9

FIELD TEST

Sadly, this is where things start to go a little wrong.
The process of installing Debian isn’t exactly beginner-
friendly, and the reliance on a MediaTek tool aimed at
engineers doesn’t help. Once installed, the experience
is one of alpha test quality, while poking at the high-
resolution screen with sausage-like fingers leaves you
missing the stylus supplied by Psion with the original
Series 5.
A bigger issue is in the impact the operating system
switch has on performance and functionality. While
the Gemini nips along nicely under Android, it’s
considerably slower in Debian, while battery life during
the video playback test drops from a respectable 9
hours and 15 minutes in Android to just 5 hours and
22 minutes in Debian. You also lose most 3D hardware
acceleration and easy access to the 4G modem,
though pre-release patches are available to bring at
least basic communications functionality back for those
on selected mobile networks.

GETTING A PHYSICAL
By far the biggest problem with the Gemini, though, is
that it doesn’t do any of its self-appointed tasks very
well. As a phone, it’s bulky and cumbersome to use,
especially when accepting an incoming call: the lack
of external display – something Planet Computers
has hinted it may address with a paid-for hardware
expansion in the future – means that there’s no way
of knowing who’s calling you before you answer. As
a PDA, its weak hinge mechanism – a far cry from
the robust and smart sliding hinge system used on
the Psion PDAs, which offered a rock-solid typing
area and reduced the closed footprint of the device
considerably – wobbles noticeably while typing, while
tests comparing a fresh out-the-box retail unit with a
pre-loved review sample, suggested the issue is likely
to get considerably worse with prolonged usage.
Booting the company’s most recent Android
operating system image, which was made available
after a newer release on a more recent Android
security patch level proved unstable and had to be
withdrawn, presents the UK user with a
German welcome screen. In addition,
switching off the annoying key-click

noise and vibration feedback for the physical keyboard

requires changing the settings of the company’s virtual

keyboard software and rebooting.

While documentation at launch was poor, Planet

Computers has been working on a detailed manual

which it is to provide to customers as a free download

or paid-for print copy. It has also been developing a

series of Android applications based on the software

and user interface of the original Psion Series 5,

bringing them screaming into the 21st century, yet

proving familiar to anyone who used the originals.

The Gemini feels like a solid first step on the

path to bringing back the clamshell PDA as an

alternative to the sea of flat black glass rectangles

that the modern smartphone market has become,

but falls short. A revised model with significantly

more polished software, a stronger Psion-like hinge

which keeps the keys away from the glass screen

surface, and a rear-facing display for notifications

and messaging would certainly help. As it stands,

however, the Gemini feels too

half-baked to be worth the

asking price.

A healthy dose

of nostalgia

for PDA fans,

but hard to

recommend

beyond that.

4 / 10

VERDICT

Left

While inspired by

the Psion Series 5

(right), the Gemini

isn’t a patch on its

build quality

The Gemini feels like a solid first step on the path

” to bringing back the clamshell PDA

”

Above

The keyboard

matches the layout of

the Psion perfectly,

complete with

Function-Esc power-

on sequence