Gemini PDA vs actual PSION
==========================

I have been preparing a proper review of the Gemini PDA [1] for my blog
but it is still far from finished. So I decided to summarize some of my
observation here.

---

I recently used  the Gemini PDA [1]  for a week and now  I have started
the old  PSION Series  3a for  comparison. It  is a  bit unfair  as the
Gemini uses keyboard which is similar to the Series 5 and not to Series
3. Also,  the Series  5 has a  touchscreen (stylus-controlled)  and the
Series 3 do not have (nor need) one.


I can  write text on the  3a when I hold  it in hands (have  to type by
thumbs). I cannot  do it with the  Gemini. It is not a  problem off the
keyboard  itself. The  problem  with Gemini  is that  it  is not  stiff
enough. The hinges are not strong  and screen is moving during typing..
I fear that I  can broke the device this way (it  might be only feeling
but it makes use too uncomfortable). The 3a is perfectly stiff The same
problem is when it sits on the  desk - the Gemini is moving (especially
when the topmost row is used) and the 3a is stable.

The screen  is better  on the  Gemini. Much better,  I mean  (very well
readable).

Keyboard control: the 3a wins here as many apps in the Android (and the
OS shell  itself) require touch  control. It  is better than  which the
Series 5 (where  stylus has to be  used) but I still hate  to touch the
screen  in situations  when  keyboard shortcut  should  be faster.  For
example,  one can  open  new window  in the  Firefox  (Ctrl+T) but  the
address bar  is inactive and one  has to touch  it in order to  be able
enter the  URL (or any other  text). The Chrome is  not better... (only
the Firefox Focus is an exception).

And, of course, many Android apps do not work well in landscape - large
areas  of the  screen are  covered by  labels, tool,  bars and  so (the
Evernote is  almost useless )  or the  minimal font sizes  are computed
from screen width and thus they are absurdly big (WWW browsers).

There are some  nice apps, though: the Termux work  perfectly and makes
terminal (cli) apps to  be very usable. I read the  Gopher in Termux as
there is the  Lynx. I even removed Overbite because  the Lynx is simply
better.  By the  way  the  applications inside  the  Termux can  access
standard directories  like the  Documents which makes  integration with
the rest of system easier.

The  Agenda App  (a clone  of Series  5 Agenda)  is not  bad and  it is
optimized for  the device  but I  have to  test it  more (I  never felt
comfortable with PSION Agenda programs, though).

The battery life of the Series 3a is of course better but the Gemini is
not bad - off-line it can survive week of light use without charging.



References:

[1] http://planetcom.co.uk
[2] gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Psion%20Series%203