Psion Revo
 | |
| A Psion Revo | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Psion |
| Manufacturer | Psion |
| Type | Clamshell palmtop / PDA |
| Released | November 1999 |
| Discontinued | 2003 |
| CPU | ARM710T @ 36.864 MHz |
| Memory | 8 MB RAM; 8 MB ROM |
| Storage | Internal RAM disk only; no memory card slot |
| Display | 480 × 160 greyscale LCD with reflective backing, touch-sensitive; no backlight |
| Sound | Loudspeaker, ½ W 8 Ω |
| Power | 2 × internal AAA NiMH rechargeable cells (650 mAh); 6 V DC mains adaptor |
| Dimensions | 157 mm × 79 mm × 18 mm |
| Weight | 200 g |
| OS / Firmware | EPOC Release 5 (Symbian) |
| Predecessor | Psion Series 5mx |
| Successor | Conan (prototype, never released) |
| Model no. | Psion Revo Plus; Diamond Mako; Chinese-market 618C and 618S |
The Psion Revo is a clamshell palmtop computer released by Psion in November 1999. It runs EPOC Release 5 on the same 36 MHz ARM710T processor as the Psion Series 5mx and runs the same software, in a case of 157 × 79 × 18 mm weighing 200 g, against the 5mx's 354 g.[1][2] Compared with the Series 5 and 5mx, the Revo has a smaller 480 × 160 screen, no memory card slot, no backlight, and two internal rechargeable NiMH cells in place of user-replaceable AA batteries.[1][2]
History
The Revo was launched in November 1999 with 8 MB of RAM, and was followed by the Psion Revo Plus with 16 MB and a larger battery. SONICblue sold the Revo Plus in the United States and Canada as the Diamond Mako, and Psion and Enfour made two Chinese-market versions, the 618C (traditional characters) and 618S (simplified characters).[1]
A successor, codenamed Conan, was close to completion when Psion left the consumer PDA market. It ran EPOC Release 6 and was to have Bluetooth and a backlight, although Bluetooth did not work in the development builds.[1]
The OpenPsion project (formerly PsiLinux) ports Linux to Psion machines including the Revo, and Revol is a version of OpenPsion optimised for the Revo.[1]
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | 32-bit ARM710T core, 36.864 MHz |
| ROM | 8 MB (Psion's handbook gives 8 MB or 16 MB depending on model) |
| RAM | 8 MB (16 MB on the Revo Plus) |
| Display | 480 × 160 greyscale, reflective backing, 125 × 48 mm viewing area; touch-sensitive, with 9 program icons and 5 command icons beside the screen. No backlight. |
| Keyboard | 53-key QWERTY |
| Sound | Loudspeaker, ½ W, 8 Ω |
| Storage | Internal RAM disk; no memory card slot |
| Communications | RS-232-compatible serial link through the docking station, up to 115,200 baud; infrared |
| Batteries | Two internal AAA NiMH rechargeable cells, 650 mAh |
| Mains adaptor | 6 V DC ±10 %, 500 mA |
| Size and weight | 157 × 79 × 18 mm, 200 g |
| Operating temperature | +5 °C to +40 °C |
| Storage temperature | −10 °C to +40 °C |
| Operating system | EPOC Release 5 |
The Revo is software-compatible with the 5mx and has office and communications programs in ROM. Other programs are installed from a desktop computer through the docking station.[1]
Battery and charging
The Revo's two AAA NiMH cells are inside the case under the lid nameplate, not in a battery compartment. They are charged from Psion's 6 V mains adaptor, either through the docking station or through the power socket at the rear of the machine.[2][3]
Charging, as Psion describes it:[2]
- The Revo fast-charges to 85 % in about 1½ hours from empty, with the red light below the Esc key lit, then trickle-charges with the red light off.
- The first charge, and the first charge after a hard reset, should be a full one, which can take up to 6 hours. It sets up the battery gauge.
- Once fully charged, the Revo does not start charging again until it is disconnected from the adaptor and reconnected.
- A full charge gives typically 12 hours of continuous use. Switched off, the Revo uses about 1 % of its charge per day and keeps its data for up to 6 weeks. When the battery has run down there is enough left to keep the data for about 2 weeks.
The charge controller finds its calibration point by detecting a thermal change in the cells at about 84 % of indicated capacity. Kevin Millican's charging notes advise against putting a Revo on charge above about 84 %, because the charger may then fail to drop to trickle charge; any level between 10 % and 80 % is fine.[4] The cells are NiMH, and nothing else is recommended as a replacement.[1]
A small number of 8 MB Revos had battery packs whose cells were a loose fit and could shake loose, resetting the machine and losing all data. Psion's fix was to replace the undersize cells and glue the new ones in place.[4] On older machines the battery connection cable can wear and develop a high resistance, which switches the machine off under heavy load even with the gauge above 50 %.[4]
The replacement procedure, including the full recalibration charge afterwards, is on the Psion Revo Battery Replacement page.
Backlight pads
The Revo has no backlight. R3UK's David Savery, taking apart his Revo Plus, found pads marked EL+ and EL− under black tape on the screen PCB, but measured no voltage across them, AC or DC, with the machine on or after pressing Fn+Space, the Series 5 backlight key combination.[3]
Documentation
- Psion Revo Handbook, version 1.1, February 2000 (PDF): Psion's user guide, with the charging instructions, care and safety, troubleshooting and reset procedures, and the specification.[2]
- Psion published no service manual or schematic for the Revo.
General maintenance
Cleaning, charging practice and storage. See the Psion Revo General Maintenance guide.
Troubleshooting
Charging and battery faults, resets and other symptoms. See the Psion Revo Troubleshooting Guide.
Battery replacement
Opening the case under the nameplate and replacing the two AAA cells. See Psion Revo Battery Replacement.
Related pages
- Psion Revo General Maintenance
- Psion Revo Troubleshooting Guide
- Psion Revo Battery Replacement
- Psion Revo Plus
- Psion Series 5mx
- Psion Series 5
- Battery Refurbishment
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Psion Revo", Wikipedia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Psion Computers PLC, Psion Revo Handbook, version 1.1, February 2000, part no. 6070 0001 01: "Getting started" (pp. 14–18), "Care & safety" (pp. 196–198), "Troubleshooting" (pp. 200–203) and "Specification" (p. 206). Hosted on this wiki as File:Psion Revo Handbook (February 2000).pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 David Savery, "Psion Revo/Diamond Mako Disassembly & Battery Replacement", R3UK, 9 August 2004.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kevin Millican, "Revo Battery Information", 25 May 2003.