The PEG-TG50 CLIÌ handheld features Palm OS 5 software, high-resolution color screen, built-in voice recorder and MP3 audio player, providing everything you need to stay organized and entertained. Integrated keyboard can be used to type in new appointments or take notes on the go. Don't want to take your notebook PC on the road? You can view native Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the handheld with no need to convert the files. Integrated Bluetooth networking feature will allow you to browse the web using wireless connection with similarly enabled cell phones. Very unique, very Sony.
Sony’s PEG-TG50 Clié is a bit of a maverick in terms of its hardware design which incorporates a rather solid flip-up lid which protects the screen and a tiny keyboard.
The PEG-TG50 runs Palm OS version 5, and has Bluetooth built in. The processor is a nice fast 200MHz Intel PXA 250, and 11MB of the 16MB of RAM on board is available. There is a Memory Stick slot if you need more. The screen offers a resolution of 320 x 320 and is square rather than the more usual rectangular shape we’ve seen in other Cliés with a clamshell type design. The keyboard is small so you’ll need to use the stylus or a fingernail to make the most of it, and entering text is pretty slow. Though on the plus side, an orange backlight provides illumination when you press a key, which could come in very handy in dark situations. There is a Graffiti area which is software driven so you can use this for text input instead of the keyboard.
Among the huge amount of software Sony provides pre-installed is a voicenotes tool so you can record memos to yourself, Sony’s own music player which can cope with both MP3 and ATRAC3, and the superb Picsel viewer for looking at documents and images in a range of popular formats such as HTML, PDF, Microsoft Word, and JPG. If you are a user of either Sony’s DSC-FX77 Cybershot or DCR-TRV80 Handycam then you can remotely control these TG50.
The hardware design makes this PDA a lot thinner than other ‘flip lidded’ Cliés, which means it should fit more easily into the average pocket, though it isn’t especially light, and it lacks the digital camera that other flip lidded Cliés offer. Still it does have something of a personality, being pretty unique in the looks department. --Sandra Vogel
Early Adopters Pick: March 2003 One of the most feature-packed handhelds ever, the Sony Clie PEG-TG50 handheld includes a high-resolution color screen, built-in voice recorder, MP3 Player, integrated Bluetooth networking feature and more.
The PEG-TG50 Clié handheld, which features the latest Palm OS 5 software, provids everything you need to stay organized and entertained. The integrated keyboard can be used to type in new appointments or take notes on the go. Don't want to take your notebook PC on the road? You can view native Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on the handheld with no need to convert the files. Integrated Bluetooth networking feature will allow you to browse the web using wireless connection with similarly enabled cell phones.
Display
The PEG-TG50 features high resolution on its 320 x 320 pixel backlit color display, which can display over 65,000 colors.
Operating System
The Sony Clié PEG-TG50 is powered by Palm OS 5.0 for more processing power, multimedia features, wireless connectivity, and higher security than OS 4.1.
Extra Software
The PEG-TG50 comes with the following Sony software: Audio Player, Clié Album, Clié Files, Clié Launcher, Clié Mail, Clié Memo, Clié Remote Commander, Clié Viewer, Image Converter v. 1.0 (for PC), Memory Stick Backup, Memory Stick Export v. 1.3 (for PC), Memory Stick Import, Movie Player, PictureGear Studio v. 1.0 (for PC), PhotoStand, Photo Editor, Remote Camera, Reversi for Clié, SonicStage v. 1.5 (for PC), Sound Converter2 v. 1.0 (for PC), Sound Utility, Voice Recorder, and World Alarm Clock.
Compatibility
The Sony Clié PEG-TG50 is compatible with Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, and XP Home and Professional Edition.
In the Box
The Sony Clié PEG-TG50 comes with a USB HotSync cradle, stylus, AC Adapter, AC cable, hand strap, installation CD-ROM, instruction manuals, End User License Agreement, Graffiti card, and limited-warranty statement.
1 Not the best handheld, but it is still my choice.
The TG50 is not the best Clie, but it is my top choice. I bought it when it first came out, and I broke the motherboard by having it in my bag. I loved it so much I ordered another one on ebay for $110.
2 TG 50
I got my tg50 from ebay, you all should. It retails for about $300, I got a used one(that is great) for $97, less than I payed for my clie sj20 (b and w screen)
1- keyboard, gotta have it cause i hate graphiti
yah it takes a little getting used to but i like it (but it obviously doesn't compare to the one on the ux50)
2- Truely awesome crisp colorful screen
3-well thought out and overall fantastic design
4-very thin (1/2 inch thick)
5-OS 5
i previously had a sony sj20, which has a palm OS (no OS 5), so I am used to a palm pda, but that being this pda is extremely easy to use, I never looked at the manual, but figured out all the features anyway.
