The PsiXpda fits a netbook specification into a device the size of a portable media player
The PsiXpda is a tiny computer that squeezes a full PC specification into a form factor small enough to fit into a large pocket, enabling buyers to have a Windows PC that can be carried and used almost anywhere, especially with its built-in 3G broadband.
Announced in December 2009 and available now, the PsiXpda is manufactured by a UK firm of the same name, and is perhaps best described as a netbook shrunk down to the size of an old-fashioned PDA, such as those marketed by Psion in the past.
Like a netbook, the PsiXpda is capable of running most Windows applications, although compromises made in slimming it down mean that it is impractical to run anything much more demanding than email, office applications and web browsing.
The small size also implies a small battery, which means that the PsiXpda is not going to run for any great length of time away from mains power, and this proved to be the case. But since the demise of OQO last year, this system is one of the few available choices for anyone wanting a full PC in as compact a package as possible.
However, unlike a netbook, the PsiXpda is probably not a good choice for newcomers to computers, as some features such as the 3G connection require the user to jump through a few hoops to get working.
At 17.4 x 18.4 x 2.5cm, the PsiXpda is similar in size to a portable media player when closed, and weighs 430g. This makes it just about small and light enough to fit into a large jacket pocket, although we would guess most buyers will carry it in a bag or briefcase for protection.
Our review model came with a fabric carrying pouch that encloses the device completely, but how effective this would be as protection against knocks is difficult to judge.
Screen Straight out of the box, the PsiXpda looks rather like a large smartphone, as its 5in screen faces outwards when the unit is closed. This enables it to be operated as a slate-mode tablet device, using a small stylus stowed in a slot in the front edge, or the screen can be opened like a slider phone and tilted up into a familiar laptop configuration, exposing the full Qwerty keyboard.
