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Sony PEG-T615C Final Review By Ed Hardy 1/25/2002 Introduction This is the second part of my review of the Sony PEG-T615C. When I wrote the preliminary one, I'd only had the T615C for about a day and I didn't want to draw too many conclusions after that short a time. Now I've had it for long enough that I think I can speak with some authority.
Screen I was able to do a side-by-side comparison with a N760C at a local CompUSA. I found the two screens to be quite comparable. They weren't the same, but it was like when you put two color TVs made by two different companies next to each other. Both look equally good but the colors aren't quite the same. In short, if you are happy with a N760C screen, you'll probably be happy with the T615C's. I also did a comparison with a m505. Of course, with a 320 by 320 screen the T615C's image was much sharper. However, the m505 handled colors better. When comparing the same exact same image on the m505, the T615C, and a PC monitor, the colors on the m505 were richer and much closer to the ones on the monitor. The T615C looked a bit washed out. I played a lot of games of Atom Smash 2.0 checking to be sure things didn't get blurry when images are moving but I didn't see any signs of this. Everything stayed nice and crisp. You'll still need to have the backlight on much of the time you are indoors, unless you are in a quite brightly-lit room. Outdoors, the backlight becomes unnecessary. The T615C looks great in direct sunlight and much of the time I'm outdoors I can't tell if the backlight is on or off. The screen is slightly smaller than a typical Palm powered handheld's screen. It is 1.95 by 1.94 inches, while the Palm m505's is 2.12 by 2.12. Not a big deal but I thought it should be pointed out. Also, there is no illumination under the Graffiti area. This is too bad as it would make writing in the dark a whole lot easier.
Battery Life Before I say anything else, I want to point out that this is a fairly unrealistic test. The typical use for a handheld is to have it on only for short periods of time. Handheld batteries have been designed to work best this way, not in one continuous run until drained. So don't think the numbers I'm about to give you are the total time a T615C will run under normal conditions. I did a comparison with a T615C and a m505, using an app called AlwaysOn 1.2 to keep the two from ever shutting off. The T615C's backlight was on the whole time at max brightness and the m505's non-adjustable sidelight was on, too. In this kind of torture test, neither handheld was expected to last long and neither did. However, the m505 slightly outlasted its opponent. After 3 hours, the T615C posted its first low battery message and shut itself down 20 minutes later. At 3 hours and 25 minutes the m505 started complaining of a low battery and at 3 hours 45 minutes it shut down. Of course, turning the brightness down on the T615C will increase its battery life. This isn't an option with the m505, other than to just turn its sidelight off. To be honest, this test is so unrealistic I'm not sure if I gathered any useful data. But I spent four hours getting it so I'm not just gong to pitch it out. Feel free to draw any conclusions you can from it. A more realistic test covered recharge time. The m505 came out ahead in this test, too. I put them both in their cradles simultaneously. At 45 minutes, the m505 was at 80%. At 1 hour 15 minutes it was fully charged. At 1 hour, the T615C at 61%. At 1 hour 30 minutes, it was at at 80% and at 2 hours, the T615C was fully charged again.
Remote Commander I've thought this was a darn useful function since it first debuted on the T415. I almost always have my handheld on me so it saves me the hassle of hunting up the remote when I want to change the channel. Programming it is quite easy. You just need to specify type of device and the manufacturer and you are good to go. It can control TVs, VCRs, DVDs, and AV-AMP. This works pretty well. I've been able to control everything I've tried to, with the irritating exception of my VCR. Still, it's worked fine with lots of other TVs and stuff I've tried. I've heard a rumor that this only works with Sony electronics, which isn't at all true. It has profiles for 18 different companies, like GE, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and Sharp. You can also set it to do things with the Jog Dial and hardware buttons, like change channels or mute the TV. This makes channel surfing a breeze. It's got a good range. With my TV it gets just short of 25 feet, though Sony rates it at just 15 feet.
