Sony Clie PEG-UX50 Review

securitas writes "In case you can't wait until September to find out what it's like, Walt Mossberg reviews the Sony Clie UX50 (as previously discussed). He likes it, but with reservations. The keyboard lacks predictive text (unlike the Handspring Treo and RIM BlackBerry) and the Clie Mail e-mail software can't read graphical e-mails and has poor attachment support. The audio player only reads files from a particular directory. He likes the 802.11b WiFi and loves the 450x320 screen. The biggest problem? The $700 price tag ($600 for the non-wireless UX40 model) - equivalent to a low-end laptop - especially since it doesn't come with a Memory Stick. If you can read it, here's a Japanese Clie UX50 review and PalmInfocenter press release rewrite."

Comments

Could replace personal computers

[mjmalone]

With new small input devices, and things like 7.1 surround sound being implemented in portables (new ps handheld) all we need is a better way to display output and pdas could potentially replace pcs.

Currently I don't own a pda, because I really don't think I would use it. The technology is cool, but coolness doesn't justify the price tag. However, if the current trend continues we could have a device that could be used as your primary computer in a few years. Think talking on the phone while driving is dangerous? Imagine talking on IRC.

Re:Could replace personal computers

[frostbane]

Imagine talking on IRC

Thats why they invented 1337 speak. You can type efficiantly using one hand and a numpad...

Re:Could replace personal computers

[RevAaron]

I already have replaced my "personal computer" with a PDA.

Over the years, I've slowly been moving more and more of what I do to a PDA. The first PDA I had which I used like a small personal computer was a Newton 2100u. On it I could do many things- develop NewtonOS applications, browse the web, SSH/telnet, write and compiled papers with a TeX subset, word process in NewtWorks, admin via VNC, email, Usenet, print my documents via the network or IrDA and play some games. And I could do it all via ethernet or an 802.11b connection without having to ever sync or dock with a Mac/PC. I still turned to my Mac or PC for some tasks- more complex web browsing and coding in Squeak Smalltalk. Since Squeak is pretty much my desktop, I didn't use the MP2100 at home- where my regular computer is- as much as I did when out of the house.

Since the MP2100, I've had a few other PDAs. For the last year, I owned a Jornada 720 that became even more my main machine. On it, I could do all of the stuff I listed above that I did on the Newton, and more. I no longer had to turn to the iBook for some web browsing- IE for WinCE [1] handled the vast majority of webpages without any problems. I could even run Java applets. I could also do all the Unixey stuff I wanted as well- write and run Perl/Tk apps, as well as write non-gui apps in python, ruby, REBOL, and others. And, with the switch to Windows CE, I was also able to develop, compile, test and run code in Squeak Smalltalk- all on the device. The J720 has a nice keyboard, something on which you can touch type. After a couple days of first getting it, I was able to type just about as fast as I could on my desktop.

And just recently, I've obtained a Sharp Zaurus SL-C760. For one, it has a 640x480 screen- incredible. Awesome for web browsing. I have Opera and NetFront on it, and both (via wifi or usbnet) load pages about as fast as I'm used to on a desktop on IE or Safari. And luckily, I can still do Squeak on this machine. And thanks to the wide memory bus and fast CPU, Squeak is damned fast- thanks to Dynapad, a Squeak-based PDA environment is available now. Like the SL-5x00, software is pretty spotty for the Zaurus, but I don't need anything from the Qtopia environment other than a web browser. It's kind of funny- I had more well adapted Unix ports running under Windows CE than I can find for the Zaurus under Qtopia. Sure, it's easy to just do a recompile and run the app under X11 or the console, but the interface is entirely ill-suited for the device.

Yes, the Zaurus C760 is very expensive. But since I've had it, I've pretty much given my girlfriend the iBook. Unlike the J720, which had a really good keyboard (Psion quality), the C760 has a thumboard. OK for entering names and dates, but not for much more. So I bought a PockeTop keyboard and am now back in business using this PDA as my main computer. What more can I ask for? It runs Squeak pretty damned well and has the most full-featured and fast web browsers you can get on any PDA, and one of the best browsing experiences I've had on *any* computer.

This school year will tell whether or not the Zaurus cuts it, but I have high expectations. With the new version of qpdf, I can finally read the articles I get from professors, which was a *huge* barrier when I owned a SL-5500.

