Sony Vs Palm ... a tale of 2 PDAs
Written: Oct 21 '03 (Updated Jan 09 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: 480x320 screen, Bluetooth, External memory, Compact size
Cons: Awkward Voice Button, lack of 480x320 from 3rd party software
The Bottom Line: A solid tool for the businessman. No fancy tools to distract but enough power to supply multimedia fun and productivity tools (Powerpoint etc).
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| anwarasw's Full Review: Palm Tungsten™ T3 Handheld |
UPDATE on Jan 08
Went to the PalmOne Website and downloaded a bunch of updates. Installed most of them, including a ROM update. After that and a new sync, everything worked OK. I did encounter a couple of fatal errors initially with WebPro but I've been able to successfully use my GPRS connection for web surfing and email retrieval again.
All other functions, except AvantGo (not yet re-installed) are in order.
Did not have to call Palm on the matter. Hopefully I won't have a day 91 crisis.
Cheers!
UPDATE on Jan 03
Restored the settings from my PC but I'm having major difficulties with my bluetooth connection between my PDA and my phone. The PDA does not recognize the new connection settings - so I'm not able to get on the web.
I'm going to contact Palm about this and hopefully get it resolved soon.
Have a great 2004!
UPDATE on Dec 21
Woke up this morning and poof ... I had to do a hard reset. No response no nothing. I'm still trying to find out why but I was having no problems the night before. I was even surfing the internet through my cell phone.
Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!
UPDATE on Nov 02
Alright - after 2 weeks of owning the T3 I'm adding more info. These updated info will be highlighted by italicized dates (eg. 11/02).
ORIGINAL with updated information
OK ... a strange title but there is a reason - I've been a strong supporter of the Sony CLIE? I even created a website - www.sonyclie.info - for the sole purposes of reporting the latest and greatest from Sony.
Unlike many PDA users I could not afford (too many other toys out there) to keep changing my PDA. My current collection has only 2 other members:
Sony CLIE-S300 and a Newton MP2100
Sure I could have kept using the CLIE - as a personal organizer it functions great, but due to work requirements, I've come to the conclusion that I need more "connectivity" in my life. That is where many people split in what they are looking for - IMHO.
My family will attest to how I have been eyeing the NX and NZ series - even the Sony-Ericsson P800. But what I've come to realize is that there sometimes there can be such a thing as too much.
Here is my list of observations, before I comment on the T3:
1. Bluetooth connectivity - allowing Mobile phone connectivity (for internet or other functionality)
2. External Memory Storage - one of the main reasons I went with the CLIE in the first place. Sony was one of the first to introduce external storage.
3. Fast processor - Palm PDAs have trailed behind the PPC world
4. Color Screen - after a while the MP2100 and S300 made me feel like I was watching the war in Iraq through night vision goggles
5. Overall Size - the MP2100 was fanny-pack friendly (or are you just happy to see me?)
6. Screen Size
7. Weight
8. Productivity Tools
9. PRICE
Why Not CLIE?
Hmmm ... so if I'm such a big supporter of the CLIE series of PDA, why the Tungsten T3?
BLOAT!!! I don't need:
1. A thumbboard
2. A camera AND flash
3. A ton in my pocket - I would carry my MP2100 for that
4. Wi-Fi - with my Bluetooth internet connection, I can access it almost anywhere (fixed price) without hunting for a network (802.11b/g) hotspot.
With that in mind - the NZ and NX and even the UX series is out. But see my following comments for more detailed comparison.
Play by Play
OK here we go:
1. Bluetooth - I own a Sony-Ericsson T68i mobile phone with T-Mobile subscription. I subscribed to the T-Mobile unlimited internet access plan ($19.99 for current T-Mobile subscribers) so that I can connect to the internet through my laptop while on the road. Many people know that wanting to browse for information on a laptop requires a wait of about 5 to 10 mins. The information on a WAP connection on a Mobile is limited to short text. So the best in between is a PDA (with 480x320 resolution) - and immediate startup time.
One of the things that I tried to do at CompUSA and Best Buy was to get the internet connectivity to work. But Web Pro was not installed by default - so no luck.
However, Lady Luck was with me that day and a passer-by at Best Buy saw me playing and showed me his connectivity to the internet using Bluetooth. He was using a T610 (with AT&T) and the T3. I was sold right there and then!!!
11/02 I finally got my T3 to connect to the internet through my T68i's T-Mobile Internet Access. It took me almost 2 weeks of calling tech support. It was a hassle, but it is worth it. Note to people who are looking at this solution - you will need to talk to TIER 3 Wireless Data Group support. Tier 1 and 2 were only marginally helpful - in fact, Tier 2 caused my SMS to stop functioning.
2. External Memory - Do I really need this? I have an iPod with 15GB. Not really, but it is good to know that if I wanted to watch movies I could, or I could carry around a Map of the USA or any where else for that matter. 3rd party software can also be loaded on the card to save space on the system.
Now - the T3 already comes with 64MB on board - with 52MB available for the user. This is more than most PDAs out there and is sufficient for most casual users. But knowing that the SD slot is available is comforting.
3. Fast Processor - at 400MHz, it is the same as the PPC. What does this mean? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING if you are not pushing it. There are power users out there who want to listen to music and do stuff at the same time, like browse the web - OK, the 400MHz will take you where you want to go with little or no disruptions. But I have an iPod, so I don't see myself really needing it ... or do I?
Actually, the Palm OS was touted as a very efficient solution, but once users decided there were more ways to utilize the 33MHz they stretched it to its limits. Even with 66MHz, people went all out to overclock their systems using 3rd party hacks. I hate to do that, so I wanted a wickedly fast processor without having to cause undue stress by tweaking.
