The Sharp OZ-290 Organizer has 1MB of memory in a sleek new PDA style design and metallic finish with protective flip cover. Nine built-in PIM functions include: telephone/address books, calendar, scheduler, date reminder, memo, to do, expense, world clock, calculator and conversions. Touch screen navigation-stylus stows conveniently inside the unit and the 14 x 5-line display has a backlight for easy viewing. Includes an English/Spanish word translator with approximately 20,000 words, and Black Jack and Alpha Attack games for hours of fun. The CD-ROM software and a PC-link cable is included for sync with Outlook.
1 Not a very good organizer
I bought this item thinking it would be great but it really isn't. I generally use the "Phonebook" Feature but you can't fit much on one line, plus it looks awful once you save it - you have to go back in and edit it a lot in order to make it look presentable. My game feature didn't work at all and the screen is really difficult to use - I had to tap certain letters several times before they would come up. The only thing it really has going for it is style but that alone is not worth it. I would not recomend it at all.
2 BEWARE - different model shipped than ordered
BEWARE - When I ordered this product on Amazon.com, TigerDirect actually was the seller, and they billed me the amount indicated, but shipped me a lower version of the model than advertised. I was shipped an OZ-290, not an OZ-290H. The model shipped to me does not have the health functions such as the pedometer and the calorie function. When I called customer support at TigerDirect they did tell me that I could return the item for a full refund, but that the item I thought I was ordering was more expensive and they couldn't do an exchange. TigerDirect claims this site is mis-linked. Beware that if you purchase this product you are actually buying an OZ-290 without the pedometer and calorie functions.
Otherwise, if you are looking for a simple electronic organizer that does the job, and you don't mind investing a nominal amount of extra time to learn how to use this organizer, over an easier to use Palm Pilot, and you don't want the pedometer/calorie counting functions, the Sony OZ-290 is a good buy. But I would go someplace else before buying from TigerDirect again.
3 Worst Organizer on Earth
This is the worst Organizer I've ever had or laid eyes on. I messed with the USB connection for hours, and the bottom line is, "It doesn't work very often!"
"IF" you are lucky enough to establish a USB connection, you can import or export csv files without using Outlook. However, be warned that your USB connection can, and probably will, be lost in the middle of the transfer.
I didn't save my Sharp packaging, but I will try to return it anyway. I will NEVER buy another Sharp electronic device after the experience with this one.
Shop around, find something that works. Your time is more valuable than messing with this Sharp "DIS-organizer."
4 Not bad but synchronization with Outlook has issues
I needed an organizer that would hold my phone numbers and addresses and be able to transfer that information from Microsoft Outlook with ease. That wasn't the case for me.
After encountering problems with synchronization, I called Sharp's support. I was very pleased with how quickly they answered the call and at how pleasant they were. I talked to two different support techs and they both tried several steps to help fix the problems. They weren't able to help but I was very appreciative of their attempts. Since this was a gift and my husband didn't keep the receipt, I was forced to try to figure out a solution myself.
Conflicts with Outlook 2002 that I experienced:
1. When I exported my Outlook contacts into a file so I could import it into the organizer, the field headings did not match Sharps field headings. Any headings that didn't match didn't get imported. Also, the Outlook contact type (personal contact or Business contact) didn't come through in the export and none of the records were imported into the organizer correctly under "Personal" or "Business". I was able to manually edit the exported file and change the headings to match the organizer. Then, it worked.
2. I've read that the phone number format for Outlook 2002 is hard coded based on the geographical region you select in Windows. For the United States, the phone number format includes parentheses around the area code which does not work well with the organizer. Sharp pulls in the parentheses but then leaves a large space after the area code which causes the end of the number not to display.
3. When I used the synchronization icon located in the taskbar, it would consistantly freeze during the process. The communication was made between the devices but something caused it to freeze in the transferring process. I learned that when I got to the point where it froze, I could close Microsoft Outlook and then I would recieve a message from Outlook requesting permission to transfer e-mail addresses (or something like that - can't remember exactly). When I said yes to the message, the transfer completed. Unfortunately, I still had the issue with the parentheses, though.
My solution to these issues was to create my own .csv file (this is the file type that the Sharp software looks for when importing), using the same headings as the Sharp organizer and format the phone numbers with dashes, leaving out the parentheses around the area code. This worked great when I imported it in. I can't use the synchronization feature of the organizer because it doesn't give you the option to go to a file (it automatically goes to Outlook) but I still can import info in from my created file using the utilities Sharp provides.
