Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Aha, you've been thinking along exactly the same lines as me.
    
    For those who don't know, the Psion organiser is a 'pocket computer'
    that looks rather like an oversize calculator. It comes with a 16
    by 4 line display, 32 or 64k, and you can plug EPROM or battery
    backed RAM  'datapaks' into two slots on the back, each upto 128k.
    It has some nice software built in dor diary, database, alarms etc.
    and a wide range of software available on datapak. What makes it
    really powerful is the built in programming language, OPL, a procedure
    based language a little like pascal. The 'comms link' is a hardware/
    software plug in which adds RS232 capability.
                  
    I bought the comms link last week, intending to use it to
    
    a) print from the organiser
    b) upload/download both in the office and on the bridge board of
    my 2000 at home. The comms link supports the xmodem protocol and
    a special psion protocol for use with a PC (or Macintosh, a new
    feature), that incorporates error checking and allows communication
    to be controlled entirely from the organiser while the PC is
    unattended. I had visions of running my Amiga (well, bridge board)
    remotely over the phone using the organiser as a terminal. I thought
    if I wanted any Amiga files it would be easier to go through the
    bridge and have only one cable link than to worry about Amiga software
    and xmodem. 
                                      
    I was in London last week and took the oppotunity to have a couple
    of hours at Personal Computer Show. I was really interested to see
    how many companies were supporting the psion with software etc.
    There were a nice line of very expensive leather cases for combined
    filofax/psion - very yuppyish. However one stall was offering a
    new Comms package for the Amiga which supported Psion file transfers
    and remote operation. I take this to mean it supports the psion
    protocol. It is called K-Comm2 - which I think is a development
    froman older product. It was not on show, they said it had only
    started shippping two days ago. Howver there was a special show
    price of #29.95, so I took a risk and ordered it. I didn't think
    to ask about the wiring and hot pin problem, but I guess that should
    be explained in the documentation.
    
    Hope this helps. Bear in mind I've had the comms link 3 days, and
    haven't got the K-Comm software yet. When I make progress I'll let
    you know.
    
    Colin
     

    Actually the Organiser is quite popular in Holland and Belgium.
    The cheapest place I know for Psion goods is Amsterdam Schipol airport
    duty free.
    
    Colin

    I thought of buying one at Heathrow when I went through there earlier
    in the year, but they were pretty expensive. 
    
    These days the Japanese (Sharp, Casio) are offering calculator size
    gadgets with similar type of functionality (that's if I understand
    the function of the Organiser)
    
    Regards
    	Mike
    	Down-Under

    Most of these are not a patch on the Psion, since they are usually
    dedicated function, with no built in programming facility. The only
    rough equivalent I know of is the Sinclair Z88, which is A4 size
    with a full QWERTY keyboard. There are some great add-ons for the
    psion as well -like a developers pack (PC based) and, new, a radio
    paging add-on.
    
    Colin

I've just answered my own question.... I visited the local Psion dealer
and asked him to open up a comms link box. Good news, the only pins connected
on the comms link DB25 connector are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 20.

				Alan T.
    

>    rough equivalent I know of is the Sinclair Z88, which is A4 size

That wouldn't be the big brother of the Sinclair ZX81, would it?

I cut my computer teeth on one of those keyboard totin' Z80's :-)

John

I don't think that the Z88 and the ZX81 share much other than the Z and 8 :-)

Seriously,  the Z88 is a protable battery powered "notebook" computer which
weighs 4 lbs., has an 8x80 lcd screen and a raft of useful software in ROM
including BBC basic, an integrated spreadsheet/WP, and a VT52 emulator.

I'm really happy with mine except that lately its decided to go and eat 
batteries on me so I need to send it in and get it fixed.

    Actually I think the Z88 is properly called the Cambridge Z88, not
    the Sinclair Z88, although it is made by that same well known
    eccentric, Clive Sinclair. The story for those who don't know: Clive
    Sinclair made tons of money being the first on the market in the
    UK with a whole string of things ie. hand held calculators (1970?),
    digital watches (remember them), and finally made a killing on the
    ZX range (80, 81, Spectrum). He poured most of this into a project
    to develop an electric car with a lot of hype. When it turned up,
    it was actually a plastic eggshell on go-kart wheels, powered by
    a washing machine motor, top speed about 3 mph, and you had to be
    a contortionist to steer the thing (the handle bars were underneath
    your knees!) It wa also banned in many places on safety grounds.
    Maybe he was just a little ahead of his time?
    
    Anyway, the losses meant he had to sell out to Amstrad, who now
    have the rights to his name. They must be kicking themselves that
    there was no anti-competion clause (or was there?). Clive also has
    rumoured activities on a new RISC chip set a la Acorn.
       
    Colin

Pray tell, how many � for one of these Psion Organizers?

(If it is less than �100 I'll kick myself)

						Mark

    
    Prepare thy butt.
    
    Model CM   (32k ROM,  8k ram, slots for 2 x  64k datapacks) = #79.95
    Model XP   (32k ROM, 32k ram, slots for 2 x 128k datapacks) = #109.95
    Model LZ   (64k ROM, 32k ram,   "    "     "        "     ) = ~#150
    Model LZ64 (64k ROM, 64k ram,   "    "     "        "     ) = ~#190
    
    Don't kick too hard.......
    
    					Alan T.

    Got the KComm2 software yesterday. It supports psion connection
    using xmodem (not,as I thought it might, the proprietary psion
    protocol).
    
    The program seems to a morethan usually 'intuitionised', even if
    not 'intuitive' comms program. Probably no better than any other
    for psion connection.
    
    Colin