A Clie for Mie
Written: Dec 21 '01 (Updated Dec 23 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gorgeous design/appearance, high quality build, innovative features, low price
Cons: Oddly named. Does it rhyme with "me"?
The Bottom Line: For the money, this is the best Palm-based PDA on the market. Looks great, works great. A winner in everything but the name!
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| kajguy's Full Review: Sony CLIE® PEG-S320 Handheld |
I've always been a great fan of Sony, a very innovative company that always pushes the hi-tech envelope. As a Palm OS devotee, I was particularly elated when they elected to enter the PDA market two years ago and introduced their first Clie Palm-based PDAs. Although the first Clie did not represent much of an improvement over comparable Palms and Handsprings, it showed a significant commitment on the part of Sony to "better the breed". This latest Clie is ample testimony to that.
But, first, I'd love to know where Sony comes up with these odd names like Clie and Viao? Any clues?
Name-calling aside, on the technical side, Sony innovates in the Clie with a speed boost over the prior generation using a Motorola Dragonball VZ 33-MHz processor, up from the 16 MHz Dragonball. Although I can't say there is a noticeable leap in performance, there is a difference.
The Clie also has 8MB of RAM for software and data storage, but, in addition to that, it has an additional 4MB of flash memory that holds the core operating system (OS). The challengers from Palm and Handspring don't include any flash memory, so OS upgrades and fixes simply aren't possible. The Clie S320 comes with the latest Palm OS, 4.0, so you won't need to upgrade the OS for awhile.
Another nice touch: Sony includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery, another convenience also not available on comparably priced Palm-based devices. With a full charge, this should keep you going for about 15 hours, depending upon usage. Sony includes a very convenient travel charger, so you can easily re-charge the Clie having to carry the docking cradle along too.
The Clie is without a doubt one of the sharpest looking PDAs out there, easily comparable to the iPAQ and Jornada Pocket PCs with its polished chrome look. It is also quite thin and lite, a pleasure to carry around and "show off". And, it features Sony's proprietary Memory Stick technology, so the upgrade possibilities using additional memory and swapping it between compatible Memory Stick devices are impressive. This is one PDA you won't get tired of. Unfortunately, Memory Stick, at this point, is a very proprietary technology and I'm not aware of any other manufacturers that have embraced it. Betamax?
The Clie's B/W screen is sharp, as would you expect from the manufacturer of plasma screen displays and the Trinitron TVs. But, truth be known, I'm growing weary of B/W and I'd prefer the color screen on the next model up in the line. It looks fantastic! Next time around, it's color.
Another innovation: The Clie also has a handy jog dial on the right side so you can navigate between the various menus with your thumb holding the Clie in one hand. Slick!
Also, unlike the comparable Palm models, the Clie comes with some multimedia capabilities. It also has a front panel microphone and USB connectivity, which is a real plus over many of the Palms. (All Handsprings are USB, though.) The Sony USB implementation worked as soon as I got it out of the box! It makes transferring the data (backing up) between the Clie and my computer about 4 times as fast as with a non-USB Palm unit.
I've hosted Palmtopia (www.chrisopfell.com/palmtopia.htm) for the past four years. I've owned three different Palms, but none of the highend ones (like the M505) yet. (Reason: cost and concern about losing one.) Like all Palm-based PDAs, the Clie, has all of these great "gee whiz" features:
1) It has an infrared port that allows you do "beam" anything from your electronic business card to complete programs, like Pocket Chess and Tiny Sheet (an Excel compatible spread sheet), to other Palm-based PDA users and vice versa. Try it. Talk about great conversation starters! I've actually made friends this way.
2) It has the rock-solid Palm OS 4.0 operating system, which means it boots up instantly and does not crash, unlike Windows CE. Kiss that Pocket PC hourglass good-bye! Installing new software, either by synching from your desktop computer, or by infra-red, is as uncomplicated as you can get. You can also download the same 30,000 plus Palm OS-compatible programs available on the Internet (like games, language translators, spreadsheets, e-books, calculators, remote controls, drink-mixing guides, virtual girlfriends, etc.) as the Palms.
3) The Clie has the same core applications as all of the Palms: the address book, the memo list, the to do list and the scheduler, complete with unlimited alarms, in case you forget something.
4) The Clie will work with an optional modem so you are e-mail endowed and capable some very rudimentary Web surfing. It will also upload and download all your data from your desktop computer in a process known as "Syncing". So, if you lose your Clie you have not lost your data. The Clie can also be made password protectable so prying eyes won't be able to feast.
5) And, the Sony Clie uses the same touchscreen technology that permits you to enter data by writing it in on the screen with a stylus using the included Graffiti handwriting recognition program, which is super simple and quickly learned playing the included Giraffe game. Of course, there is also a tiny popup onscreen “virtual” keyboard so you can tap away, like a typewriter, but my advice is the learn Graffiti and enjoy your leisure time. I believe Graffiti is the single most important element in making the Palm-based PDAs the success they are compared with the prior generation of tedious data entry devices, like the Sharp Wizards.
Why get one?
Let's talk about usefulness. As an attorney, I've been able, using a free program called "Make Doc", to convert legal documents into the Palm format so I can have them with me on my PDA when I'm in Court. I don't worry about all the deadlines I have to face on my cases. I just enter them into my PDA, and the PDA chirps delightedly to remind me when I need to do something. I can't begin to tell you how much aggravation this has spared me, not to mention jail time! I love the convenience of the To Do list, where only the things that need to be done that day show up. If I don't complete them, I can instantly continue them to any date I choose. And, I have all the "hard law" I need stored in the Memo section. Since it is word-searchable, when I am in Court arguing in front of the Judge, I can very quickly look up what I need, since my Palm-based PDA boots up instantly. Ouch for the bad guys!
While I'm waiting in the Courtroom for my case to be called, I can study a legal treatise that I have stored for review or look busy while I play Pocket Chess, one of hundreds of games designed for the Palm. How's that, counsel? In fact, one of my friends who claims to be a chess expert found it impossible to beat my PDA! It really is a computer, not just an organizer.
I'm sure that creative types in any field will find valuable uses in the way I have.
I have now convinced several of my associates to get a Palm-based PDA. And, unanimously, they all ask me: "How did I ever get by without it?" Well, they must have, but it certainly wasn't easy. With the recent drastic price drop on all Clies, with the B/W models going for as little as $169.00, there’s no longer any excuse for suffering!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 169.00
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Epinions.com ID:
kajguy
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Member: Chris Opfell
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 14 members
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