The icons are a little small to see on the organizer but that doesn't bother me much. The lid doesn't close securely but I don't know if that'll be a problem yet. These issues aren't much different than I found in other organizers in this price range. I like the looks and size of this one.
Basically, I like the organizer alot except for the compatibility issues it has with Outlook 2002. Sharp's support did say that they would look into the problems. They felt that maybe Microsoft had made some updates to Outlook that was causing these problems.
5 Don't waste your money
I bought this so called Wizard Organizer and used this for one day and without any hesitation I returned. This is my frank advise to anyone who is looking for a PDA. Add some more money and buy some thing which is worth. It is very difficult to understand the function. Secondly it is not at all user friendly and screen doesn't look good at all. Happy surfing for a better organizer !!!!
Vinu Varughese
Philadelphia
6 Not Bad For Starters
This palm pilots good for people who are just starting to use pda's. If you want somthing simple to put your schejule or phone numbers in, this is good for you. It could have more features though and it sorta hard to see what's on the screen. But otherwise its a good pda to start out with.
7 Totally Pleased
I bought this organizer on my first day of work, I was thinking of investing in a rather expensive PDA and then I saw this.
Pros:
-Looks cool -- like other PDA's
-Has all the functions that I need, calenders, memos, to do lists and reminders to meetings etc.
-And yes if you learn to use the organizer properly, you can indeed enter MORE than 1 entry to your lists per day (this is to refute some one's comments on this organizer before me.)
-I like the calculator feature.
-The stylus works really well.
- The 3 alarms are really cool, way better than my cell phone. One rings everyday at the same time, another rings when you want it to, and the third rings as a reminder for appointments.
-It is so much cheaper (and has all the features I wanted) than what I thought I wud end up spending on expensive PDA's esp since I wasn't looking for Wi-Fi or MP3s in them!
-You have the option of turning off the display of the synchronization program when you boot the PC. (someone else mentioned that this troubled him/her.)
Cons
- The 9 pin serial port sucks in this world of USBs and I am thinking of getting a Serial port to USB converter to make things work.
Overall, I definitely recommend this product to all those who could do with an organizer (without the Wi-Fis and all) but are not really happy with the price of PDAs in the market.
8 Waste of Money!
Very unreliable! I had three of them. All died within a month from the date of purchase, so I had them replaced twice and finally lost my money. It is cheap, but steel does not worth it's price!
9 Sharp's OZ-290 personal organizer
The Sharp OZ-290 has a sleek appearance and isn't too difficult to find and use all of it's functions even without the manual but the excitement ends there.
With a 2 X 2.5 inch screen containing 5 lines of user data and 5 lines reserved for data input and function selection, the user needs good eyes and a steady hand to make data input; especially the ten fixed symbol options at screen bottom. I suppose data input is going to be tedious on any personal organizer that doesn't have an extensive keypad.
The OZ-290 allows backlight adjustment and has a real button to illuminate the LCD. You can set the time allowed for this lighting from 10 to 30 seconds to conserve the life of the twin nitride batteries supplied with the unit. Contrast ranges from 1-8. I only found the highest setting to be useful and still struggled to see clearly at times in directional lighting from windows.
Things like the date format and memory testing / usage are also part of the Menu configuration as well as the PC/LINK and key tone on/off toggles.
Getting back to screen and symbol sizes, even with my magnifier enabling me to see the symbols adequately, I still poked the wrong onscreen selection frequently or failed to hit anything at all. Of particular difficulty was the bottom line with ten narrow selections. That's when the thought of a real paper pad rather than this virtual device might be a more logical solution to memory aid. The omission of the anemic (2) games option and the redundant enter button would give a wider and easier to see and useful area for the remaining functions.
The left 15% of the data screen is wasted in my opinion with a blank space and then a solid block to show the user that s/he is viewing entered data. This adds to word wrap that for some reason seems to put one or two characters on a line all bit itself making for a messy display. I think this is probably characteristic with these devices though. Still, I wish I had that 15% available for real data.
There is some provision to edit the field data names but for the most part you are obligated to at least pass over some n/a fields of data input. It is a little reminiscent of a US government 1040 tax form wasting the preparer's time with generic lines of questions which do not relate.
The software that comes on a CD and RS-232 9 pin serial port connector cable are both outdated accessories. The OZ-290/ZQ-290II Desktop Utilities software assumes the user has MS Outlook (not Outlook Express) and is all but useless without it. What you are left with is the ability to back up and restore the six individual data features, one-at-a-time! Owners may be left with the question of why not have the ability to backup / restore all of the stored data at once.