Neccessary accessories include
-a memory stick (64mb if just using for apps, 256 if you want to store a few songs(get these on ebay too, for about half price))
-a case, if you are getting a case that stays on it all the time(custom fit) which I recommend get the Bellagio one, its nice and it allows the pda to hotsync in a cradle while still in the case
3 Down and Out After One Year
What a nightmare. I had bought my Clie less than a year ago when it refused to stay on. After several tries to do a "hard boot" on it where I had to constantly restore y data from my back up I called what Sony loosely refers to as Customer Support.... What a misnomer. It took me approximately 10 days just to get a person on the phone that understood the problems with my Clie and agree to let me send it in for warranty repair. I found the Service Tech's rude and very hard to understand. I needed to repeat what the problem was with the unit several times and was told it wasn't under warranty. I had to prove to them the date of purchase...not a problem.
Once they got their hands on it they decided that it had physical damage that caused the problem. I had had an area on the screen that had faded for at least 1-2 months before the problems began on a unit I used several times a day. After 10 days they phoned me back to say it was physical damage and they needed $138.00 to cover the repair and shipment of my unit. After I had paid the ransom for the return of my Clie to me it took another 15-20 days of constant phone calls to get status of the repair. Once they stated it would be sent the next day and to call for a tracking number. Once that they were waiting for parts, then that it was in for exchange due to the fact they were unable to keep it booted. This was my initial problem. Finally have someone call back from Sony San Diego stating that they no longer made my model and want to send me a sub-standard unit to replace it. If I want them to replace mine with a like unit that had the equipment on it I once had I will have to give them another $60.00. They have little respect for their customers and have no qualms in using the old it was physical damage to make up for a poor warranty service. To this day I still have nothing resolved. I would give anything to have bought from any other company than Sony.
J. Peterson R.N.
4 Sony Clie TG50 and my eMac
I bought my Clie TG50 a week ago as the sales person said "it runs OS 5.0 so it will work with your eMac", I learned sales clerks know as much as I do about technology! I purchased the refurbished Clie and bought it home 200 miles to learn it isn't compatible at all with my eMac. After phone calls and frustration, I learned to download "Missing sync" off the internet ($40), go to apple.com, download iSync and iSync conduit for PDA. Now I was finally having some success. Now that I have my eMac talking the same language as my Clie TG 50, I am really digging it. I love the date book, the memo's, the fact with a memory stick I can listen to music. I have downloaded a freeware game or two. My old paper date book has been retired, now I pack around a lite little box that has my info and some entertainment to boot. And my purse weighs a lot less!! In a way, if that clerk hadn't sold me this Clie', I wouldn't have learned so much about it and my eMac.
5 Very good value for your money
I have used the TG-50 for about 9 months now and it has performed well. In addition to the basic PDA functions, I like the one button activated voice recorder. I also use it to play MP3s and music videos and it works well.
I use Outlook on my PC when I hot sync, and have not had a problem. The software that comes with the TG-50 lets you sync with Outlook without much hassle.
The only irritaion that I have had is, sometimes it will give an error and the only option left is a hard reset. However, when it comes back up the most recent data is still there (I use a memory stick). Use the TG-50 with a memory stick and back-up regularly. Data back-up is essential no matter what technology you use.
Bottom line is...It really is a cool little gadget, and provides great value for your money.
6 what a bummer
I bought this unit to replace my wife's palmIII. I thought that it would be a wonderful upgrade (color screen,keyboard etc.). We don't need all the bells and whistles,but I have a lot of Sony products and trusted the company.
I'm no computer geek at all, and after four hours of trying to get this thing to sync with my computer, I took it right back to Circuit City to get my money back. No matter what I did, it would not sync with my computer. I installed the software,uninstalled it,removed it, deleted it, reinstalled it,and everything else I could think of, and it still would not sync with my computer.It was next to impossible to find a human being at Sony to talk me through this ordeal. I breathed a sigh of relief that all this horror I went through did not screw up my old palm's ability to sync.
I feel that without the ability to sync, the handheld is useless. You need a backup of everything, in case your info is somehow lost(batteries go dead or whatever). So I had no choice but to get rid of this useless piece of junk.I'm very upset that I wasted 4 hours of my life in this horrible experience.
7 Highly Reccomended Over Palm
Pro's: High res screen, Great multimedia features, built in backlit keyboard, etc.
