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical laptop....
type computer developed by Psion. Released in 1999, it was aimed at the mobile enterprise
Mobile Enterprise
Mobile enterprise is general term to describe a corporation or large organization that supports critical business functions and use of business applications via wireless mobile devices...
market.
Description
Similar in design to the later, consumer-oriented Psion Series 7, the netBook has a clamshell design, a VGA-resolution touch-sensitive colour screen, 32 MB RAM, 190 MHz StrongARMStrongARM
The StrongARM is a family of microprocessors that implemented the ARM V4 instruction set architecture . It was developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later sold to Intel, who continued to manufacture it before replacing it with the XScale....
SA-1100 processor and a QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard. The RAM is upgradeable through the addition of an extra 32 MB chip. The netBook is powered by a removable Lithium Ion rechargeable battery, giving a battery life of between eight and ten hours.
The netBook runs the EPOC ER5 operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
(the predecessor of SymbianOS). Unlike the Psion Series 7, the netBook operating system runs from RAM. A Java
Java Virtual Machine
A Java virtual machine is a virtual machine capable of executing Java bytecode. It is the code execution component of the Java software platform. Sun Microsystems stated that there are over 4.5 billion JVM-enabled devices.-Overview:...
run time environment, conforming to Java version 1.1.8, is available.
In October 2003 Psion Teklogix announced the NETBOOK PRO, replacing the original netBook. This was similar to the earlier model, but upgraded with a 16-bit colour SVGA (800 × 600 pixel) display, 128 MB of RAM, and a 400 MHz Intel XScale
Intel XScale
The XScale, a microprocessor core, is Intel's and Marvell's implementation of the ARMv5 architecture, and consists of several distinct families: IXP, IXC, IOP, PXA and CE . Intel sold the PXA family to Marvell Technology Group in June 2006....
PXA255 processor running Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
.NET 4.2 instead of EPOC. It is also possible to run Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
on this model.
An open source project OpenPsion, formerly PsiLinux, aims to port Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
to the Psion netBook and other Psion PDAs.
Included software
- Agenda – a personal information managementPersonal information managementPersonal information management refers to the practice and the study of the activities people perform in order to acquire, organize, maintain, retrieve and use information items such as documents , web pages and email messages for everyday use to complete tasks and fulfill a person’s various...
program - Bombs – a minesweeperMinesweeper (computer game)Minesweeper is a single-player video game. The object of the game is to clear an abstract minefield without detonating a mine. The game has been written for many system platforms in use today....
game - Calc – a calculator
- Comms – a terminal emulatorTerminal emulatorA terminal emulator, terminal application, term, or tty for short, is a program that emulates a video terminal within some other display architecture....
- Contacts – a contacts manager
- Data – a flat-file database program
- Email – an email, SMS and fax client
- Jotter – a multipage scratchpad
- NetStatRF – a WiFiWIFIWIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
card monitor - Program – an OPLOpen programming languageThe Open Programming Language is an embedded programming language for portable devices that run the Symbian Operating System, which can be found on e.g. the Nokia 9200, 9300 and 9500 Communicator series mobile telephone/personal digital assistant and the Sony Ericsson P800, P900, P910 series...
program editor - Record – a voice recording program, for use with the in-built microphone
- Sheet – a spreadsheetSpreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
and graphing package - Sketch – a drawing program (for use with the touch-screen interface)
- Spell – a spellchecker, thesaurusThesaurusA thesaurus is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning , in contrast to a dictionary, which contains definitions and pronunciations...
and anagramAnagramAn anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
program - Time – a world clock and alarm program
- OperaOpera (web browser)Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
– a web browser - Word – a word-processor
The "Netbook" trademark
Psion registered the trademark NETBOOK in various territories, including European Union and , which was applied for on 18 December 1996 and registered by USPTO on 21 November 2000. They used this trademark for the netBook product, discontinued in November 2003, and from October 2003, the NETBOOK PRO, later also discontinued.Intel began use of the term netbook
Netbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
in March 2008 as a generic term to describe "small laptops that are designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet", believing they were "not offering a branded line of computers here" and "see no naming conflict".
In response to the growing use of this term, on 23 December 2008 Psion Teklogix sent cease and desist letters to various parties including enthusiast website(s) demanding they no longer use the term "netbook".
Similar marks were rejected by the USPTO citing a "likelihood of confusion" under section 2(d), including 'G NETBOOK' ( rejected 31 October 2008), MSI
Micro-Star International
Micro-Star International Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based electronics company and one of the world's largest motherboard and video card manufacturers.-Overview:MSI is one of the top three motherboard and video card manufacturers worldwide...
's 'WIND NETBOOK' and Coby Electronics' 'COBY NETBOOK' ( rejected 13 January 2009)
External links
- Psion Teklogix website
- Psion Teklogix – EOL products