Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I had very clear evaluation criteria when I started my research on my quest to upgrade to color PDA. I wanted (in that order) -
1. Color screen with high resolution so as to allow me to show my huge collection of pictures.
2. Good form factor - so that I felt at ease as I continued to use my new PDA.
3. Expandibility - because the gap between the PDAs and the PCs are closing faster than you think.
4. Battery life - Often times I take notes on my PDA during long meetings and the last thing I wanted was to have the battery drained out in the middle of an important meeting.
5. 802.11b compatibility (if possible, NOT a key decision factor)
I had been using Palm OS based devices for over 5 years but still I was very open to move to Pocket PC because of a huge upper hand of the Pocket PCs over the Palm devices in networking capabilities. And also because in the last couple of years, the Pocket PCs have shed a lot of their bulk have become reasonably small to be carried in a pocket.
I narrowed my search down to 4 PDAs -
1. iPaq 3975 - mainly because of its bluetooth capabilities and highly sharp transflective TFT screen
2. Toshiba e740 - because of built-in WiFi (802.11b), expansion slots for both secure digital as well as compact flash and changeable battery pack
3. Sony Clie T665
4. Sony Clie SJ30
Eliminated iPaq 3975 because even after paying that high a price, the PDA would still not have compact flash and built-in 802.11b. The screen resolution was good but not close to that of the Clie.
Eliminated e740 mainly because of extremely bad form factor. The device just did not feel good in hand. The record and power-on buttons could easily be unintentionally turned on. Its battery consumption was also a little peculiar. All of a sudden, it would drop from 80% to 10%.
The Clies beat every other PDAs in their screen resolution. The iPaq and the Toshiba appeared amateurish as compared to the Clies as far as image sharpness was concerned. On paper, the difference in resolution was only 25% (240 horizontal dots as opposed to 320,) but it looked a lot different.
The Clies were also a winner in the category of third party applications (Palm clearly out numbered Pocket PCs in this category).
The Wireless compatibility of the iPaq and the Toshiba was negated by the terrible battery life especially when the wireless connectivity is ON. If your PDA battery is drained out in minutes, there is no point in having networking advantage.
The SJ30 beat out the T665 because I did not want to pay the extra money for MP3 because I have a good MP3 player and I want to use my PDA as a PDA not as a music system. Secondly, the SJ30 is significantly smaller in length though its depth is a little more. But overall, the device felt good in hand and the difference in processing power (33 MHz as opposed to 66MHz for T665) did not make much difference in the performance of the device.
My conclusion was that the Pocket PC based devices are closing the gap with the Palm based devices but the Palm devices are still ahead in feature over price ratio. Pocket PC have a huge advantage in networking and wireless connectivity but the Windows operating system drains out so much power that the devices start groping for it very very quickly. And when it comes to Palm OS based devices, you just can't beat a Clie.
I have been using my SJ30 for a couple of weeks. All my colleagues and buddies who have seen my new PDA have all been amazed with the sharpness of the screen and the amazing form factor for a price that does not dent holes in your pocket.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Clie PEG-SJ30 Color Handheld
The Palm-powered PEG-SJ30 Clié handheld provides everything you need to stay organized and entertained. Compact and lightweight, you can take your Clié handheld wherever you go. The high-resolution color screen shows images and documents in fine detail. In addition to the 16 MB internal memory, the Memory Stick expansion slot offers unlimited storage capability for all your favorite applications. Need to get some work done on the road? You can view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files on the handheld with Documents to Go Standard Edition by DataViz. Plus, the unique Jog Dial navigator provides easy access to most of your stored information.
Display The PEG-SJ30 features high resolution on its 320 x 320 pixel backlit color display, which can display over 65,000 colors.
Expansion With this Sony Clié's Memory Stick expansion slot, you can get virtually unlimited data storage with Memory Stick removable media. You can transfer digital content between your Clié handheld and other Memory Stick-compatible products, including digital cameras, digital camcorders, and PCs.
Operating System The Sony Clié PEG-SJ30 is powered by Palm OS 4.1, which means it comes complete with all the standard Palm OS applications you need for organizing your life, including Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Mail, Expense, and Address Book. HotSync software is also included.
Extra Software In addition to the built-in applications that come with Palm OS 4.1, the PEG-SJ30 comes with the following Sony software: Clié Paint, Clié Photo Stand, Memory Stick Autorun, Memory Stick Backup, Memory Stick Export (for PCs), Memory Stick Gate, Memory Stick Import, PictureGear Lite (for PCs), PictureGear Pocket, and World Alarm Clock. Value-added software includes: AcidSolitaire, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet, Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard, BalanceLog, Bejeweled, Bump Attack Pinball, ContactsPro, Documents to Go Standard Edition, gMovie, Mobipocket Reader, powerOne Personal, Presenter-to-Go, Race Fever, simpliWrite, StreetFinder Express, Vindigo, WorldMate, and Zap!2016.
Synchronization Connect to your PC and synchronize your contacts and date book using the included USB cable. You can also beam information to other Palm OS handheld owners using the IrDA infrared port.
Compatibility The Sony Clié PEG-SJ30 is compatible with Windows 98 SE, 2000 Professional, Me, XP Home, and XP Professional editions. PCs must have a minimum 133 MHz or faster processor, 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended), and at least 128 MB of available hard drive space. A USB port is also required.
In the Box The Sony Clié PEG-SJ30 comes with a USB HotSync cradle, AC adapter, stylus, protective cover, installation CD-ROM, application manual, Graffiti sticker, and registration materials. The Sony Clié PEG-SJ30 is covered by a one-year limited warranty.
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