Con's: No built in wi-fi
I love my new toy. I'm actually writing my review on it right now. I get a new one of these about every year. I started with a Palm Vx, then a Sony CLIE SL10. Now I'm on a TG-50. The MP3 player puts out amazingly good quality music. I'm not even going to buy a seperate MP3 player. The movie quality is great, you could put a couple hours on it, right now I only have a couple of my favorite ads though. The voice recorder function is fun to use. No one even knows when your using the voice recorder. Overall I love it and the amazing brushed metal styling. I wish it had built-in 802.11b but I found a website where you can pick a memory stick adapter up for only $159. For the time being it's my favorite gadget.
8 Great PDA, I've bought two
The best thing that I can say about this product is that when my original one was stolen, I immediately replaced it with another of the same model, even though newer ones (like the high-end UX-50) had become available.
I bought this one because it was the smallest & lightest PDA available with a keyboard. After 4 years of struggling with Graffitti, it took me roughly 30 minutes to adapt to the admittedly tiny keyboard on the TG50. I found that I could two-thumb data using the keyboard far faster, and I've never used Graffitti again.
The two most important considerations with this model are the size and the keypad. Graffitti junkies should avoid this model, but I suspect that I'm not the only person who finds the Palm OS handwriting recognition technology is troublesome. Likewise, those who want a really big screen for watching movies should get a different PDA. Personally, I like carrying it in my jacket pocket, and find the lid to be convenient and not the least awkward. The metal case is sturdy & scratch-resistant, and for me, it would be silly to put this PDA into a carrying case. Its a tool to use on a daily basis, and I'm not taking heroic measures to avoid scratching it.
Battery life is a bit disappointing, and I recommend purchasing the battery adaptor which allows you to recharge the internal battery using 4 AA cells. I have no reason to believe that battery life is any worse than competing units, though.
I already have memory stick devices, so this is a convenient media for me. I'm using a 512Mb stick without problem. Although earlier Sony laptops cannot be upgraded to read these larger sticks, its easy to put MP3s and other data onto the memory stick by using the Import/Export utils. This is a very useful capability in which a TG50 in the cradle can function as a removable drive in Windows.
Its a bit disappointing that only 11Meg of internal memory is available, but in practice, this hasn't proven a problem. Most 3rd party apps support add-on memory. I've put all my BDict foreign language dictionaries on my memory stick, for instance. Those with a large number of applications can even store & run the apps from the memory stick, as long as they use a third party launcher, like SilverScreen.
Speaking of MP3, the player is a bit vanilla, but does a fine job of playing music. Ironically, Sony's proprietary ATRAC3 format is not supported by the Memory Stick Pro standard necessary for 256Mb and larger memory sticks. After experimenting with ATRAC3, I never use it any more, ripping my CDs to MP3 instead. I'm not sure why you'd want to view movies on a dinky little screen like this, but the movie player does work. Its very practical to use a Sony camcorder to store an MPEG on a memory stick and play it back on the PDA. Ripping DVDs is a lot more complex (look to one of the Clie discussion boards for suggestions on how to do it), and I don't have the patience or desire to do it, but I have downloaded and watched about 40 minutes of video, just to prove it could be done.
The jog-dial and backup button on the side of the PDA are quite useful, allowing simple left-hand operation of all the built-in applications and many 3rd party applications. Although the jog-dial was useless on laptops, its perfectly suited to PDA use. When talking on the phone, for instance, I can pull my PDA out of my pocket, flip open the lid, and review my schedule and contact info with my free hand.
Speaking of phones, I do not have a Bluetooth mobile, but I've tested this, and it does connect to the Nokia, so I have every reason to believe that it would integrate well with mobile phones.
I do use Bluetooth to synch with my laptop, which works very well. Its nice being able to travel without needing a synch cable. Also, the TG50 can receive files sent by other Bluetooth devices. It only recognises .VCF and .TXT, asking your permission to store the received object in either an address book entry or memo. An inexpensive 3rd party utility called ReceiveIT will let you add support for additional file extensions, so you could accept JPGs and .DOCs, storing them in the memory stick, if you like.
PicselViewer will let you view either of those types of files. The screen is small for viewing full-sized documents, but in a pinch, you can scroll around and read the whole thing. Its kind of handy sometimes to be able to view PDFs, Word docs, and graphics.
The built-in applications for manipulating bit maps seem pretty weak, and I'm not interested in doing that on my handheld. You can setup a slide show, and given how cheap memory sticks are, its perfectly practical to carry around slide shows showing your family, your vacation, whatever.
The ability to store voice memos was appealing to me, and I do sometimes 'jot down' ideas verbally when it isn't convenient to use the keypad. I have accidentally left the voice recorder running a couple times, but I've trained myself to always leave the Power button in the 'hold' position, so it isn't a big problem.
