Two New Handhelds From Sony

MeatWad writes "Sony has announced the SJ33 Palm OS 4 model with a high res color screen and mp3 player for $299. At the same time the FCC has leaked info on the next Palm OS 5 Clie with bluetooth and an integrated keyboard called the TG50. Sony can sure crank out the cool gadgets."

The article mentions an mp3 player

[nizcolas]

but only mentions a memory stick as a media format. The stick mentioned is 4 mb. That's enough space for approximately one song at high quality. The article also mentions the memory stick is incompatible with the new memory pro format.

FCC?!

[sixdotoh]

What is the FCC doing leaking info on new Palms?! I find that hilarious. Well, okay, maybe not *hilarious* . . .

Is this new or do I just not pay attention to stuff like this? Too bad the CIA doesn't "leak" stuff too . . . *sigh*

No cell?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony has some great form factors - the only problem is that its useless to me without cellular data capability. And on top of that, all of these Palm and PocketPC devices have compatibility issues with 3rd party software.

So here I am with my 4 year old BlackBerry - with the integrated keyboard and old chromatic screen - running off of the obsolete Mobitex pager network...and it does about 90% of what I want to do when I'm away from the office - mail and calendar. No it doesn't have a built in camera - no it doesn't pick my nose or wash my car - but it does exactly what it claims. The best part is, I feel safe leaving it around my daughter.

There's no winning in this game. Palm is dying. PocketPC is too complicated. RIM is obsolete. Symbian sucks.

Re:scared of getting slashdotted?

[lpret]

Actually, this is a great idea. If they got a heads-up, even more kudos.

I dislike all handhelds and probably always will

[Loundry]

I don't think any handhelds will ever be for me. Sure, I've tinkered with them, and even found them convenient, but they suffer from two big problems:

1. The display is too small.

2. The input devices are too inconvenient/cumbersome.

Unfortunately, fixing either problem in a handheld would defeat the killer app of the handheld: portability. This is why I'm waiting for the device that uses a display that's directly connected to my optic nerve and uses neural-impulse-driven input. Am I right in thinking that this is the logical evolution of personal computing? And we think security is a big deal today. Heh, just wait until I can hack into your optic nerve!

Memory Stuck (tm)

[lastberserker]

No matter what gadget Sony makes next I'm not buying if it only supports sticks. CompactFlash is by far more flexible and cheaper, why should I pay extra to support further limitations of my choice?

Re:Is it just me.. ?

[mog]

I think that part of the problem exists in the very reason you site to say that there is no problem. Palm devices are very functional. That's what they're really designed to be, and that's what they do very, very well. What this means is that my Visor Deluxe serves my "schedule and notes" needs perfectly. I can't envision ever feeling the need to "upgrade", at least until the thing mechanically dies. Palm devices have their market, but it isn't one that ever really requires upgrading to function well.

My Palm IIIx still works fine thanks

[bogie]

For a databook/addressbook/variousMobileDB's it still works great and is supported by every OS on the planet. Right now I sync with Evolution and it works very well. Another bonus is the batteries last a long time. I know if I leave it for weeks on end it won't be dead when I go to use it.

I think most users buy these new(read:expensive) PDA's thinking of all the cool things they can do and then over time just end up doing the basics. There are definitely some really cool features on the new PDA's(wireless etc), but before you go blowing $300-$500 on the lastest and greatest consider if you really need those features and if a mini-notebook(more capabilities) or used Palm(just the basics) might serve you better.

BTW anyone else have their car buried in a 5 foot snow drift.

Re:Insightful???????

[Anonvmous Coward]

"I beg your pardon mods, but thiscomment is not insightful. It is, in fact, uninformed and irrelevant. Sony has been one of the first companies out there to do something about digital rights management in an unintrusive way..."

As long as you use Sony's products. Face it, they're worse than Microsoft. The only difference is that Sony's not as visible in our world as MS is.

Sony makes sure that you play by their rules. I'll give you an example: What's the standard format for a memory card on a Digital Camera? Compact Flash. What type of memory cards do Sony Digital Cameras use? Memory stick.

You can accept Sony if you like, but they're about as proprietary as you can get. For digital rights, that's Not Good(tm).

Re:Memory Sick?

[exhilaration]

Though I too have huge problem with propietary memory (I have an existing investment in compact flash cards), the quality of Sony's products leaves everyone else in the dust. I look forward to purchasing the P800 once it's available for a low enough price in the U.S. And anyways, the memory market is already so fragmented - CF, SD, MMC, Memory Stick - it's hard to fault only Sony.