Sound Utility The T615C comes with an app called, uncreatively enough, Sound Utility 1.0. Together with a conduit on the PC, it lets you import and play files from WAV and MIDI format. These sound pretty good. Well, to be honest, I'm not fond of MIDI music but the WAV files are fine. This is ItsTime, a sound that comes with the T615C. I played it on the handheld and recorded it with my computer so this is mighty close to what it sounds like in real life. The speaker isn't quite up reproducing the human voice perfectly. Whenever I play that sound for people, almost everyone asks, "What did she say?"
Buttons The small rocker switch that takes the place of the Up/Down buttons is equally hard to use. It's just too small and too close to the buttons on either side. Sony can't stop using these too soon for me.
Casing I like the styling of the the T series better than that of any other Sony model, though beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Take a look at the pictures and judge for yourself; I'm no art critic. My only complaint with the casing is kind of nit-picky. It has a metal loop just above the Jog Dial. This lets you clip it to a neck strap or maybe secure it to your desk. This isn't a bad idea but it sticks out kind of far, like maybe an eighth of an inch. I've heard some complaints from people that they have seen T615Cs who's front panel is a bit bent up at the bottom. The one I've got doesn't suffer from this so I can't really comment other than to say the front panel is very thin so I could see this being a possibility. I tried to bend mine, though not very hard, and wasn't able to.
Motherboard
Memory Stick The T615C's Memory Stick slot is on the top, along with the infrared port and the opening for the stylus slot.
Stylus If you end up getting a T615C, I recommend buying yourself a stylus/pen combination the size of a regular pen like the ones from Pentopia or ttools. It won't be quite as convenient to carry around but you'll always have a pen with you and you won't be forced to use something the size of a coffee stirrer.
Jog Dial If you like to use your handheld one handed all the time, the T615C has some great features to help. Say you are in the Address Book. Hold down the Back button for a second. The Category drop-down box will be highlighted and you can use the Jog Dial to scroll through it. Hold it down longer and the first Menu will drop down so you can scroll through it. You can even add additional functions to the menu, like Power Off or Find. And it is really great if you read a lot of eBooks on your handheld. Scrolling down a long document is so easy.
Flip Cover The flip cover is about the best I can remember from any Sony model, with one exception. Sadly, it doesn't cover the stylus slot, which does need the protection. I've been worried since I got the T615C that I would lose the stylus as turning the handheld upside down and shaking it will frequently cause the stylus to fall out.
Cradle The T-series cradle is a bit more complicated than I'm used to from Clié models. It is made up of the cradle itself with a USB plug for data. For power, a small plug goes from the cradle to a sizable power transformer and then to a wire with a plug on it. Unlike most other Sony handhelds, the power cable can't also plug into the handheld to be used as a travel charger.
Other Peripherals I compiled a list earlier this week with all the information I could find on upcoming peripherals and accessories for the T series.
Other Applications An application that takes advantage of the improved speaker is the World Alarm Clock. It lets you set up to five different alarms and, unlike the built-in Date Book, assign a different sound to each one. This is a feature I've wanted for a long time. Sony has taken a page from Palm's book and bundled DataViz's Documents to Go Standard Edition with the T615C. This means that you can transfer Word and Excel files onto the handheld, edit them there, and then transfer them back.
Conclusion |
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RE: NO COMMENTS
Palm's distibution and product availability is far greater than sony. For example - Australia, Canada etc.
In Canada sony pda's only recently became available - still no sigh of the 615c...why? there is not a single addon for sony products in canada.
sony product is preferable, however availablity is an issue.
Plam with its new wireless model - can't preorder or purchase in canada - I just dont understand. There is a huge market out there for one of these companies - they just have to open thier eyes.
Finally available in Australia!!!
Went very close to buy a 710C overseas but my concern about service and repair put me off.
I have been asking and waiting for Sony to bring Clie into Australia for more than a year... finally they have done it with the pre-order of the T615C last week... Ordered one immediately... Expecting it with excitment after reading Ed's review.
