Some of the best products for RVs were designed with other applications in mind, and such is the case with Pelham Sloane's interesting PSynergy 1700 computer. Because it's not sold in stores or advertised in RV publications, you've probably never heard of it. I hadn't either until I visited the company's headquarters recently in Southport, Connecticut, and saw a demonstration. Although Pelham Sloane developed this computer as a home-automation system, I quickly realized that its versatility and compactness make it ideally suited for RVs.
The PSynergy 1700 is a sleek (2 3/4-inch-thick), powerful computer with an all-in-one design, meaning there's no external adapter or CPU tower and a minimum of wires to mess with. You can mount it for either a landscape or portrait view on a wall, armrest or pivoting stand--it comes with mounting hardware--leaving only the keyboard and mouse to take up space on a desk. The keyboard and mouse can be wireless. And except for e-mail and document creation, you really don't need them at all; the 17-inch screen incorporates a touchscreen that can perform virtually all computer functions, from running a home-entertainment system to organizing digital photos. The Pelham Sloane team told me the PSynergy 1700 can even be configured to operate heating, lighting, air-conditioning and other RV systems.
The computer also comes with TV and FM radio tuner cards, as well as four external USB ports and two PCI Express slots. For
Internet and wireless operations, the PSynergy 1700 has 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth and Z-Wave. A biometric fingerprint reader is included for security-minded RVers. You can order the unit with Windows XP or the new Vista operating system and up to 200 GB on the hard drive.
According to Pelham Sloane, the PSynergy 1700 uses no more energy than a conventional computer and is built more solidly than a laptop--something to consider for those bumpy back roads. At a base price of $2,200, the PSynergy 1700 is a bit more expensive than a run-of-the-mill computer, but you’re getting a central-control system as well as a computer. When the PSynergy 1700 becomes better known, I wouldn’t be surprised if upscale RV manufacturers begin offering it as an option. Pelham Sloane is eager to get into the RV market and offers customized service to individual RVers. You can contact the company at (203) 259-4357 or 2551 Post Rd., Southport, CT 06890-1412. The website is http://www.pelhamsloane.com/.
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