I went through a few other PDAs in between- an iPAQ 3150, Sharp Zaurus SL-5500, and a Dell Axim X5 Basic. None of them could cut it. The SL-5500 was a huge disapointment in a number of areas- screen was total shite, battery life horrible, and there are few decent applications. The Axim was a good machine, but after having been used to bigger screens for my whole PDA career, I just couldn't downgrade to a wee 240x320 screen. (although the Dell has the brightest and sharpest 240x320 screen I've seen!)

M

Whenever Slash mentions PDA's for $700 dollars...

[DRWHOISME]

i skip the article. :)

But...

[eightball01]

Could it play Quake 3? No? Then it WON'T replace PC's.

predictive text

[Anonymous Coward]

That issue a shampoo about thesis lack of predictive texture one thesis keyboard. I ample using predictive texture right now and I think it's great!

Laptop replacement?

[photoblur]

Sure it's a nice device, but I agree with Mr. Mossberg... it's too expensive. For $700, the price of a low-end laptop, I'd expect a lot more. Maybe someone would like to buy me one and I wouldn't have to worry about the price?

Heard that before..

[YomikoReadman]

Once upon a time, there was a portable PC. It was called a laptop. The laptop became more and more powerful, got a larger screen, a more functional, almost desktop like keyboard, and the price began competeing with the desktop. People started to say that it could replace the desktop.

Has anyone else heard that story? I heard it 10 years ago, and it still hasn't happened. All together now; "No portable computer will ever replace the desktop you have at home." Oh, and as far as your 7.1 sound in the PSP, that only means that it has the capacity to implement it. It still only has 1 tinny speaker, 2 if you're lucky, and if you really want 7.1 you will be tied to a tv, and that defeats the purpose. As for the rest of your comment, I don't currently own a pda either, but i really wish i did. Certainly not this one, as the price is pretty outrageous. But replace a desktop? These things won't even replace a laptop.

Re:Heard that before..

[Trevalyx]

Once upon a time, there was a portable PC. It was called a laptop. The laptop became more and more powerful, got a larger screen, a more functional, almost desktop like keyboard, and the price began competeing with the desktop. People started to say that it could replace the desktop.

Funny thing, that. You wouldn't beleive how many people I know and have worked for that don't have main systems anymore. Just laptops. More and more people are buying desktop replacement laptops that just sit around on the desk, but take up less space and do just as much as the tower system they could have gotten instead.
Lots of people have skipped getting tower systems lately. They get a brick of a laptop, thinking, "Hey, it's nearly as powerful, and I can carry it around!" Then they realize that lugging around 8 lbs of computing wonder isn't all they conceptualized it to be.
Of course, I wouldn't say that the laptop has replaced the desktop... Entirely. If you need a lot of power, a desktop is still the way to go, and as of yet, it's no simple matter to build your own laptop... The fact of the matter is, however, that laptops have come a long way, to the point where they are nearly as plentiful as desktop systems... It's not unthinkable that palmtop systems could advance to such a state that they could take up a lot of the functionality of main computers, either through internal resources or calling upon the resources of another, more powerful computer over an as- of- yet- not- present- wonderous suprely fast, globally available wireless connection.

A lot can change in ten years.

This market will be driven by the users

[Yxes]

Let me start with a quote from Tom Robbins author of "Still Life With Woodpecker"

When she was a small girl, Amanda hid a ticking clock in an old, rotten tree trunk. It drove woodpeckers crazy. Ignoring tasty bugs all around them, they just about beat their brains out trying to get at the clock. Years later, Amanda used the woodpecker experiment as a model for understanding capitalism, Communism, Christianity, and all other systems that traffic in future rewards rather than in present realities.

As we continue to move add with technology, let's not forget that the all of this comes from somewhere after all. It's the programmers, the designers and the users that make up the bulk of what we use today and though we are constantly dicated by doctrine (ie advertisements, public speakers and the like) ultimately it's the masses that dertermine what is useful. It's not the number of features that matter... it's the usefulness.

Cost of Memory Stick

[gyrojoe]

If you can afford a $700 PDA, I'm sure you can afford a memory stick as well. Unless of course, you have one of those already because the memory stick is an extremely popular (and useful) storage device. Oh wait... nope. How about an SD or PCMIA slot instead since this IS a "mini" laptop.

Hmmm $700...

[Chris_Mir]

Is that including SCO licence?

Glaring error in the report

[Fideaux!]

You should be able to sync to a Macintosh using Mark/Space's The Missing Sync just like I do with my ancient (over a year old!) NR-70v

Why?

[dimer0]

Why are you reading this article? Don't you know there's a power outage? Geeze...