RE: NO COMMENTS
If Sony's engineers spent as much time on innovation as they do posting to this website, they might come up with a worthwhile PDA.
RE: NO COMMENTS
FYI. The CLie T615C (and Euro version T625C) is not "just a m505 in Sony box ".
Compare the specs:
M505 T615/T625
8Mb 16Mb
160x160 320x320
OS3.5 OS4.1
no Jog Jog Dial
SD/MMC Sony Memory Stick (can use in other products)
My 625C is the envy of plenty of m505 and m515 owners....
Jog-Dial of T615C
Very useful review!
I had a chance to see T600C (Japan model similar in fetaures) and it seemed to me that Jog-Dial is harder to rotate than the one of other units (N610C for example). Ed, did you have a similar impression?
Maybe it does not matter in most cases, but I created a hack, JogDaily (http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=37659) that improves usability of Jog-Dial. It detects rapid rotation of the Jog and accelerates the scrolling in the current application. But my impression was is that it would not able to improve something in T415/T615 devices since the Jog is too tough.
Max
RE: Jog-Dial of T615C
RE: Jog-Dial of T615C
Max
RE: Jog-Dial of T615C
RE: Jog-Dial of T615C
RE: Jog-Dial of T615C
It's not FAIR !
>was on, too.
When you have T615 at max brightness , of course the pwoer is gone quickly. You should adjust the brightness to match the M505's. my 0.02
RE: It's not FAIR !
RE: It's not FAIR !
The same is true in his tests. Just because they were both set on maximum brightness doesn't mean the maximum is equal. Thus, the test is flawed as the original poster said. It still provides useful information if you keep it in context.
RE: It's not FAIR !
Like I said under another thread on this page, I wish I had done the same test with the T615C at minimum brightness but I didn't think of it until too late. Now I've had to send the T615C back.
---
News Editor
RE: It's not FAIR !
1) My setting on my current 760c is always at 40% or less. Battery life, should be fine.
2) What the hell POS battery is the m505 using???
thadrool
RE: It's not FAIR !
RE: It's not FAIR !
RE: It's not FAIR !
RE: It's not FAIR !
RE: It's not FAIR !
Thin Font
Thanks for the very cool review!
RE: Thin Font
Remote IR Range
important to read. In particular, Omni Remote cannot
use the extended range at this time.
Various Palm IR Ranges are listed at:
<http://www.pacificneotek.com/range.htm>
Pacific Neotek makes Omni Remote, a _learning_ remote
control program. (Learning means point your old remote
at it and digitize anything.)
According to the Pacific Neotek the t415 (and T615) have
two IR units. The standard Palm IR Xmit/receive, and a
Sony High Power IR. _Only_ Sony's Remote Commander has
access to the high power IR. That means beaming info
distance is short (not that that is terrible or anything.)
However, if you want a learning remote, Omni Remote is
the only software that does it, and it is limited to
the low power IR. They have requested information from
Sony on how to access the high power IR, but Sony has
not provided that so far.
For more information, see the discussion on this at:
<http://neptune.he.net/cgi-bin/suid/~neotek/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=4&topic=35>
As well as Pacific Neotek's original mail to Sony with
an image of the motherboard:
<http://www.pacificneotek.com/clie.html >
I am not affiliated with Sony, Pacific Neotek, or anyone
here. This is just an important distinction that I felt
needed to be raised.
RE: Remote IR Range
I mean that data transfer would be short distance.
That would also mean that beaming to another palmtop
should be ok. It means that it would not be a case
of Sony SHOUTING to another palms w h i s p e r.
However, I would like the remote to use the distance.
RE: Remote IR Range
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA005810/remocon/premocce.htm
RE: Remote IR Range
have the same problem. They only use the Low Power
remote. They do not appear to access the High Power
T415/T615 IR.
RE: Remote IR Range
RE: Remote IR Range
They use the high power IR. However, that is limited to the
devices that are preprogrammed. If you want to control somthing
else, you are out of luck.
I was hoping that the learning remotes would be able to
use the high power IR.
