A great PDA for beginners and power users
Written: Mar 13 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Outstanding color screen; compact, solid design; a delight to use
Cons: Cradle and Mac-compatible sync software must be purchased separately
The Bottom Line: The CLIE SJ30 is an outstanding PDA for both light and power users and includes a remarkable color screen. Just be aware of what ISN'T included.
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| writerguy's Full Review: Sony CLIE® PEG-SJ30 Handheld |
I loved my Palm IIIx, which I used constantly for almost four years. However, the time finally came for me to move on to something with more horsepower, more memory, and a bit more color. After extensive searching, reading reviews, and going to electronics stores to actually hold various gizmos in my hand, I selected the CLIE SJ30. I haven't been disappointed. First, I couldn't believe how small it is - shorter, narrower, and slightly thicker than a deck of playing cards. This is important as I tend to carry my PDA in my front pocket. The Palm IIIx was only slightly thinner but wider and longer while the SJ30 is emminently pocketable. The thin Sony stylus took a bit of getting used to after the heavier, thicker Palm style but now I appreciate the lightweight design.
Unlike some of the other small PDAs I sampled (the Handspring Treo, among others), the CLIE SJ30 feels very durable and well made. I'm not a huge fan of the thick faux-suede cover that flips over the screen and do miss the hard cover and implied protection offered by the Palm. However, the cover does seem to be durable and I have to admit that it's easier to open one-handed when necessary. I'm still getting used to the scroll wheel and back button on the side of the CLIE. I tend to forget they are there after four years of Palm use. Not all applications are "scroll wheel savvy" so I'm never quite sure what it's going to do. Of course, as a lefty, the scroll wheel and back button aren't in the most convenient location - they are ideally suited for right handers to use their thumb to scroll and toggle the back button. As a lefty, I have to use my index finger, which isn't well positioned for the scroll wheel's motion and also makes me feel like I'm not holding the CLIE as securely as I might want to. However, I can't fault the designers at Sony for putting the wheel and back button where 90% of the population will find them most convenient.
The color screen is outstanding. The 320x320 screen is sharp and very bright. I played around with the backlighting to conserve power but as I tend to keep the CLIE in a cradle (more on that later) at home and at work, it is virtually always fully charged. As a result, I leave the backlight on full. After all, if you've got the color and the resolution, you might as well enjoy it. If I was going to be using it non-stop for several hours, I'd probably dial it down but it hasn't been an issue so far.
One of the reasons I selected a Sony PDA was that I also own a Sony digicam. The ability to take a memory stick full of photos and preview them without any additional formatting on the larger, high-res PDA screen was very appealing. I also have a 32 MB memory stick always in the CLIE, storing a few apps there as well as a full backup of the CLIE's entire memory. The SJ30 comes loaded with a variety of memory stick-specific applications as well as several graphics apps, which allow you to look at digicam photos, movies, and do a bit of doodling.
I had no problem moving my applications from the Palm IIIx to the CLIE. There were a few that I chose to upgrade to take advantage of the high-res screen but that was a option, not a requirement. I tend to use all of the standard organizer files (Contacts, Date Book, Tasks, Memos) as well as a variety of other apps, including Listmaker, Vindigo, Documents to Go, etc. Sony's version of the standard Palm apps are virtually indistinguishable from the Palm apps though the CLIE's Contacts allows you to include a high-res photo as part of the contact information. All in all, my apps have worked like a charm. As a Mac user, I also use Entourage X as my desktop organizer. It was nice to see that the MS Entourage-to-Palm conduit worked without any problems when I went to sync my systems.
The two issues I have with Sony revolve around what isn't included with the CLIE SJ30: a charging/sync cradle and native support for Mac users. Sony would have lost my business on the PDA front if I hadn't learned about "The Missing Sync", a third-party software conduit that enables a CLIE to sync to an Apple computer. I had to admit to feeling a bit of trepidation as I ordered the CLIE, hoping the reviews saying that "The Missing Sync" worked just fine were accurate. When the CLIE arrived and I loaded "The Missing Sync" (which I had downloaded earlier) on to my desktop, the hot sync process to Entourage X went off without a hitch. I can't confirm it but I would expect that the same will be true if you are using Palm Desktop for the Mac. "The Missing Sync" also allows the memory stick in the CLIE to appear on the desktop as another drive, enabling you to load and unload files directly. The drawback - "The Missing Sync" costs an additional $29.95 on top of the cost of the CLIE.
The other cause of my annoyance was the lack of a cradle. While the two cables that come with the CLIE work just fine with regard to charging the built-in batteries and connecting to the computer, it is extremely annoying a) to have those loose cables lying around your desk and b) to plug and unplug them to bring the cables to and from work. Needless to say, I elected to purchase two cradles (one for the office and one for home) and leave the cables in my briefcase, in case I need to charge the PDA or sync it to my PowerBook when I'm out and about. The cradles are very sleek, well made, and much more visually appealling to have on my desk than the dark grey cradles from Palm. However, the cradles aren't cheap - $49.95 for a single cradle with the USB connection and the power cable.
In the end, this meant that I had to spend an additional $130 to get the SJ30 operating with my Mac and convenient to use both at home and at work. That's the only reason I gave the SJ30 four stars rather than five. Ignoring those additional (and optional - unless you're on a Mac) costs, the SJ30 is a fantastic PDA and a worthy successor to my beloved and venerable Palm IIIx.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 249.00
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Epinions.com ID:
writerguy
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Location: Bristol, RI
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
35-yo marketing professional and power Mac, PDA, and electronics user
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