Comments on: SonyStyle Japan Has Discontinued the NR Series

I agree with your sentiment--it'd be nice if we could avoid the usual bitching.

BUT, your statement is incorrect. The discontinuance of a model does NOT make it obsolete. It makes it just what the term says--"discontinued." Obsolete would mean that the product is no longer useable nor supported. Last I checked, ALL Sony models are still useable, because the only PalmOS units that can truly be called "obsolete" are those that cannot run OS3.0 or later--most PalmOS software will still run on OS3.0 or later.

What "discontinued" DOES mean is that the model is no longer the latest offering, no longer the top-of-the-line, and obviously, no longer being produced. My NR-70 will still work for a long time (No MS problem, knock-on-wood), regardless of what model replaces it at the top of the Sony PDA line.

Perhaps if the knee-jerk nerds on this site were more aware of this, they would be less likely to gripe when Sony discontinues one product and releases a new one.

I'll likely live with a Palm OS5 device, even if the memory is a bit skimpy, as long as my peripheral stuff still works.

Chris Scullion

My bet is that you'll need to buy something new. Yes, I know Palm promised that the UC would be for a few years, but remember, they also promised that the SUDS problem wasn't real, that the m505 screen was "bright color," and the m130 could display 65,000 colors. They might use the same physical connector, but I'd be willing to be that something inside the machine will cause UC peripherals not to work on the new line, unless you buy some software patch or hardware adapter...at a price, of course.

I'm amused by the suggestion that people are so mad at Palm because it changed form factor for the first time in 18 months that they will switch to Sony, which hasn't ever kept the same for factor for more than a couple months. Jeez, you can't put a T665C in a T615C hardcase!! These were released in the same YEAR!!

I think you Sony guys are stealing a page from Microsoft's book and trying to spread some FUD.

I'll likely live with a Palm OS5 device, even if the memory is a bit skimpy, as long as my peripheral stuff still works.<<

If you can stick with yesterday's technology (ie Palm's technology) and do without such swanky new capabilities, then why do you need to upgrade to OS5?

Phil

Debacle? DEBACLE?

"I don't like it, therefore it is a debacle."

Not exactly high-level logic. The clamshell design has sold pretty well, and near as I can tell, the clamshell has NEVER been a support issue for Sony. Only the MS problem has.

So take a logic course, then just say that you don't like the clamshell design and hope that Sony makes an OS 5 device that doesn't have it. They can do both a standard design and clamshell, you know.

They are useless for protecting the LCD, since I have no interest in flipping, twisting and folding the display just to get a useful form factor.

I completely disagree with the article that, "Specifically, people seem to want this to have the same form-factor as current NR series." Do a survey, or whatever, but I guarantee the vast majority of people would pick your typical PDA form-factor over that of the NR (assuming all other features equal).

You must have been living in a cave! Tell me about the 320x480 screen, VG, built-in camera, built-in keyboard.

"But Handera is the first to come out with a VG...built-in camera is so low resolution... yada yada" How many new revolutionary features can you put in a PDA? I think T665C form-factor is a great innovation, but Sony manages to put a hi-res screen in such a small form factor is amazing. Yup, handera also has VG, 240x160 screen, but look at the form factor.

Don't see features/innovation individually, it is the entire package (and the price) that is amazing. of course, Clie's battery life sucks. I hope their next device will address that (SJ-30 for instance seems to have a better battery life than T665C, and that's a good thing).

Go out and get your NR70V. I just picked one up last week at a great price.

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

When I listen to mp3s, I generally turn off the screen, and after an hour I MIGHT be down to around 86%. Also, I used my new KB11 keyboard (Stowaway) the other day for about an hour editing & creating various documents. Battery was 100% when I began, 84% when I finished.

Not the greatest (my old Vx lasted a lot longer with the keyboard), but respectable. I used to have a Jornada, and it would be around 85% after only 30 minutes with the keyboard.

Sony WILL probably build a PDA/Phone hybrid. And it will be under the name SONY ERICSSON. Although the first SONY ERICSSON has been released in the T68i, the two companies will officially join forces in October 1.
Its a 50-50 joint venture so its as much as SONY as it is an ERICSSON.

I will bet all my marbles that with the impending launch of OS5 SONY will release at least 2 clie's(if they will still be called that) right away. One as a PDA and another as a PDA/Phone hybrid under the name SONY ERICSSON. That would be a great way to formally launch a huge merger in SONY and ERICSSON.

With the natural progression of the convergence of mobile phones and PDA's Sony and ERICSSON did good in joining forces as the number 2's in in their respective industries. Which is why a lot of industry experts predict that it is because of this reason that PALM will meet its demise. Although NOKIA has aquired a great OS for their eventual hybrids in SYMBIAN, PALM simply does not have the expertise in mobile phone technology. Unless PALM merges with a mobile phone manufacturer they won't have much impact in the hybrid market.

Only time will tell whether stand alone PDA's will keep its presence or simply fade like cassette tape players, ZIP drives, and beepers. If stand alone PDA's fail to stand the test of time, then i guess PALM will just be another brand which simply could not evolve.

Interesting that you brought up the P800. Although Symbian has proved itself well as a great OS for the next generation of mobile phones, i wouldn't call it a PDA OS. Which is why the p800 was never really considered a hybrid. Kind of like the Nokia 7650. I wouldn't call that a hybrid as well.

I think the first real hybrid is the TREO; simply because the core of a PDA/PHONE hybrid is the PDA. That is why i think the TREO is considered the first hybrid with the tested OS of PALM

Lastly, what's a "fait a compli?"

Truthfully SONY really doesn't need ERICSSON for the long haul. SONY may be using ERICSSON to jumpstart their mobile phone and hybrid line and to "borrow" bluetooth technology. SONY obviously didn't merge with ERICSSON to make money. They merged to gain mobile phone and bluetooth expertise. That's all they want and i'm sure they care less what ERICSSON will do in six months. With how badly ERICSSON has been doing since the phenomenal explosion of NOKIA, merging with SONY was their only recourse. Whether they merged with SONY or not i honestly don't think they would have lasted much longer. In the event that they aren't happy with the "immediate" results of the SONY ERICSSON merger and they pull out, i will say that they will probably pull out of the mobile phone industry all together and focus on their enterprise and network business instead.

I do agree with you though that symbian will eventually be dropped by SONY ERICSSON and replaces by PALM OS5

Since when has number of devices sold had anything to do with what is/isn't a PDA. Also, if you think the P800 is just a phone with a few extra features, you might want to check out some application screen shots at the following link to get an idea:

www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1681

I always thought the Palm was a PDA, this thing has higher res colour screen,web browser, support for MP3 and voice recording, memory expansion slot as well as a phone. It is a PDA.

I agree there is a need for more software, but that "should" follow with more devices coming to market.

For me, I'm still trying to decide between a compact PDA/Phone combi (P800) or a Big Screen Sony Clie (OS5) and a bluetooth phone. Might just be a case of who actually ships something in the near future.

Sold my 9210 recently, and know several people that have one (Can't be that rare).

Zuber