Although the built-in applications are decent, I'd already been using some 3rd party apps on my Handspring, so I put the latest versions of them on my Sony. All of the following work fine with the Sony, supporting the jog-dial, color, and the high-res screen mode. I launch them one-handed using the row of 4 application buttons across the top of the keypad. Datebook5 for calendar and todos, KeyContact for contact list, and WordSmith for memos and larger documents.
I'm totally pleased with this PDA. Its fast, convenient, attractive, and sturdy. It fits my needs perfectly.
9 ambivalent about this product
In some ways I find this product to be good; in others I find it to be atrocious.
Good: palm os, keyboard, display, scroll wheel on the side, ability to synchronize with Outlook
Atrocious: the intellisync software it comes with does not sycnh with Outlook (I use software I have from an earlier PDA), the voice recorder feature is next to useless, the multimedia functionality is not very useful, the product is larded with software for which you need to buy full versions.
I like its utility; its extras leave something to be desired.
10 useful, keyboard is a bit klunky
The screen is nice and bright, very readable. I have only used it for basic stuff so far (Calendar and Address Book), but it does that fine. It syncs with a PC, and I've had no software problems or glitches with it at all.
I wanted a PDA with a keyboard, and I do find it handy, but it's tiny and there's three different shift keys (standard, red, and blue) to get all the characters supported. Typing numbers is particularly awkward (it involves the blue shift key), which is too bad, because you need to do that a lot.
As other reviewers have noted, the documentation is skimpy. There is a quick-start manual but it doesn't have much detail. I thought there was no documentation on Grafitti at all until I found a tiny reference card in the box (that's apparently all .. I guess it's not a problem if you've used this before). Their Web site doesn't help much either, although there's some kind of advanced guide referenced there they want you to pay money for.
I have looked at the Palm Tungsten C and Handspring Treo 600 - both also have keyboards. Maybe they're better, and they do have more features (the Palm has WiFi, and the Treo is a phone too). However, the Sony is significantly lower cost. I'm happy enough so far to not want something higher up the scale.
11 Can you have too many bells and whistles?
Overall this is a good unit. Sony's screens put Palm to shame. The colors are brilliant and the readability is excellent. It runs fast. Most of the programs I need have Palm 5 compatible versions. The main problem is that, jammed into my pocket, something always happens. For example, the voice recorder is easily set off or the Memory Stick pops out. These are plainly annoying. The voice recorder can fill up your memory card and drain your battery. The keyboard in poorly contoured and basically useless. It would be much better to have a larger, 320 X 480, screen to have more room for the Graffiti entry window. The function buttons have dual functions and are not convenient. The "software" graffiti window is good and bad. It is good to see what you have entered as you trace it. It is bad that the screen is so small that its location is fixed. (Graffiti was best on the old Newton. You could move it anywhere on a screen that was not much more than 320 x 480 pixels.) The photo viewer is LAME. There is no way to go to the next photo in your cue unless you go back to the slow to render thumbnail view. This could have been a great unit with a few changes. Lets hope Sony gets it better with the next generation. Lets also hope they do the trivial work (Palm and Apple really have done most of the work for them) it would take to support Mac OS X right out of the box.
12 poor screen
If you can afford the NX models and don't mind the extra weight, go with those models. My criteria for choosing this model were size/weight, processor speed, and price, in that order.
This is a great little product. Compared to the Palm m500, this is about 2-4 times faster. I don't particularly like the keyboard because the keys are not raised. I find that the design of the Palm Tungsten is much easier to use. I do have to agree with the other reviewers that it's arkward to tap with the stylus and type with the keyboard. Because of the extra step in accessing the graffiti input area, I have migrated to using the keyboard.
The screen is great, except for one little thing. The backlight has to be on all the time. Without the backlight, the screen is hardly visible.
13 PEG TG50 missing some functionality
I have had the TG50 for about a month. I agree it is an excellent combination of a lot of features. One glaring problem for seasoned Palm OS users (which I spent about 2 hours on the phone with Sony Tech Support on) is that the graffiti shortcuts that work with every other Palm OS device, includings Sony's NX/NZ series, do not work on this device. I find it very frustrating to pull down a menu and see the option with the shorcut (i.e., /L is Lookup), but when you try to type anything in the graffiti pop up screen, it does not work. You can still tap the functions with the stylus, but it is a bit of a pain to type on the mini keyboard while holding the stylus in your hand as well. I guess this is the price you pay for having both graffiti capability and a keyboard. Had I known about the limited functionality, I would have gone a different direction- say a Palm Tungsten series with a keyboard and Graffiti 2, or a model with a full graffiti screen.
14 A Top-Notch PDA
I have only had this PDA for a week and I love it. The color screen is gorgeous. My previous PDA was a trusty Palm IIIx, that had lasted forever, but now I wonder how I survived without a color screen.
