Sony T415 Drops to $250

Posted By: Ed Thursday, January 10, 2002 2:20:54 PM

Sony has dropped the official price of the PEG-T415 by $50 to $250. As always, Sony gave no reasons for this and has a company policy to never call attention to price cuts.

This is an unusually quick price drop; the T415 only began shipping from SonyStyle in late November. This may not a good sign. When a company drops the price this soon on a handheld, its frequently because sales are weak and the company may be hoping to spur demand.

The T415 is a 320 by 320 monochrome model. Though only .39 inches thick, it has a Jog Dial and a Memory Stick slot. It runs Palm OS 4.1 and has 8 MB of RAM and 4 MB of Flash ROM. It uses the 33 MHz Dragonball processor from Motorola. Its infrared port has been enhanced to let it be used as a TV/VCR remote and it has an improved speaker and audio abilities.

Thanks to Frank for the tip. -Ed

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Waiter, there's a PDA in my soup

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:34:27 PM #

Nobody wants to pay $300 to look at their calendar through a layer of split pea green soup, which is what the display looks like. Sorry Sony, you flubbed this one.

RE: Waiter, there's a PDA in my soup
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:38:20 PM #
Sorry, you are very incorrect in your description of the T415, and I must defend it.

It's really much more of a creamy blue chowder.

RE: Waiter, there's a PDA in my soup
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:41:20 PM #
Just think of it as free window tinting. Looks like smoke colored to me.

RE: Waiter, there's a PDA in my soup
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 4:55:56 PM #
I stand corrected.

RE: Waiter, there's a PDA in my soup
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 7:58:34 PM #
Actually, I paid about $249 to have my car windows tinted, so maybe now it's a fair price ;-)

They may have to drop it to $150...

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:36:57 PM #
the screen is that bad. This device might have a hard time competing with the m100/m105, if it was even in that price range. Otherwise this would have been a nice device feature-wise. Why didn't they just use the same type of screen (though hi-res) other Palm OS devices use?

RE: They may have to drop it to $150...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 8:03:17 PM #
I bet the combination of high-res and super thin meant coming up with the new split pea display.

RE: They may have to drop it, period
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 11:48:28 PM #
Norm

One theory...

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:36:34 PM #
Maybe there are too many people holding for T615C instead of buying the T415, so the sales of T415 is not very good, and Sony has to push T415 a little harder.

Since T615C is expected to be priced at around US$400, a US$150 difference for a 65k color screen + 8MG RAM is quite reasonable. Don't compare this to the price difference between m505 & m500 - the price diff between the m50x is small because the m505 screen really sucks.

RE: One theory...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 2:46:39 PM #
I think that's just one of the small factors that contribute to slow sales. Obviously, slow sales of the T415 is the major cause for the price drop. The reasons in order of importance would probably be:

1. Didn't quite come out in time for Christmas
2. Dark Screen
3. Not-So-Good reviews on lots of sites
4. People waiting for the T615



RE: One theory...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 3:00:29 PM #
And the price difference between the T415 and T615 needs to be huge (using your comparison) because the T415's screen really, really sucks. I'm still waiting to see what the 615's screen looks like in person, before I place any judgement on it.

RE: One theory...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 9:46:24 PM #
I agree. The T415 screen really, REALLY sucks. I'd rather have the screen on my old IIIe than this. I also agree with the reservation of judgement on the T615. I want to see this screen in person - no pre-orders here. If it's comparable to the 415, I might have to look for a discontinued 610 or shell out for the 760.

RE: Screens are becoming more important
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 10:16:10 AM #
Seems that us palm users will not preorder anymore based on simulated pictures of screen handhelds. First the m505 now the T415. I agree that Sony makes the best high end color model, I've seen the screen and it is remarkable. But never base a purchase on the models in the ads, all screens are simulated for the press.

Looks like suppliers need to have in stock all these models, batteries always charged, for buyers to check out the screens. Sorry, Palm, no more of these plastic non-powered palms for display. We users have been burned way too many times! =(

RE: Screens are becoming more important
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 10:41:35 AM #
> Seems that us palm users will not preorder anymore
> based on simulated pictures of screen handhelds.

