Sony Cuts Price of T615C by $100

Posted By: Ed Saturday, June 1, 2002 9:46:14 AM

Sony had dropped the price of the PEG-T615 to $300 on its webstore, SonyStyle. Previously, the device was selling for $400. This price is available now.

Sony has already officially discontinued the Japanese version of this model. This price drop is probably intended to reduce the company's inventory as part of preparing to discontinue it in the U.S., too. Earlier this week, Sony announced the T650C in Japan, which will almost certainly be the replacement. It has not yet been announced anywhere else.

Update: Sony has also reduced the price of the PEG-S360 by $20 to $180.

Other online retailers have not yet had a chance to match these new prices and are still selling the T615C at $350 or more and the S360 for about $200.

About the T615C
The T615C has a 320 by 320 pixel, TFT, 16-bit color display and 16 MB of RAM. It has a high-quality speaker, at least when compared to the average Palm OS device. With it, users can convert MIDI or WAV files on their desktop and then play them on the handheld. It also comes with an application that allows it to work as a Universal Remote.

About the S360
The S360 has a monochrome screen and 16 MB of RAM. It runs Palm OS 4.0 on a 33 MHz processor. It was announced at the same time the T615C was, in mid-January.

Thanks to Walter and Ofer Avnery for the tips. -Ed

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Hopefully...

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 10:43:07 AM #
Sony will continue the T615 along with the American T650 (T665?) for a while. This would fill in the price gap between the S360 and the new model quite nicely.
RE: Hopefully...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 1:54:04 PM #
can they afford to keep producing and selling the T615 at $299?
RE: Hopefully...
Ronin @ 6/1/2002 4:21:08 PM #
At the rate that Sony is replacing and discontinuing models the NR70V should be available for $400 or less by the end of the year. Especially once they produce a ARM based model.

Hopefully, they will stick with the same connector when switching to ARM so that there will be usable peripherals.

RE: Hopefully...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 11:47:28 AM #
They are obviously making room for the new T-series with MP3 player. I am going to buy an NR-70v, w/ a BB warrenty. So, when there are no NR70v's left, woops, my NR breaks. ;) I'll be having a free OS 5 device. :)

Price cut on S360?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 10:49:08 AM #
Is the $179.99 price of the S360 another price cut, or was that enacted before? Sony dropped the price of the S320 to $169.99 before the release of the 360, so we might be in store for 2 new models...
RE: Price cut on S360?
Ed @ 6/1/2002 12:18:51 PM #
It's a new price. Thanks.

---
News Editor

Treo 90

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 11:25:47 AM #
is it dead yet? How can it compete with Sony left over price cut? I think this left over Sony and Treo is competeing for the same market space. The people who want cheap color palm replacement unit with basic function.

I hope the mantra of chicklet keyboard and free Wordsmith would work. But than again Sony will come out with their own little keyboard attachment, and time is severely limited to seel these units before consumer seriously think to wait for OS 5.0.

but than again, Sony could just buy Handspring and Palm before than at a cost of some loose change ...

RE: Treo 90
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 11:37:15 AM #
The Treo 90 might be in trouble if the T615 was going to stay $300. But it will be gone in a few weeks and the T650 will be $400 - $450.
RE: Treo 90
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 1:37:54 PM #
i dont think sony will discontinue the t615...they will keep it on the market. the T615 and the T665 will be a duo like the N610 and the N710 were last year.
RE: Treo 90
cykalan @ 6/1/2002 2:04:04 PM #
check the japan side and you will know that this is not the case.

Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!
RE: Treo 90
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 4:56:24 PM #
The Japanese website won't necessarily corrolate to the US one...the Japanese one doesn't have a S320/360 device, and the T400 wasn't cancelled at the time when the T415 was in the US.

I think im getting T615C

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 11:52:46 AM #
$300 is a reasonable price if you own an m505. but im just wondering how it stacks up to m505s battery life. and also will the thumb mini keyboard for T650c compatible with the T615?
RE: I think im getting T615C
4s @ 6/1/2002 12:04:15 PM #
This is a good question. What ultimately made me go with the 515 was number of peripherials, although I hated to trade the hi-res screen for them.

RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 12:55:28 PM #
Two things you must take serious consideration before you buy: first, the battery life is less than 5 hours continuous normal usage. If you turn off the backlight, the screen is too dark to read, different than that of m505. Second, when the battery is going to run out and gives you a low battery waring, you must get it recharged in two hours, or you will lost all data in memory and be forced a hard reset. A big bug.
RE: I think im getting T615C
big_raji @ 6/1/2002 12:58:51 PM #
>Two things you must take serious consideration before
>you buy: first, the battery life is less than 5 hours
>continuous normal usage. If you turn off the
>backlight, the screen is too dark to read, different
>than that of m505. Second, when the battery is going
>to run out and gives you a low battery waring, you
>must get it recharged in two hours, or you will lost
>all data in memory and be forced a hard reset. A big
>bug.