It was very simple to get it synched with my Outlook (Exchange Server) using the software that Sony provided. The new "Launcher" menu system that Sony has created for Palm OS 5 has made it so that you can navigate to all the applications with just one hand, no need to fumble with the stylus to open the mp3 player.
Just be sure you purchase a memory stick (try Lexar rather than Sony), otherwise you can't use the mp3 player.
So, if you are looking to spend less than $400 on a PDA this is the one to get.
15 fantastic little gadget
I helped my mom pick out this PDA about a month ago and it hasn't disappointed since. Even with her being new to the PDA world the design and features are simple to use and figure out. True there are not many instructions included but with a little intuition and some help from an experienced Palm user it should be no problem. The screen is of top-notch quality, the buttons are all well designed and easy to use. So far the included memory is sufficient, even for large medical database programs like she is using it for. The keyboard is great for those who don't like to/don't know how to use graffiti, and including the keyboard in a lower priced model than any of the NX models was a smart move by Sony. The only thing is that sometimes using the keyboard and having to alternately tap with the stylus can be a little awkward, however such a small annoyance is worth it when using such a great PDA. The OS is straightforward and aesthetically pleasing also. So much more fun to look at than the old home screen of most Palms! Another feature that comes in handy for those on the go is the voice recorder function, you simply press a button on the side of the unit and it begins recording. And of course, as with all of their products, Sony has done a great job creating a sleek product that draws eyes and envy whenever you pull it out! I think Sony finally heard the complaints about their flimsy flip covers on previous models(such as the T-series) and is now putting built-in solid flips on most of their models like this one. Although she hasn't had a chance to try out the MP3 player, I'm sure it works well. We just bought a Sony digicam and it's fun to pop in a memory stick and have your vacation pics to show off on the fly! All in all, this product is great for almost anyone, it has ample power and memory, and will be a breeze to use for those familiar with Palm, and might take just a little practice for newcomers. It's also reasonably priced for the quality and features. Pick it up!
16 Pretty darned good
I bought the TG-50 about a month ago after having my handspring visor for 3 years. I loved the functionality of the palm os and hoped 5.0 would remain simple. Although most of the OS usability survives it does as much as the windows pocket pc. It plays movies beautifully and is easy to convert (if its a file format that the sony convertion software likes, dont like divx for instance) and loading mp3s are pretty easy and sound great. The screen is bright and easy to read and the keyboard is actually faster than graffitti so I rarely even use the stylus. I was disappointed documents to go was not included as this is geared toward the business user whats up with that? What good is being able to view it with their packaged viewer if you cant edit on the road (doesnt replace my laptop unless I buy Doc to go)
pros: Great screen; great price...; FAST 200mhz processor; nice materials, good multimedia capability; easly to sinc up with Windows XP; and Palm 5.0 OS
cons: stylus pops out the bottom pretty easily; no SD slot; no Compact Flash slot; One of the few Clies that doesnt come with Documents to Go; low basic memory (buy a 128K mem stick at least with the clie); the great world clock and calculator prepackaged with older OS no longer avail on 5.0
I would have given 5 stars if it had SD or Compact Flash and slightly better software package.
17 Versatile but may be tricky for new users of Palm
I previously owned a first generation Handspring so I was familiar with palm pilot technology and I was blown away when I finally finished my research and purchased this item.
For the price you get a very good MP3 player, color backlit screen, built in keyboard and standard Palm OS software. This unit had everything I wanted and while it was pricey to get a memory card stick I have been pleased with that feature.
I have put over 20 songs and several photos on the 128 meg memory stick and it is easy to switch the songs off with others on your PC.
My only complaint with this item would be that for new users of handhelds this item may be daunting. The manuals are not very helpful and if you are not relatively familiar with computers and handhelds you might find it takes some time to get used to but if you have someone who can help you set it up you are in the clear!
18 Amazing product, durable, easy to use, best PDA!
I have had my clie peg-TG50 for about a month now, and I love it more every day. It is an amazing product for the price. This is my third PDA, the others were a handspring deluxe and a handspring treo. The sony by far is superior in so many ways. It is metal, it is durable, has a speaker, built in mp3 player, typically beautiful sony screen, small but usable keyboard, bluetooth, is a recorder, backlit keyboard, etc. It is very easy to use as well. I dont know why people are complaining about the lack of instructions, just go to the web site and you will find EVERY detail about your product without decimating forests to do so. I have had no compatibility problems, I am running windows xp home edition, works exactly as promised. If you need a ton of instructions you probably have not used palm devices before and need to get a book on it. I doubt you could have ran a normal computer without some basic guidance to begin with either. So anyways great product, all my friends who have palms, handsprings, or pocket pcs are seriously considering the UPGRADE to the clie. About the only negative thing about the product is its a little heavy, but small price to pay for the durability of metal.