I certainly wouldn't base my decision on a picture, but I did buy my HandEra 330 based on reviews and a lot of user comments. If essentially everyone says the screen is great, they usually are right. It certainly worked in that case.

Most reviews of the T415 were at least less than positive about the T415's screen, or avoided mentioning it. So I checked it out in the store and it was even worse than anyone had described. Now when I see pictures of it on-line where the screen area is black, I look at it closely to see if it is actually on or off!

The death of grayscale...

Foo @ 1/10/2002 2:59:56 PM #
This is just another example that the market for grayscale devices priced higher than $150-$199 is gone. People are never again going to pay $299 for PDAs that sport a b/w display. Those days are long gone. At the $299 price point and beyond, consumers start looking for more features such as color, wireless connectivity, or multimedia. If a device doesn't have that..it's as good as dead.

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 3:21:16 PM #
I think you're right about the death of grayscale, but the problem is compounded since the T415 has such BAD grayscale. It's not so bad if you use it in isolation and get used to it, but put it next to any other PDA (especially in a store where some average guy is comparing models), and it's hard to justify the T415. I'd personally go with the low res S320 instead, if it were still available.

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 4:51:51 PM #
Whatever happened to a paperwhite display? Paperwhite darnit!

RE: The death of grayscale...
David @ 1/10/2002 5:12:54 PM #
I agree the prices on grayscale models must come down, but until the battery life on color devices is vastly improved, I'm sticking with grayscale (and AAA batteries). I use my Palm as an e-book reader, and want to be able to have it on continously for hours without worrying about recharging.

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 8:06:00 PM #
> Whatever happened to a paperwhite display? Paperwhite darnit!

Stay tuned for the T615. Check the archives for details.

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 9:57:01 PM #
I hope you're right about the T615, because if it falls as limp as the 415, there will be plenty of disappointment to go around.

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 3:28:34 AM #
Not sure sure about that. Personally, until new desplay technology becomes available, color screens are not an option ... not for me, anyway.

Looking at the T415 and Edge at $250 and the m500 for about $300, I think the m500 is probably the best overall choice (with the Edge as a close second). Just my $0.02.

RE: The death of grayscale...
Foo @ 1/11/2002 12:11:39 PM #
I'll lay odds the M500 is next victim in the price war. Palm, Handspring, and Sony should equip these devices with parachutes to help them survive falling prices! =)

RE: The death of grayscale...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 1:17:14 PM #
I wouldn't call it the death of greyscale, but rather the death of lousy screens. I was helping a friend set up his new T415 last night, at first wondering if I should have waited instead of getting a Handera 330 5 months ago. I'm glad I didn't wait because I'd make the same purchase today. Comparing the two screens side by side shows an impressive difference. The HE330's screen is crisp from any angle in most lighting, whereas I had to keep manipulating the T415 to see it well. I think the pixel size is part of it too....High-res is great, but I prefer the Handera even though lower-res because the characters do not appear nearly as thin. I'm sure its wishful thinking, but I hope OS5 or at least many OS5 machines will be QVGA--greyscale and color.

It's the Visor Edge, stupid

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 4:02:23 PM #
The price drop is a response to the Visor Edge being $249. That's all.

RE: It's the Visor Edge, stupid
Foo @ 1/10/2002 4:27:38 PM #
I seriously doubt this is in response to the Edge's lower price. The Visor Edge is a flop, and Handspring still can't move it after 4 consecutive price reductions.

RE: It's the Visor Edge, stupid
mikecane @ 1/10/2002 5:35:21 PM #
The T415 is a flop too. It's just that no one will yet admit it (especially those who went and bought it!).

This price reduction caught me by surprise -- I was just at Sony's site about noon and the price was what it was yesterday!

RE: It's the Visor Edge, stupid
mikecane @ 1/10/2002 5:58:11 PM #
I just went back to Sony's site. It's still list $299!