Do you really think the T650c will be any different? As far as I can tell, the T650c hasn't promised any changes in battery life, or screen readability with backlight off. The low battery warning is true of all Clies (I think). That's why there's a memory stick for backup.

I'm tempted to get a T615c, I'm just scared that I won't like the screen. I'm in Canada, and have never seen a T615 in person. I got burned by the T415, thinking that subpar the screen wouldn't be a big deal. I don't want to get burned by the T615.

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 1:42:05 PM #
hey, i own a t615..ok..now..the screen isnt THAT bad..sure its a little washed out, but most colors are still viberant, and YOU CAN NOT compete with a hi res screen the hi res makes a world of difference in every program which supports it.

honestly, what i found amazing about the T615 was how awsome text looked on the screen. the white background was white, and the black text was black..it looked very sharp and crisp.

at $299, I would reccomend the T615 to anyone.

RE: I think im getting T615C
cykalan @ 6/1/2002 2:05:29 PM #
"Do you really think the T650c will be any different? As far as I can tell, the T650c hasn't promised any changes in battery life, or screen readability with backlight off. "

What i can assure you is that the T650 screen is as crisp as the NR70, just with reduced resolution. Bright, and 100% viewability under the sun.


Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!

RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 6:44:50 PM #
Not really reduced resolution, just a smaller screen. Right?

I love my T615. At $300 it's a steal. But I am seriously eyeing the 650 because of the faster processor. The 615 can be a bit pokey. And improved color fidelity would be really nice.

I am, however, seriously concerned that the battery life of the 650 can only be worse than that of the 615 because they crammed several extra power guzzlers without adding any bulk. I've got to assume that that translates into even shorter battery life, no matter what useless battery life number Sony is claiming.

RE: I think im getting a T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 7:09:21 PM #
i have a strong feeling that the T665 will cost 449 when released...but it makes sense to price it at 399. honestly, the color on the T615 doesnt bother me, and i just dont need mp3. for what i use a pda for, the t615 is perfectly priced. $299 is a freakin steal.
RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 11:44:09 PM #
If you dim the brightness of the backlight to about 1/3 on the T615 you can add another 3-4 hrs of battery life over the 5 hours continuous use. It doesn't really affect the overall brightness that much. I was really dissapointed with the battery life when I first got it until I dimmed the backlight and realized it was still very usable - both battery life and readibility.
RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 1:51:16 AM #
the t615s battery life isnt that bad. you can suck out about 10-11 hours depending on how bright you have it set. thats a charge every 2 days. is it really that hard to plop the thing in the cradle every night anyways? ive never seen the battery meter below 80% since i've owned the thing, and ive owned the t615 for 3 months. its a great devise, and at $299, its a steal.
RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 11:07:35 AM #
"Second, when the battery is going to run out and gives you a low battery
waring, you must get it recharged in two hours, or you will lost all data in
memory and be forced a hard reset. A big bug."

I have never heard this. Has anyone else? AFAIK, the worst that happens with the Clies,
just like any other Palm, is that they refuse to turn on, but will hold your data in memory for
a good two weeks after that point. Can anyone confirm?

RE: I think im getting T615C
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 1:32:51 PM #
if your battery dies on a clie, your data is goooooooooooooone....just resync your handheld.

I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 12:59:46 PM #
I wish sony drop their memory stick and joint palm and handspring to support SDIO then I will buy Sony
RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
big_raji @ 6/1/2002 1:07:23 PM #
Memory stick prices ARE cheap nowadays. Lexar and Sandisk make some that are cheaper than the SD cards of the same size.

I just want a bluetooth memory stick already... and not one that costs CDN$350+... what ever happened to "Adding Bluetooth functionality for around $10"?

Bah

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

I wish Palm, Handspring drop their SD change to MSIO
cykalan @ 6/1/2002 2:06:57 PM #
I wish Palm and Handspring drop their secure digital and joint SONY to support SDIO then I will buy Palm and Handspring

Just kidding. But...
Don't you realize that what you've said is just as impossible as what i've said? :P


Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 2:40:35 PM #
Memory $tick is as good as SD for data storage, prices are better and is is open source;

But for people that have gadgets(cameras MP3's) that aren't branded by Sony Memory $tick is not a good option.

I hope Sony also includes an SD like Handera Did. Today most cammeras and gadgets use SD/MMC. With a Clie the only way to share data is buy buying other Sony stuff that uses Memory $tick.

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
cykalan @ 6/1/2002 2:45:14 PM #
right.....i am also waiting for bluetooth.....but i want a built-in one.....not external.......

btw....typo in my last msg......"joint SONY to support MSIO"...

Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 9:49:48 PM #
or do a handera and support both MS and SD (though handera supports compact flash instead of memory stick)
RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
Wollombi @ 6/2/2002 2:24:52 AM #
>"Memory stick prices ARE cheap nowadays. Lexar and Sandisk make some that are cheaper than the SD cards of the same size."<

So what? I still can't use them for anything but a Sony (and soon maybe an Acer). Why do you think Sprinboard died? The size of the modules was a much smaller issue than the fact that they were proprietary.