19 Pretty good PDA
I know its pretty hard for you new pda buyers to choose the right pda. tg50 was my first pda and i thought it was a pretty good pick. it looks great. the flaws about this pda is that the keyboard button is a bit small but i got used to that. also another which isnt a big deal is the stylus is located on the bottom of the pda and it would slip out once in a long while. the good thing about this is that the color is great. the remote control feature is pretty cool too. look-wise this pda is very sexy. right now im trying to get online with my pda and im waiting for bluetooth dongle to come. if you guys dont need to go online with your pda, i suggest that you get the palm zire witht he camera, i think thats a pretty good palm at a great price.
20 Looking for a Palm OS 5 PDA, THIS IS YOUR BEST CHOICE
Currently, I won a DELL PPC, Palm Zire 71, and Sony Clie PEG-TG50. My favorite is the Sony Clie. Why? The Sony clie has a fast 200 MHz processor, good batter life, much better than my Dell PPC, and Has an expensive feel. This PDA also includes a Bluetooth, Keyboard, and Syncs very well with my MS Outlook on my Windows XP Dell PC, and MY Toshiba Laptop. This PDA has almost the same specs as the more expensive Clie Models, without the larger screen and graffiti area, but you can still use software graffiti built into the os. If you were to buy a Zire 71, then you must know that you're getting a product from China, whereas the Sony Clies are made in Japan. Also, Zire 71, has a weak MP3 player that doesn't sound loud when you use it with your headphones. Sony Audio Player sound louder and richer. Zire 71 also as a very cheap digital camera that doesn't look good when you transfer the pics on your computer. Don't even talk about PPC. Once I only used PPC, but Palm OS 5 seems to be very competitive. If decided to go with PPC, then you better get used to soft booting at least couple times a day and recharging the battery frequently. If you think the Sony Clie PEG-NX70V with a flip screen is good, then this little device is the same thing in a slick little package. At this point, for [the price] I would go with Sony Clie, since it has good software packaged, 200MHz processor, built in Bluetooth, and is easy to carry around. If you must have a graffiti area and need a cheap digital camera, I would go with Zire 71. I would know this because I own all three units I've just described.
21 Does not work with Windows XP and Outlook 2002
The SONY PDA does not synchronize with MS Outlook as advertised. This is not an isolated problem. I have seen many postings on the Internet concerning this issues. SONY does not have a solution.
I have a DELL Notebook running Windows XP and Outlook 2002 over a standard office network.
I have spoken to SONY Tech Support 4 times for over 6 hours! I have reinstalled every piece of related software (SONY, Intelisync and Outlook) and still I cannot synchronize with my computer
I own a number of Sony product including my home computer and a digital camcorder. I am very disappointed in SONY and cannot recommend this product.
22 Not Very Impressed with Sony PEG-TG50 !
About a week ago, I bought the Sony Clie Peg-TG50 and, quite frankly, I am not very impressed. Without the "Memory Stick", which is another ...over the TG50's price tag of ..., this unit is very limited in functionality. A good number of the "features" listed in the "Read Me First - Operating Instructions" manual state that a "Memory Stick" is needed to perform most of these features. If that is the case, why didn't they charge an extra ...and included sufficient memory in the unit itself! -- My other issue is with the documentation supplied with the unit.....or should I say lack of hard copy documentation. The hard copy manual they give you provides very little information and keeps referring you to the manuals they have loaded onto your computer when you installed the software. There are numerous manuals loaded onto your computer, some in PDF format, some in HTML, all of which are an annoyance to use. To net it out -- I'm not very impressed!
23 Aesthetically pleasing, functionally realistic
For now, this is the perfect PDA for me. My previous PDA was the Handspring Platinum, a great PDA in its own right. The CLIE TG50 looks beautiful and it works beautifully. This has all the necessities without the unnecessary frills. IMHO, a camera on a PDA is "cool" but not a necessity. I would rather have the Bluetooth that's built into the TG50 even if I still debate it's usefullness. The only functionality I wish they built into this CLIE is a CF slot, but that would have made the Clie a bit thicker so I can live with this absence, especially since MS with rebates from Lexar seem to be going for about the same price as CF these days and with the new MSPro you really can't complain that MS format is limited to less memory than CF.
Having a keyboard is now a must have for me. It is 100% easier to write with it than virtual graffiti. It's not as good as say keypads on the Blackberry's but it does get easier to use. I have no problems using the TG-50 keyboard with my size hand (I wear medium sized gloves for reference). Fumbling with the function keys is still a hassle but using the freeware app such as OKEY has facilitated using the keyboard and reduced the use of the stylus. Plus for the times you still want to use graffiti, GraffitiAnywhere makes this happen with a touch of a button.
