Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!mcsun!ukc!edcastle!hwcs!adrian
From: adrian@cs.hw.ac.uk (Adrian Hurt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Psion Organiser Sale
Message-ID: <2872@odin.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Date: 29 Apr 91 16:23:59 GMT
References: <11397@uwm.edu> <140400008@cdp>
Sender: news@cs.hw.ac.uk
Organization: Computer Science, Heriot-Watt U., Scotland
Lines: 41

In article <140400008@cdp> vgl@cdp.UUCP writes:
>
>Anthony!  Both EduCalc 1-800-2252, ext. 250 and Personal Computing Tools
>1-800-767-6728 have accesaries for the Psion Organiser.  EduCalc seems
>to be slightly cheaper.  One thing to note about the Damark deal. . . 
>the model # is Organiser II cm. and it has a 2 line by 16 character
>display and 8K of Ram.  This differs from the model # LZ which had
>either 32K or 64K Ram.

As previously noted, the LZ variants have 4 lines of 20 characters.  The
LZ64 is the one with 64K RAM.

There are several disadvantages to the CM, quite apart from the fact that
the machine uses some RAM for its own purposes so you don't even get all
8K to play with.  (And you can use up 8K very soon, I can tell you!)
There are several types of plug-in modules to add memory.  Datapaks come
in several sizes, vayRying from 8K to 128K.  Except that the CM can't use
the 128K version; the biggest it will use is 64K.  Datapaks each contain
a CMOS EPROM of the appropriate size, plus a little supporting PCB.  There
are also Rampaks, which as the name suggests use battery backed CMOS RAM
instead of the EPROM.  These are 32K.  Unfortunately, the CM won't accept
them at all.

There are several advantages to the LZ types, apart from the better display.
They have larger OS ROMs, and a lot of extra features.  Among these are
world time and telephone dialling codes; a notepad with a built-in limited
calculator; password protection, both for notepad files and for the whole
machine; and a few utilities, including sound toggle, optional French or
German main menu, and directory of all files.

Conclusion: if you're buying an Organiser, don't bother with the CM.  If
possible, get one of the LZ types.  The 32K LZ is not much more expensive
than the 32K XP, and well worth the extra.

Disclaimer: I don't work for Psion.  I do own both an LZ64 and an XP, and
will answer questions by email.

 "Keyboard?  How quaint!" - M. Scott

 Adrian Hurt			     |	JANET:  adrian@uk.ac.hw.cs
 UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!adrian     |  ARPA:   adrian@cs.hw.ac.uk