RE: It's the Visor Edge, stupid
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 7:01:26 PM #
It's $249 here:
http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/clie/index.shtml

but $299 here:
http://www.sonystyle.com/micros/clie/

Sony's just got too many sites that do the same thing. I know they've done this before.

RE: It's the Visor Edge, stupid
Foo @ 1/10/2002 10:46:31 PM #
>Mikecane said: "The T415 is a flop too. It's just that no one will yet admit it."

You can bet your stylus that if SONY is dropping the price of the T415 this soon, they must be rotting on the shelves. As I said, the days when consumers are willing to spend $299 on a plain vanilla Palm are over. Sony will end up eating these things if they don't drop the price another $50.

Its KaKa thats all

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 4:11:23 PM #
Umm, can say $99.95 and it MIGHT sell. I would buy a M100 over that unreadable piece of crap. I see... I see... it and the Visor Edge..... fading.... fading.... away!!!!!!

Sony you F-up BIG time! Pull the plug!
If it drops to $59 i will buy it for a spare remote;)

RE: Its KaKa thats all
mikecane @ 1/10/2002 5:36:32 PM #
That spare remote comment is funny!

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 7:56:55 PM #
Spare remote!!! LOL!!!

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 8:07:55 PM #
It's a spare....and its a remote!! You are a comedic genius!!

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 10:07:43 PM #
HA ha he ha ha heh ha, sped sup ps sup spud spare remo

remote spea4r hah hah I get it!!!!

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 10:09:06 PM #
OMG, that was just the funniest comment I have ever heard out loud, LOL x10 = so funny, can't stop laughing, ow ow, now my sides are hurting, cough ack, blood coming up, heead popping, insides boiling, either I spent $300 bills on a pda that I could have spent on an anthrax vaccine, or that joke was just really funny, really I could have bought a mini-fridge for $250, or some textbooks for school, or an mp3 player with 10gigabites, or a three months supply of junkfood, or a bike, some shoes, a deck of cards, a warm jacket, and some flowers for the homeless lady on my corner, hell I could by some basic decent stuff for all the homeless on my corner. PDA's rule!!! Give me sony, or give me death. That's my philosophy.

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 6:49:40 AM #
spare remote? English is not my natural language...and I must
admit that the spare remote comments is not so funny for me ....maybe someone
can explain it ?
thx
Thomas (....please make me laugh...)

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2002 9:22:44 AM #
One of Sony's selling points for the T415 was that it had a beefed up infrared port and software that allowed it to be used as a "universal" remote for TVs, VCRs, etc. Our friend was simply saying that the T415 is so bad that the remote feature is the only thing that he would use it for, and even then it would only be a spare (auxillary).

RE: Its KaKa thats all
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 9:05:00 AM #
WOW!!!

Makes ya wonder if there is any intelligent life forms
in this forum????

Ka Ka??? geeze what a bunch of tossers!

GH DAVALL


As usual, the anti-Sony roaches have come out again...

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 7:16:03 PM #
It's amusing to see the energy these 1 or 2 losers expend trying to bash Sony at every opportunity. You'd think the T415 was a mass murderer they way they talk about it. Looks like Sony's sudden takeover of the Palm market in the past 6 months (making Palm's and Handspring's models look like overpriced underachievers) has made these posters more than a little insecure in their choice of PDA.

Don't worry - the way Palm is bungling things these days, their days are probably numbered. I wouldn't be surprised if all we'll be able to buy in a year from now will be Sonys.

Here's a group just for those of you obsessed with complaining about Sony:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CLIE_Complaining_Club/

Kiddies - please post your rants there and leave the grown ups at Palminfocenter alone.

RE: As usual, the anti-Sony roaches have come out again...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2002 7:34:16 PM #
Yes, you are completely correct. Your handheld is infinitely superior while mine is a total piece of camel dung. Your decision to buy the model that you did was totally justified while mine was a hideous mistake that will inevitable leave my family out on the street and subject to daily shame and humiliation. Everyone who has ever doubted your genius on any topic really is a total moron who is in the fast lane to the loony bin.

There, now that you have been declared the utter and complete winner, can you move on to something interesting?

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