The screen is so well designed that watching MPEGs on it was really nothing but amazing. The wavy lines are there, as has been observed, but I have forgotten about it since I first noticed it 4 months ago. And you would be hard pressed to see the wavy lines while watching movies or viewing pictures. Besides how silly would it be to just stare down at the wavy lines the whole time. You really need to see the screen in person to appreciate how well this is designed.
Since it appears the new Sony Ericsson T608 phone will never come out, I've only had the opportunity to use BT with my home machine. It took some time to configure and even when configured it was not all that useful. Surfing on the PDA is cool, but when I have a desktop to surf off of, it just didn't make any sense. At this point I just like having it for the nerd-factor, I mean future proof factor.
If there were any negatives for me, it would be the stylus. It feels a bit too light and not balanced well for writing. The stylus on my Handspring Platinum was designed much better than the Sony one. Who knows, maybe the money spent on R&D for a stylus does not justify the returns.
24 Don't lose the instruction manual!
Don't get me wrong. This is a wonderful PDA as you would expect from Sony. It's just very confusing at first. Remember when you were first introduced to MS Word. You were glad that it could do everything but were frustrated trying to figure out how. Likewise for this PDA. Sony's approach to OS5 breaks from tradition causing the user to have to find all the essentials( info, delete, copy, screen brightness etc.). It's all there. You just have to page through the manual to find it. And that's just the beginning. Count on being joined at the hip with the instructions for at least the first couple of weeks.
There are two accessories that are a must have with this unit- a memory stick and a case. You should be aware that this unit is advertised with 16mb of ram. Not so. You only get 11mb. I don't know why. Since this unit has state of the art audio and video (once you figure out how to use it) you will need a memory stick of at least 64mb with 128mb a better choice. You will also need a case.
There is a case made ONLY for this model. It is Sony Pega CA62. It comes in 3 colors- black, brown and red. ... The case is not leather (polyurethane) but is well made and fits the TG50 like a glove. It really is very nice and worth the price.
Finally, this unit is rather large and heavy. I would not recommend putting it in a shirt pocket no matter how deep. You are tempting fate for losing it. If you want a killer PDA that does everything for a great price then you should consider this unit. Just don't lose the instructions.
25 TG50 - former bestseller inTokyo
I brought my TG50 from Tokyo to the US where I am for engineering grad school. My program adviser in Tokyo Univ gifted this to me and she owns eleven PDAs (!) as collection for hobby. She said she chose TG-50 because it it most reliable and stable of her collection with NO hang-up, crash, and freeze. It is also her fastest PDA in terms of applications. Form-wise, she say, TG-50 is not as pretty as her others but function-wise (and maybe fun-wise) she says that the Clie is No. 1. I believe her judgement because she was integral computer engineer (for Toshiba and Mitsubishi) and professor at Tokyo U who is expert in micro-electronics and computing. To this day, my TG50 perform as excellent as she promise it would. Maybe you can buy it and I promise you will not regret its performance.
26 Catching up to Pocket PC
The TG50 finally puts Palm devices in the same league as Pocket PCs in terms of multimedia features, but the multimedia applications are developed by third parties and thus feel a little bit less integrated than built-in Palm OS functions. The TG50 comes with TONS of software, but it also means the interface is quite cluttered, making it difficult to find something esp. for new users. The lack of the Graffiti area also takes a little getting used to. Finally, the screen is very high resolution and bright, but too small, so if you are over 35, you may find the screen next to unreadable.
All in all, this is a well integrated device that gives you tons to do with your PDA: videos, images, MP3's, plus office apps. The thumboard is usable. I'd say in the multimedia department the Pocket PC feels more mature and stable, but the TG50 is a solid contender.
27 I'm disappointed!
I've been waiting with high anticipation for the TG50. I'm a long time Palm user and looking to replace my aging Palm V. I know that I want a Clie because I've heard and read a lot of good reviews about them.
When I found out about the TG50, I immediately thought that this would be "THE" Clie for me. The price is right and the spec is pretty impressive... Palm OS 5, 200 Mhz processor, built-in keyboard, and built-in Bluetooth. Bluetooth is significant for me as I already own a Bluetooth phone and I want to do hot-sync to my PC via Bluetooth.
Last night I had my first opportunity to check out the TG50 at a local store. But in my 30 minutes of playing with it, I found several annoyances with this unit. They really bugged me and they made me change my mind about getting the TG50.
