Psion Series 3

 Home > Browse Our Collection > Computers > Psion > Psion Series 3
 

In 1991, Psion launched their first clamshell format organiser, the Series 3, which was a major advance on the previous Psion Organiser models. The Psion 3 range of 16-bit PDA (personal digital assistants) had four main variants: the Psion 3 (1991), the Psion 3a (1993), the Psion 3c (1996), and the Psion 3mx (1998), all sized 165 x 85 x 22 mm. In addition, a Psion 3a variant with factory installed software for the Russian language was called a Psion 3aR. Acorn Computers sold a rebadged version of the Psion 3 and 3a marketed as the Acorn Pocket Book and Acorn Pocket Book II.
 
The machine featured 128K or 256K of RAM, and 384K ROM Psion containing the Psion EPOC operating system, several good office/PDA applications and the OPL programming language. They had an original way of managing files: the available program icons are shown in a horizontal line and the associated files drop down beneath them.
 
The Psion Series 3 had two SSD (Solid State Disks) drives. SSDs could be used to store any information normally stored on the internal disks as a way to provide more space for storing information, to make backup copies or a way to transfer data between Series 3. SSDs were also used for software that could be purchased for the Series 3.
 
Manufacture of the Psion 3s was discontinued in 1998 shortly after the launch of the Psion Series 5 and the Psion Siena. A Psion 4 does not exist, due to Psion's concern of tetraphobia in their Asian markets.
 
Release Date: 1991
Price: £179.00 (128kb) and £249.00 (256kb)
Processor:  Nec V30 4.7MHz   
Ram: 128 and 256 models were 
Power: Two AA, mains adapter, lithium cell back up battery   
Expansion: 2 ssd slots
Size: 165mm x 85mm x 22mm
Weight: 265gms
Screen: 240 X 80 (8 lines of 40 characters)
 
Software:  
Agenda - for appointments & things to do, as well as birthdays and anniversaries
Data - for names & addresses (or any other database use)
Time - for alarms
Calculator   - for simple & scientific calculations
World - shows a map, world times & dialling codes 
Word - for writing letters & other documents, Spellchecker
Sheet - for tables, spreadsheets & graphs (SSD)
Sketch - for drawing simple sketches
Program - editor for writing your own programs
 
This example in our collection is the 256K model and comes with its original box, User Guide and Programming Manual.

 

Psion Series 3

 

 

Help support the museum by buying from the museum shop

View all items

Founding Sponsors
redgate Google ARM Real VNC Microsoft Research
Heritage Lottery Funded
Heritage Lottery Fund
Accredited Museum