Of course, if you want truly era-appropriate, genuine #Psion artwork, look no further than these gems.

#RetroComputing #Psion3 #Art

I'll also be making a "2.21" with a few fixes, such as checking for includes properly.

I'm going to boldly say that my 2.21 version is the one you should use, but of course I'll distribute the older versions. I've definitely had projects that will compile with 2.00 but not with 2.20. I think these projects are more likely to compile with 2.21.

#Psion #epoc16 #psion3 #retrodev #retrocomputing

I keep wondering whether to add a switch for the 5V Vbackup line to the SSD. It's there as an alterative to the on-board battery backup for RAM SSDs. It's not connected on ROM and Flash SSDs. Would it be useful to be able to turn it off? Not sure.

Allegedly Vbackup can also be used as an interrupt for peripherals on the 3a/c/mx by pulling it low. But AFAIK no SSD-sized peripherals exist (yet), so it was never used.

#Psion #Psion3

Has anyone done any flex cable design in #KiCad?

I'm just thinking about a future project. I'd like to draw up a #Psion Series 3a/c/mx ribbon cable. I know places like PCBWay and JLCPCB will make them to order.

The second thing to go on a SIBO PDA is the ribbon cable (the first being, of course, the hinges). I think we need an open source one.

#Psion3

Was thinking of making a video this weekend on installing #PsiWin in a WinXP VM and use a USB-RS232 adapter. Turns out someone's beaten me to it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkMYmOT3qzs

Two things I'd like to add.

- PL2303 USB-RS232 adapters work best. I use a UGREEN one. A link to the driver is at the top of this page (works fine in XP): https://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41
- The link to PsiWin in the video's description is dead. Use this instead: https://www.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/2021/03/09/where-to-download-psiwin-2-3-3/

#retrocomputing #Psion #Psion3 #Psion3a #Psion5

For now I'm only focusing on making something that generates FEFS24 images (24-bit pointers). That covers 99.99% of #Psion Flash and ROM SSDs.

I've only ever seen a handful of very early (1989) Type I Flash SSDs using FEFS32, and they were made by Psion themselves for the #MC200 and #MC400.

Once I've nailed FEFS24, FEFS32 will be much easier.

RAM SSDs use #FAT12, so that's a whole different ballgame. So far I've just used mtools to generate working FAT12 volumes.

#retrocomputing #Psion3

Anyone remember the Graphic Adventure Creator?

Originally made for the #Amstrad #CPC, my experience of it was from a #YourSinclair covertape.

Anyway, it's been on my list to attempt porting it to #Psion #EPOC16 for ages. It's not top priority, but the machine is perfectly designed for playing #textadventure games (see @root42's escapades with #Infocom).

Be great if it could decompile and play old games, too.

#retrocomputing #Psion3 #adventure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_Adventure_Creator
https://gac.interface1.net/

Well, that keyboard membrane lasted all of 10 minutes. It was so sensitive that I was accidentally hitting a load of keys, and some keys were triggering twice.

I've just put in the membrane from my old 3mx - less than 5 minutes to swap out. It feels a lot more "definite". It needs a little more force, but it's easier to be accurate.

#Psion #Psion3 #RetroComputing

#Psion pro tip: Although the backup battery in the 3c and 3mx is meant to be a CR2025, the trusty CR2032 will also fit snugly. I've been using them for years and never had a problem.

Handy if you want a little peace of mind for when your 2x AAs run out, or if you're a computer monkey like me with a stash of motherboard batteries.

#RetroComputing #Psion3

And we're done! Behold my new #DailyDriver.

Mods:

- Lid portion of hinge reinforced with JB Weld
- Swapped out "questionnaire" touchbar for the regular 3c/mx one
- Swapped out EL panel for newer one with better colour

The keyboard membrane feels a bit mushier than on my previous 3mx. I'll give this one a go for a few days, but I might swap it out.

The screen contrast is low by default, but increasing it 4 steps makes it usable.

Otherwise, I'm happy with it. 😊

#Psion #Psion3 #RetroComputing

One of the hardest bits when putting together a #Psion Series 3 of any type: the springs. They're frustratingly tight to fit. You have to slot part of it into a tiny hole, but you're forced to push it in at an angle. You then have to fit the loop onto the back of the touchbar, while making sure the other end of the spring is in a good enough place. Then you have to clip that end of the spring into a slot. Do it wrong, and you could easily snap ageing ABS plastic.

#Psion3 #retrocomputing

I also took the opportunity to try to fix my old daily driver 3mx's hinge.

A slightly bent pin split the ring part of the hinge. I've already tried to plastic glue the split part - there's no force directly on that part, so hopefully that will be strong enough. Right now I'm just re-attaching the hinge.

It's a bit of a mess and it might be too far gone for it to be reliable, but it's worth giving it a go.

#psion #psion3 #retrocomputing #repair

Broken hinges on Series 3 machines are very fiddly to repair. Positioning them so that they line up correctly, then propping them at the right angle so that the broken part doesn't move, is incredibly frustrating.

It's much easier to add the epoxy before the break happens. Prevent!

#retrocomputing #psion #pda #repair #psion3

@thelastpsion Hi there - wonder if I can pick your brains? I have two dead Psion 3as which I can't afford to get repaired and which I might try and sell for spares. Are they likely to have any personal data still on them? (totally unpowered without backup battery for several years). (I also have two flash SSDs which I assume do still have personal data on, but which I have no way of wiping!) Grateful for any advice. #psion #Psion3