I'll warn you that my review will be negative because I'm disappointed with this model for the reasons I'll explain below. I'm *not* saying that this model is bad. This is a very capable unit that will make a lot of people happy. Unfortunately those annoyances do really bug me and I won't be happy with it.
OK, here are some of the annoyances I found:
I found that the flip cover is a bit hard to open. When the cover is closed, its edges are flush against the unit and there's no easy way to grab it with my fingers. Also because the cover is so thin, my fingers always grab both the unit and the cover at the same time, making it even more difficult to open the cover.
The TG50 doesn't have a dedicated Graffiti area. Actually this is a feature of Palm OS 5, which supports "virtual" Graffiti pad (the Graffiti pad can be shown on the screen as necessary). The other Clie models that implement this is the NX and NZ models. They have a small "soft" button on the right hand corner of the screen to show/hide the virtual Graffiti pad. I use the term "soft" button for buttons that are shown on the screen itself (as opposed to real "hard" button). On the NX and NZ, you can show/hide the Graffiti pad anytime you like.
The TG50, on the other hand, has a dedicated hard button to show/hide the virtual Graffiti pad. Immediately I found some quirks with this button.
1. Apparently Sony implements a rule that "you can show the Graffiti pad ONLY if you're currently in text mode" (i.e. with the cursor blinking). If you're not in text mode, pressing this button will give you an error message! Note that in the NX/NZ, you can display the Graffiti pad at will, regardless of whether you're in text mode or not. This is very annoying IMHO to say the least because now I cannot use Graffiti unless I'm editing text.
2. When the Graffiti pad appears on the screen, it occupies about the bottom 3/4 of the screen. The upper 1/4 area is used to show what you're editing/typing (fields, row, etc). So if you're editing a long memo for example, you see only 3 or 4 lines at a time.
3. I found it very clumsy to display/hide the Graffiti using the hard button. You're holding the stylus, then you have to press the button with your finger. Do this several times and you'll see what I mean.
4. I don't understand why but I get the impression that Sony seems to favor the keyboard than Graffiti. But then the keyboard is also hard to use. The keyboard is cramped and the keys are really close to one another and they don't have good tactile feedback when pressed. I found that the keyboard on the NX/NZ is way better.
To conclude, those are the flaws I found in my first 30 minute of using the TG50. It's a very nice package with a nice spec, but I can't stand the annoyances so I gave it 2 stars. If you're looking into buying this unit, please try it first and see if you can live with the annoyances I described.
As for me, I've decided to go with the NX60. The NX60 price has fallen and now it can be had for just a few bucks more than the TG50. I've played with the unit a lot and I haven't found anything I don't like about it.
28 Most powerful device in the slim design.
PRO:
1. Palm OS5, 200 MHz CPU and the built-in keyboard. (Though the keyboard is a bit stiff, I find it prevents me from entering wrong letters.) The size of a notepad (It's 2 7/8 x 5 x 0.5)
2. Voice Recording with Built-in Microphone. One click to start recording and the quality is so SONY.
3. Browsing the web without paying an extra bill. Using Bluetooth enables me to connect to my cell phone (T68i which has built-in modem) and to dialup to Earthlink to get the internet access anywhere in the US. Getting my Earthlink account setup on the Palm and receiving the emails is also effortless.
4. Awesome color display. I can read the web page content without zooming in and scrolling left and right, even in 320 x 320 screen. I don't feel the screen is small at all.
5. MP3 player has three levels of BASS and you can create a playlist. The sound quality is really great and the device has a built-in speaker as well.
6. ItÁ?s a TV and VCR remote. Setting up the remote is an ease.
7. Long battery Life. I tried 5 days without charging and it's still going. Also, you can save the battery life when you listen to MP3 by shutting down the screen. (Just switch to HOLD)
CON:
1. Most of the apps haven't been developed for this model yet. Ex: I installed the Document-to-Go that came with PEG-T615C but the text got all smashed together.
2. Little built-in memory. I need to make changes to my Memory Stick when I installed new programs on it.
Conclusion:
This device is designed for users who want to have internet access. Although the speed of the internet access can not be compared to Wi-fi connection, the dial-up speed through cell phone isn't unbearable. Besides, when you have a Wi-fi connection, don't you have a computer close by most the time. On top of which, I could save that extra money for the Wi-fi service for getting a faster connection. All I need is to read some news articles and to receive emails.
Personally, I think this is the best PDA out there. IÁ?ve seen many models and been waiting for this device for a long time; I want a device that is thin and light in my pocket. Having the same size of a 3 x 5 x 0.5 inches notepad, I know I made a right decision. When SONY named it 'Personal Entertainment Organizer', they are absolute right. I really have a lot of fun with this device and yet stay organized.