What's worse is after the PC software is installed and self-starts when you boot your PC's operating system, you are presented with the communication port selection query again. Something that should be remembered and tested without prompting. The really annoying thing though is the box that reminds me that Outlook could not be found -- each and every time.
At about $30 the OZ-290 isn't a big waste of money and some may even find it a reasonable investment but cheaper less known brands have similar features and interface with your PC. My advice is to either go real cheap or search for a better unit with up-to-date software and perhaps a USB connection.
10 This isn't even deserving of one star!
If you are looking for an organizer do NOT buy this. It takes for ever to enter information into it and there are no helpful features that help you repeat calander entries. The calander only holds one scheduled event a day. As for birthdays you can also hold only one per day.
If you only want a spanish/engilsh translator, buy this. If you want a "personal organizer" I highly suggest you do some more research and get something that will be useful to you.
11 Very looking unit for the money
I purchased this unit as Xmas gift for my baby sister. She was
really impressed about the features this unit has and she thought
that I spent a ton ;)
12 more than i paid for!
This is a great not expensive little handheld organizer. It is perfect for taking it places. It has a english/spanish translator, two basic games, an address book, notes, place to store memos, a to-do list, a expense mode (you can enter how much money you spend), clock, and a calculator. This is a very nice little gadget to organize every day.
13 Good PDA for the money
I checked every PDA in this price range. That was my only waste of time. I asked for this as a gift, and I'm glad I did. Hey, if you have to compare every feature on all of these items, then you probably need something better. Get an m130. If you're buying this for a young student (9-13 yrs. old) get a Phusion. As long as you need a good organizer for it's reference, get an OZ-290. It won't sing, it won't dance nor will it take a lot of info on the fly. That's what paper is for. Beyond that the OZ-290 works very well, and it's easy to use. Believe me, I'm no rocket scientist. Hooking it up to my PC was so easy I thought it might set itself up. Whoever wrote the instructions deserves a medal for it's simplicity. The only major drawback that I see is that it only works with Outlook. NOT Outlook Express. (Note to Sharp: Think simplicity: Outlook Express) Minor gripes are that the cover does feel flimsy. Don't drop it. I'm no fan of the plastic screen cover. It may be tougher than it looks, but I have this terror that it'll tear. Overall, I am happy with this and I think I will be for some time.
14 Pretty Good for the Money
So it isn't marvelous, glamorous, or the easiest thing ever to use or figure out. But heck, it costs $30, and it keeps track of everything you REALLY need..... I would recommend it to all.
15 Make sure you know your needs before buying
This product performs as expected for the money, I guess, but it has some limitations that don't fulfill my needs.
-The screen is hard to read in any light.
-Takes too many steps to input data.
-There is no way to input weekly/monthly repeating items on the calendar without putting them in one by one.
-I wanted to keep track of a shopping list but was limited to 96 characters in the memo feature.
-I have Outlook Express and presume that it will not be compatible.
-The cover flips open nicely but would prefer one that locks shut.
I was hoping to use this as a phone book/calendar/note pad that I take with me everywhere but will probably be back to my old wall calendar, post-it notes, and paper phone list in a month or so. I just bought this unit yesterday and am still learning about it so with time I may find other features to overcome my misgivings.
Wish I had done better research before I bought this and then I would have bought one that better suits my needs.
16 good bang for the buck
I just bought this little item and as far as I've used it, it works great. The bells and whistles work as advertised, it's easy to learn the features and I'm glad I bought it. The only negative so far is the hook up to my P.C.. It requires a 9-pin port, which I have one of, and that is currently being used by my U.P.S. unit. Since most new PC's today have a multitude of U.S.B. ports, it would make sense to make the connection thru one of these. Still, if you don't need a "Palm" then this serves its purpose nicely.
17 The OZ-290 Is A Good Deal For What You Pay!
When I received this item, it was in the kind of packaging that
stores use to display items (like batteries for instance). I was POSITIVE that this COULDN'T be what I ordered. But, since I had it in hand, and my AMEX card was billed, I decided to open it. I was amazed at the quality and features it has!
PROS: It has Schedule/To Do List, Telephone/Address book, Anniversary AND other reminders, an Expense mode for people who have to turn in Expense Reports, and more.
CONS: I ruined 2 pairs of scissors trying to get the thing outta the package! It comes with a 9-prong PC attachment cable, AND a CD-Rom, but when I opened mine, no CD. AND they don't tell you up front your PC "MUST BE IBM OR 100% COMPATABLE" AND you have to have "MICROSOFT OUTLOOK".
