Remembering the Psion 5mx and Designing a Modern Version

This is the classy Psion 5mx badge. The 5mx saw the light of day in the late 1990s. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

This is the classy Psion 5mx badge. The 5mx saw the light of day in the late 1990s. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx closed [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx closed [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx's slide-forward keyboard and lean back display made it very easy to use. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx’s slide-forward keyboard and lean back display made it very easy to use. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

Here the 5mx is either in the process of being opened or closed. That black thing on the extreme right bottom of the case is the top of the stylus, called a "pen" in Psion 5mx-speak. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

Here the 5mx is either in the process of being opened or closed. That black thing on the extreme right bottom of the case is the top of the stylus, called a "pen" in Psion 5mx-speak. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

Front view of the Psion 5mx fully opened [Photo by Barry Gerber]

Front view of the Psion 5mx fully opened [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx had a full set of buttons for recording and playing back speech. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

The 5mx had a full set of buttons for recording and playing back speech. [Photo by Barry Gerber]

A page from the Psion 5mx manual shows some of the features and functionality of the device. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

A page from the Psion 5mx manual shows some of the features and functionality of the device. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

Another page from the manual shows the applications, how to use the control panel, calibrate the touch screen and set the time. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

Another page from the manual shows the applications, how to use the control panel, calibrate the touch screen and set the time. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

This page shows the location of key parts of the Psion 5mx. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

This page shows the location of key parts of the Psion 5mx. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

And, this page from the 5mx manual shows what's going on on the back of the device. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

And, this page from the 5mx manual shows what’s going on on the back of the device. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

Here's more on the location of various components in the Psion 5mx from the manual. Note the device used CompactFlash cards for additional memory. [Capture by Barry Gerber]

Here’s more on the location of various components in the Psion 5mx from the manual. Note the device used CompactFlash cards for additional memory. [Capture by Barry Gerber]