14
« on: March 06, 2018, 06:15:57 am »
Gemini Review
Packaging
There is a very high quality feel to the Gemini packaging and the accessories. Everything arrived in good order and included a nice letter from the Planet team thanking backers for their support.
First impressions
What really struck me is the build quality. The Gemini feels extremely well made. It sits nicely in the palm and feels very small, and light. The opening mechanism is absolutely gorgeous and really helps with the stability of the device on the desk. There is no rocking when typing and closing it is very satisfying, there is a reassuring clunk.
The screen is excellent. Very clear & bright with great viewing angles. You can change the brightness of the screen using a key combination rather than having to go into settings. The screen has a screen protector applied which is a nice touch. The thing you really notice though is the extra real estate. Not having an on screen keyboard allows you to make full use of the available space. It’s like having a laptop in your pocket - the linux community especially are going to love it!
The loudspeakers are fairly loud and sound quality is OKbut nothing spectacular. The best way to describe it is thin, or tinny sounding. I imagine there is so little space available there isn't much room for any sort of cavity for bass. To my ears the left hand speaker sounds louder than the right but it could just be my imagination.
I've had no problems connecting bluetooth or wifi devices - everything works as expected. Just remember if you have a nano sim you'll need an adapter to fit into the micro sim slot.
Battery life is excellent. I imagine you'll get a couple of days use out of it fairly easily. I had no issues charging it and it's pretty quick thanks to the fast charge technology. My Dash charger from OnePlus seemed to work OK too. I haven't tried other chargers yet, but I'm inclined to stick with the Planet one to ensure I provide the right voltage and current to the battery.
Keyboard
The keyboard is quite different in feel, to the original Psion, which had a much stiffer action. The Gemini keyboard feels more 'clacky', lighter and more modern. It's action sits somewhere between a full mechanical keyboard and a chicklet keyboard. The keys themselves seem to float a little bit. For instance if you press down in one corner of the key the other side rises a little, whereas the Psion keyboard had a lot less movement. This appears to be by design. In terms of actual use, the keyboard works beautifully and seems to get better with use! It’s very light to use and not as tiring as the Psion's and has a clicky, positive action. I don't have any issues with the spacebar having to be hit dead centre and all the keys are well aligned on my unit. I also don't have any issues with keys sticking, everything works as expected and typing is quick and pain free. There is a nice level of haptic feedback and I also like the fact the Planet team have used the old Psion beep, when you press a key. Overall I think its a better keyboard than the Psion 5, I think I'd prefer it to be a little stiffer, but it will be entirely a personal preference for most. In summary - this is the best keyboard on any mobile device. Period.
Call quality
Call quality is really good. What more can I say! My recommendation is to use the Gemini with a bluetooth headset - I use Plantronics Voyager which is great as it tells me who is calling even when the device is closed.
The Jotter
Planet have brought back one of my favourite applications. The Jotter. This was my ‘go to’ application on the Psion 5mx and I'm pleased to say they have nailed it in this version. In fact I'm typing this review on it now. I love the fact they have put the interface elements at the bottom of the screen. It makes the screen feel like an extension of the keyboard and also keeps the device stable because you are interacting with the screen close to it's centre of gravity. It’s little touches like this which impress - integration of software and hardware to create a pleasant ergonomic user experience. There is some real thought and love going into the device. I'd quite like an integrated spell checker though
Leather sleeve
The leather sleeve is made with what appears to be a very fine, high quality leather. It's not a stiff case as I imagined it would be. It’s quite thin to touch, presumably to avoid adding any bulk to the device and keep it pocketable. The sleeve fits extremely securely and will be good at keeping the Gemini safe. Both USB slots are easily accessible. There is a stitched edging which will also provide some protection in the event of the Gemini being dropped
In use
To use the Gemini you need two free hands or have it sitting on a desk. Whilst some people might find this restrictive compared to a normal smart-phone, so far, I've found it strangely liberating. It’s a completely different experience to a normal phone. Walking the dog last night, I wasn't tempted to get the Gemini out and check Twitter - it makes for a much more mindful experience. Opening the device to check notifications is something I now choose to do, rather than something the phone demands of me.
Using it in the car will be an issue until someone creates a dash or windscreen cradle for it.
It is possible to use it in portrait mode if you click on the Planet icon on the launcher application.
I installed Nova launcher and it works perfectly.
Summary
I am absolutely delighted with the Gemini.
What Planet have achieved here is outstanding. This could be game changer for the industry. Programmers, bloggers, journalists, writers, creatives, doodlers, and mobile workers, now have a device which can replace a laptop. You really can work productively on the move. The Gemini is a beautiful, well made, desirable, robust, highly pocketable and extremely practical device. I can’t wait to see what the community does with this thing. There is nothing like it on the market.
Welcome back Psion. You’ve been missed.
Show Posts