Games and other graphic intensive programs will benefit, searching a large contact database is going to be swifter - and overall, there will be productivity gain.
Downside - of course, it uses more battery.
BTW, Sony is still using an older CPU.
11/02 There is a reported CPU issue speed - being affected when the system goes through a system restart. See below for info.
11/02 FYI - the CPU on board should be more powerful than the Space Shuttle's. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
4. Color Screen - Ahhh ... no more night vision view, though you can set the 65,000 color screen back to the "classic" view for nostalgic reasons. But as a quick and dirty Photo Viewer, the color screen is great. It also helps with overall organization of items. Many 3rd party software now work with color to enhance productivity.
5. Overall Size - Yes, the CLI?SJ series is great small packages, with limited functionality. The NX/NZ series is big and bulky.
6. Screen Size - this is one thing that drove me nuts about the Sony UX. Why the hell would I want such a small screen at high resolution. I already have problems with 1280x768 on my 10.4" laptop. The T3 screen feels almost twice as large as the UX50 but with the same resolution. For me - a blind bat - that means information is easier to read and manage. Now, if I want to not use the whole screen then I can use the 320x320 resolution - CHOICES!!! Always a good thing.
7. Weight - T3 @ 5.5oz vs Sony UX50 is 6.2oz vs Sony NX80V @ 8oz vs Sony NZ90 @ 10.3oz (FYI Sony S300 4.7oz)
8. Productivity Tools - as part of the standard package, I can now edit Word and Excel docs ... great!!! I can do my company expense reports without opening my laptop (read startup and shutdown time for 1 or 2 entries).
OK - Sony includes it also ... so they are on par for this.
9. PRICE - at $399 it isn't cheap but it comes in at a price point that is not too ridiculous and offers a lot of value.
Problems?
1. Unable to properly install the Palm Desktop software - I keep getting stuck on the installation process' back end where it states "Removing backup files ...". After talking to Palm (free 90 day tech support from day of purchase), the install does hang at the end but does not affect the software in any way. BTW, support has been pretty quick with their emails, but I was on hold for about 20mins when I called them for live support.
2. Sony and Palm have implemented the 480x320 hi-res+ system differently. So 3rd party software that had hi-res+ for Sony will need to rewrite their code to support Palm's implementation. In short, be patient for software that uses the whole screen.
***side note***
Palm started with 160x160 which is what people call standard. Then the 320x320 (Sony) resolution hit the market allowing for a higher resolution, nicer fonts and more detail on screen. Sony also then introduced the 480x320 hi-res plus option with the NX series, though HandEra was the first to introduce the soft graffiti option.
***end note***
3. Reported SanDisk SD Card issue - I have yet to try this but users have noted that the SD slot FRIES (aka destroys) their SanDisk SD card. Apparently this is an issue for cards above 256MB.
4. CPU speed affected by power cycle. There is bug that causes the CPU to register at a lower speed. There are a couple 3rd party fixes:
http://t3optimizer.mobilevoodoo.com/
http://www.clievideo.com/
5. I am experiencing occasional problems with trying to type in a "dot" on Graffiti 2 on the virtual graffiti board. I'm still trying to isolate it but it is just an observation at this point.
Things I would miss want:
1. The Jog Dial - a very useful tool and loved by almost everyone that uses a CLI? The major issue for me is that the Voice Memo key is located at the same location so I have to fumble when I accidentally switch to the Voice Memo application.
2. Polyphonic SoundsMost mobile phones now offer a range of tones (up to 40), to give a wonderful musical feedback. This is still missing with all of Palm's model.
Other thoughts?
I wouldn't be surprised if Sony comes up with a T3 'killer' - a 480x320 screen no less. But how can they make the unit smaller? Thinner maybe, but it'll essentially be a NX without the lower half. Some people call this the tablet form. Maybe it'll come out in time for X'mas ... what a rush!!!
11/02 News have started to float around that Sony has announced plans for new models in early 2004 which will be using OS6.
11/02 There is a new competitor in the market, the Tapwave Zodiac (www.tapwave.com). Take a look - for the multimedia and portable gaming crowd - it should be a great solution.
So do I like it? Hell yes!!! I can watch missed tv episodes on it - the supplied Kinoma software works well enough that I can enjoy my Star Trek: Enterprise during lunch - of course, a SD card would be required. Of course that is not my primary reason for purchasing it.
It fits in my pocket without much intrusion, it is lightweight enough. The supplied software will support me sufficiently - only had to add CJKOS to allow me Asian text management.
Synchronization between devices is simple enough.
CAVEAT
I've only had the device for 3 days - so I'm still excited about this. I'll make amendments as time goes by.
Cheers!!!
11/02
For people who are using T-Mobile Internet Access:
Network Pref
Service: Whatever is applicable
User Name: a
Password: a
Connection: whatever your bluetooth device is
Network Pref Details:
Connection Type: PPP
Idle timeout: Never
Query DNS: Checked
IP Address: Automatic
Network Pref Script:
Send: AT+CGDCONT=2,"IP","internet3.voicestream.com"
Send CR:
Send: ATDT*99***2#
Send CR:
Wait For: CONNECT
End:
(Note: the CGDCONT value might be different for your subscription, same for the "internet#.voicestream.com")
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 399
Recommended for: Business Executives - Powerful and Professional
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Epinions.com ID:
anwarasw
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Location: Singapore
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Gadget Collector (when finances permit).
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