1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
106 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown
106 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: PSION Series 3
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Pocket
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origins:
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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1991'
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cpus:
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- NEC V30H
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params:
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name: Series 3
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_series3_system_s2.jpg
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company: /companies/psion
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company_name: PSION
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Series 3
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: PSION
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- label: TYPE
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value: Pocket
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1991'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1999'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: OPL
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: 58-key QWERTY
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- label: CPU
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value: NEC V30H
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- label: SPEED
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value: 'S3: 3.84MHz, S3a: 7.68MHz'
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- label: RAM
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value: 'S3: 128-256K, S3a: 256K-2MB'
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- label: ROM
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value: 'S3: 384K, S3a: 1MB'
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 'S3: 8 lines x 40 chars, S3a: 16 lines x 80 chars'
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 'S3: 240x80, S3a: 480x160'
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- label: COLORS
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value: 'S3: B/W LCD, S3a: Black, Grey & White (3 "colours")'
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- label: SOUND
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value: 'S3: Buzzer, S3a: Loudspeaker, 2 channels or samples'
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 165 (W) x 85 (H) x 22 (D) mm
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Proprietary - RS232 & Centronics adapters available
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- label: OS
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value: EPOC16
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: 2 AA batteries or mains
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Proprietary memory expansions
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- label: PRICE
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value: 'S3: £179.00 to £249.00, S3a: £269.00 to £399.00'
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tabs:
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- photos
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- software
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forum_thread: 1175
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photos:
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- title: LARGE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Jonathan Barnes**
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_series3_system_s1.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: CARD GAME
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Thanks to Damian Walker for this screenshot
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_series3_ss_acespace.png
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- title: GAME
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Thanks to Damian Walker for this screenshot
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_series3_ss_crissx.png
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- title: GAME
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Thanks to Damian Walker for this screenshot
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_series3_ss_epo.png
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- title: GAME
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Thanks to Damian Walker for this screenshot
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_series3_ss_jumpy.png
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- title: GAME
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Thanks to Damian Walker for this screenshot
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_series3_ss_slider.png
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oc_id: 1207
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608221205/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1207
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date: '2023-06-08'
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---
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In 1991, Psion launched their first clamshell format organiser, the Series 3. It featured a NEC V30H 8086-compatible processor running at 3.84MHz. The machine featured 128K or 256K of RAM, and into its 384K ROM Psion fit their EPOC operating system (as used in the MC 200 & 400 models, upgraded with new features), several good office/PDA applications and the OPL programming language.
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In 1993 the Series 3a was launched. Despite the insignificant change in version number, this was a major upgrade: 256K or 512K RAM, double the processor speed, a much bigger LCD screen and upgraded sound capable of playing back digital samples at 8-bit or 13-bit quality. The 1MB ROM included new applications: a spreadsheet and a much upgraded Agenda package comparable to agenda/diary applications on desktop machines. 1MB and 2MB models were added later, and included a Patience game.
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The Series 3 range of computers continued to be developed until 1998, when the model 3mx was released. This model was discontinued in 1999. Much of their software was ported to the Series 5 range, which was produced between 1997 and 2001, and some of the software, especially the built-in programming language OPL, is still being used and developed in Symbian mobile phones (Series 60, etc.), which are the descendants of the Psion PDA software architecture.
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Thanks to **Damian Walker** for the information, **Jonathan Barnes** for the picture.
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