>"Memory $tick is as good as SD for data storage, prices are better and is is open source"<

MemStick is *NOT* open source. It is a proprietary Sony technology that must be licensed if used by anyone else.

>"Don't you realize that what you've said is just as impossible as what i've said?"<

Actually, it's not impossible. What did Sony use before MemSticks? CF, CD-R, and other industry standards. They could easily do this again, and then be able to use all of the CF periphs that are already out there.

>"or do a handera and support both MS and SD"<

My preference is what Handera did; CF and SD. I liked the form factor of the N760C, and the size of that unit would have allowed it to house a CF and SD slot in the same configuration as the Handera (both on the top of the device, one above the other and the IR port to the left of them). CF and SD are industry standards that everyone is willing to use, and the CF slot allows me to use many peripherals that are already available. There are no MemStick peripherals on the market today (with the exception of the BT stick in Japan), but plenty that work in a CF slot. The point is that Sony handhelds already have enough features to stand out in the market without having to use something proprietary. MemStick is the primary reason I haven't bought a Sony PDA to date.


Just my $0.02. =)

_________________
Sean

It is not very comfortable to have the gift of being amused at one's own absurdity.
-Somerset Maugham-

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 3:42:13 AM #
>MemStick is *NOT* open source. It is a proprietary Sony technology that must be licensed if used by anyone else.

MemoryStick *IS* open source. http://makeashorterlink.com/?J58312AF

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 6:39:24 AM #
I just wish Handera kept coming out with newer models but I'll give them a break until after PalmOS 5 comes out. Look at all those people who pay big bucks for NR clie's which will be unable to be upgraded to PalmOS 5 or any other version after it.
RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
cykalan @ 6/2/2002 6:46:20 AM #
Actually, Compact Flash and MMC are also propietary. They are proposed by SanDisk Corp. alone.

So why always argue whether propietary or not, anti-Sony trolls?

Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 6:56:16 AM #
> Actually, Compact Flash and MMC are also propietary. >They are proposed by SanDisk Corp. alone.

>So why always argue whether propietary or not, anti-Sony >trolls?

>Alan

Dear Mr. Pro Sony Troll: Are you blind? See the facts propietary or not the only devices using Memory $tick are Sony branded devices.


MMC/SD on the other hand is used by many devices (cammeras, PPC, Palm OS, MP3s, etc).

I don't care if the media is propietary or not, or wether Mem. Stick is better or stronger. I just want to be able to share my data among my devices and my Clie.

Sorry Sony but I am not buying every thing Sony branded.

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 7:17:57 AM #
in case you didnt know..... Memorystick´s marketshare is 7 times the market share of SD flash ....
RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/2/2002 9:52:02 AM #
For people that want to share information among devices Memory Stick is useless.

What the use of having that market share (which i doubt) if only sony branded devices use the Memory Stick?

SD/MMC is used by Handheld computers, Cammeras, MP3 palyers, Digital recorders, etc.

There are many manufactures supporting SD/MMC(Palm, Handera, Compaq, Toshiba, Hewllet Packard, Casio and many others)

If you use memory stick and want to share info or photos among devices you are forced to buy from Sony. It is sort of monopolistick.

RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/3/2002 8:34:33 AM #
Does the same pro Sony troll keep posting the same Memory Stick FUD every time this topic comes up? Memory Stick is in no way, shape or form "open" in any sense of the word (unless Sony has once again changed their licensing structure very recently). If I remember the terms reasonably, Springboard and Compact Flash are "open" for developers to produce devices that connect to those slots without fee. SD and CF are "open" in the sense that you can pay a "reasonable" fee to join the respective organization and be able to provide input and vote on the standards for the format itself. Memory Stick is in neither of those categories.
RE: I wish sony drop their memory stick change to SDIO
Token User @ 6/3/2002 11:10:21 AM #
FWIW - Check out http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/1901.html.

Acer n20 and n30w (same as the n20 with integrated 802.11b) are Pocket PC PDAs with Sony Message Stick technology based around XScale (ARM Core) processors. These PDAs have specs on them I'd like to see in a PalmOS device.

I really hope that with OS5.0/6.0 that PalmOS can get ported to these machines. It'll confuse the crap out of retailers, but it would be great to walk in, buy the PDA you want, then load up the OS of choice.

It's about to hit the fan
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/3/2002 7:32:21 PM #
After so many angry Sony fans have complained over their beloved pet models being superceded by yet another faster, cheaper, better PDA... Sony have decided to do the same thing to their Memory $ticks! BANG: a whole series of cameras, music devices, PDAs all became obsolete today.

sony is dumping them!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/1/2002 4:40:34 PM #
Poor sony, these t615 are not selling at all. If it was selling even half-decent amount, then why drop the price all of a sudden.
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