Also onboard, but not part of the ROM

I cannot do justice to everything that these programmes can do, so here I will just outline the main functions you will find in a few of these programmes.  I have chosen those which I use most, Word, Agenda, Data, Email and Fax. For a poetic perspective on the Web Browser, read Stan Robins' review.

Word

Word is a really impressive WP package. It comes with just 3 fonts preloaded, but you can load all your favourites.

It has most of the features of a full PC WP programme, with Bold Italic and underline, left align right align and justify, a full array of indents and tab settings, bulleted lists, insert symbol, formatting for paragraphs, headers footers and page numbering, page breaks etc. There is an integral spell checker, and access to a thesaurus function, and a word count. You can find and replace text, cut copy and paste, import and export text. You can also embed a spreadsheet, a sketch file, a sound file into your text, which is not limited by size.

Once finished you can upload your document to your PC, and convert it into the main PC formats, print using the PCs printer link, or print direct to printer, and you can get a print preview before printing. You can export it as a text file and attach it to an email. If you have installed the new Message Suite 1.5 you will also be able to read Microsoft Word documents and text files without first having to convert them into Psion format.

Agenda

This is the diary application. It has five views, day, week, year, anniversary, ToDo. With it you can keep track of most things in your business and personal life - appointments, anniversaries, meetings - shopping lists, bills to pay etc

Entries can be timed or untimed, set with alarms, marked as tentative, marked with symbols, carry attached files from other programmes (a Word file, a spread sheet, a voice memo) set to repeat at specified intervals.

There is a powerful search facility, and you can print from Agenda or synchronise with your PC applications. You can even turn it into a text file, as I do, and edit your Agenda files in Word before you print out!

Data

This is the database facility. It is the main information storage and retrieval application. It has two views, label and list, and a powerful search function. It can be used to store all kind of data, from the day to day address and telephone numbers to CDs and videos.

By customising the labels you can adapt it to many uses -  I have a simple database which acts as a Jotter, another for my email address book. You can download lots more from Pocket Info, a website dedicated to databases, from Aromatherapy to the UK STD codes, from a collection of the best films to cigars or whisky.
You can also embed information from other programmes, a picture, a Word file, a sound file - and you can print out the information, or synch. with your PC data handling programme.

Email and Fax

The ability to email and fax from the Geofox is one of its most appealing features for me. The PCMCIA slot means that you can slot in a modem - (I use the Psion Dacom Gold which comes with the Geofox  Professional model) - and then all you need is a couple of wires. The modem uses too much power for the batteries to suffice, so one wire needs to be for the adapter plug into the mains socket, the other is to the phone (either land line or mobile).

Message Suite 1.5 has just been released, and now the email programme will allow you to do the following -

The features which are still not ideal to my mind are the lack of an address book, and the lack of any means of sorting and storing incoming mail. The Inbox quickly becomes clogged. But still it is a very impressive starting point, and one of my most used programmes.

All you need to send and receive faxes is here too. You can compose your fax in Word, and send it with a cover sheet, and again the spell-check is available. The only feature I miss is the ability to create my own cover sheet designs..... the default is a little bleak and basic!

Web Browser

The Geofox also has a Web browser, so it is possible to go online and surf the Web. It has some limitations, for example it cannot handle sites with frames. I have designed this site so that it can be viewed through the Fox's own browser

And finally, a few specifications , you can find all the details on the Geofox website!

. The Geofox One is clam-shell handheld machine that differs from Psion's Series 5 in the following ways:

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