RE: Remote IR Range
One way (probably overkill, but most obvious to me) is to analyze the ir signal from RC and study the db's to figure out how the data is stored in files. Then you could try either hand code or make a converter to convert OmniRemote files into RC files.
Just a thought,
-Bartman007
RE: Remote IR Range
RE: Remote IR Range
Mike
Tried the T615C
==========
I got to hold the T615C box @ CompUSA. Then I actually got to *play* with a T615C @ SonyStyle in NYC!!
MY GOD!!
Sony has produced one *killer* unit!
It felt so good in my hand, I didn't want to let it go! I was totally unprepared for it after the T415 -- which is much too thin (front/back) to hold comfortably. The T415 feels like it's cutting into my hand!
Also with the T415, my thumb could not get used to the lower-than-my-S320 JogDial. But on the T615, my thumb felt just fine! That additiunal thickness *really* makes a difference in how my hand can hold it!
The unit seemed noticeably faster than the N-series. Benchmark gave it 214%.
PictureGear Pocket was also noticeably faster.
And that screen!! Photos look *gorgeous*. I did not have an N-series or m505 to compare it with, but the photos on it and the test pix I sent over from my S320 (saved as color) looked just fine. (I had no problems beaming to it. With all of the T415s I've tried, I had to do a Soft Reset first. Go figure!)
I did turn off the backlight and was surprised at how dark the screen became. But even having the backlight on its *lowest* setting was fine for me. (Whenever I played with a demo Prism or a IIIc, I'd put the backlight very low.)
I tried LCD Analyzer (a must-have app for color screens), Thin Font Fix, and several pix. There were also some games already on it -- including the sound-enhanced Zap game. Wow, that speaker really adds something to playing games. I'm not much of a gamer, but I could see myself wasting some serious time just with that game.
I did not get to use the stylus -- had to pull out my S320's.
I was also unprepared for my reaction to the silver casing. I wasn't keen on it with the T415 -- but it looks *spectacular* with that color screen! It really looks like a very posh and very unaffordable device. Now I am wondering if I'd really prefer Royal Blue. . . I'm wondering if the Royal Blue color would distract my eye from the screen or make the screen seem different. With that silver shell, the color screen stands out in a way that is *unimaginable* after seeing the T415!
I was never real fond of the N-series screen. Something about it just didn't feel right. I *love* the T615's screen. It reminds me a lot of a Pocket PC screen (and that's a compliment! -- go see the Audiovox Maestro's great screen).
Side by side with my S320, the T616 was noticeably thinner (front/back) -- 5/8" vs 1/2".
The one thing I'm not sure I like is the flip lid. The one I saw was very roughly-textured. Maybe it was the awful T415 lid? I like the smooth feel of the S320's microfiber lid -- even though it's already showing signs of wear after just three months!
I really, really want a T615. Sony has finally produced a color unit that makes me forget my subterranean lust for the m505 altogether -- and makes me now want to invest in a Memory Stick!
The T615 will be a hit! Peripheral makers better start tooling up *now*. I want a Stowaway keyboard, a SnapNType keyboard, and a Landware stylus -- for starters!
I also got to see, under glass @ SonyStyle, the MStick camera. It has a molded-plastic storage case that is very odd-looking. The case resembles a fat, black, plastic whistle! CompUSA told me they had the camera in (I missed that!) -- and sold out in just 3 days. Hmm!
RE: Tried the T615C
It is a pen as well as a floating stylus.
I love it!
They have a Clie N7xx model, but not a T model, yet.
I sure hope they make a T615 model!
RE: Tried the T615C
Agree..
Go to see them by yourself, trust your own eye , you will know what the truth is.
RE: Tried the T615C
No, the Pentopia Chamelion for Clie is for the N Series.
I am hoping that they will make one for the T Series.
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As a Palm consumer I'm sorry deeply, but market pal hardware crashed his creator. Really, palm is very slow. I think.
Wellcome, SONY, to olympus place in hi-tech portable industry.