COMMENTS: This is a great little PDA, it's a quality item (the
cover opens on 2 hinges so the cover can lay flat behind the display, cool feature.) Overall, THIS IS A GREAT ITEM AT A GREAT PRICE.
18 Waste of Money
This organizer is a waste of money. I bought it for my teenage daughter. We both found it so clunky to use that it just sits in the drawer. Each entry takes 3-5 steps, reviewing data is even more ridiculous. HUGE waste of money...spend the extra bucks on a low-end PALM.
19 wack
Waste of money broke when i got it because 500 pound cousin sat on it
20 Works well, more features than expected
For [this price], this is well worth it. More features than expected, even comparable to Palm Pilots, minus handwriting recognition. The features are good and the touch screen/stylus works very well. Not too difficult to use, even w/o manual. The protective lid seems solid enough and protects well. The stylus fits in the side like Palm Pilots and is useful. There isn't to many cons for the money. Little improvements could be a second caps key that doesn't act like caps lock, changing "mobile" to "cell" so the intial is not confused to "home" (M vs C, to not confuse with H), a cancel/esc key, ability to repeat schedules + repeat alarms, and have the next/previous key as on screen as well, like the enter button.
This are all pretty minor, compared to the benefits of the pda, so I highly recommend this for someone who doesn't need a Palm Pilot and definitely doesn't need a Pocket PC. Good price, good features!
21 More than worth the money I spent on it
I wanted (and got) an inexpensive electronic organizer, which would give me the functions of a calendar/schedule and an address book. This unit has both as well as a calculator, English/Spanish translation dictionary, several different type alarms, a memo function, a backlight feature, a couple of basic games, a conversion mode for metric measurements and currency (when you know the exchange rate), and the ability to sync with my Windows computer using Outlook. The unit has 1MB of memory, which is plenty for storing tons of addresses and memos for 150 years into the future. (The calendar goes from 1950-2150. It goes backward for what reason??)
Pros:
1. It has a backlight.
2. The stylus tucks away in the unit and it works precisely. (So does the end of an unclicked pen, in case you lose the stylus.)
3. Batteries *are* included! (2 Lithium batteries, model CR2032. One for unit operation and one for backlighting.)
4. It has an auto power off after 7 minutes to save battery life.
5. Data isn't lost while replacing batteries as long as you do it quickly and don't pull out both at the same time.
6. The @ and dot (.) symbols are conveniently available so you don't have to search for them when you enter an e-mail address. You can enter other symbols by toggling through a list of 32 different ones.
7. There is a 5-line display and the letters are a good size for reading.
8. It has a protective cover that flips neatly to the back while you're using the unit.
9. The search feature for names & addresses is nice-- it searches by last name.
10. Address fields you can enter are: last name, first name, company, home#, office#, fax#, mobile#, e-mail, address, city, state, ZIP, country, and note.
11. There are 3 kinds of address books: "Unfiled" "Personal" and "Business" for organizing your contacts.
12. The memo feature is nice for storing all those account numbers you can never remember.
13. It has a password lock feature for privacy.
13. The accompanying operation manual is well organized and clear to understand. (It's also in Spanish.)
Cons:
1. The screen has a glare to it unless you hold it at a certain angle.
2. The backlight isn't very bright- more like a "glow." Use a lamp when possible. It's probably good in pitch dark.
3. Some of the screen words like "MENU" and "EDIT" are very small-- have your reading glasses on!
4. I doubt I'll ever use the language translator, so to me it's a waste of space. (Hey, I can read the Spanish version of the manual!)
5. The data entry is not as intuitive as I would like it to be. (I had to read the directions.) And there is no "ESCAPE" or "CANCEL" for navigation.
6. The "ENTER" key on my unit is up-side-down.
7. It has a slightly annoying habit of wrapping words and phone numbers to the next line unless you insert spaces to keep a word or number together.
The following are requirements for synchronization with your computer:
-IBM PC or 100% compatible
-Windows 98/98SE/2000 Prof/Me/XP
-Pentium 300MHz or higher
-50 MB free disk space
-64 MB RAM for Windows 98/98SE/2000 Prof/Me
-128 MB RAM for Windows XP
-Available 9-pin serial port
-CD-ROM drive
-Mouse
-Microsoft Outlook 97/98/2000/2002 must be installed to use the Synchronization Software between the Organizer and your PC.
I don't have Outlook (only Express) and haven't tried this feature. Someone else will have to report on it. (Sorry)
Overall, I think I got more than what I paid for. This is a nice organizer and is superior to its paper counterpart address book and appointment calendar.
