“Built to last, the future is the past!“
Most of us thought the era of the PDA ended many a year ago. They kinda had the carpet ripped out from under them by smartphones, after all. But, for some, having a separate device for work makes sense; it has its own battery ensuring that you won’t be caught without some charge on your phone. That’s what the Gemini is for.
The Gemini is developed by a group of former Psion designers. Indeed, it even uses the same clamshell design some of their former products used. Also, much like Psion’s PDAs, the Gemini has that delightfully chunky keyboard; the type most people seem to hate, but of which I’m an unironic fan. The features list from their IndieGoGo:
Features:
- Two weeks of stand-by time / 12 hours of talk time (TBC)
- Fully tactile keyboard – recognised as the smallest keyboard for finger touch typing
- Measure: 17.14 cm x 7.93 cm x 1.51 cm
- 5.99” colour hi-res ultra-wide touch screen
- Wifi & WiFi+4G mobile options
- Weight: 320 g
- Dual side mounted speakers
- Dual USB-C connectors to connect to keyboards, external screens, mice, charging cables as needed and many more.
- Integrated Voice Assist button
- SD card slot (covered)
The Gemini comes in two models: a $499 WiFi only model, and a $599 WiFi/4G model capable of taking calls. Even Planet Computers admits that the Gemini is a fairly niche device. That said, it would be a perfect option if you need to work on the go, as it’s not arguably larger than a current smartphone, and comes with a tactile keyboard built in.
It’s not a surprise that they met their crowdfunding goal, though the path they take is strewn with those that tried to bring these devices back before them. I, however, would argue that their design is strong enough to make it.