Comments on: Sony Clie UX50 First Impressions

Wow... that is quite a review. Thanks! I will just send folks I talk to here rather than try to say it all myself. Keep up the great work.

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My wife has to sell a lot of candles (www.ccandles.com) to buy her new Palm.

The width and the lack of portrait mode makes me look in another direction...

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Former Tapwave's Helix fan, now a T|T3 fan.

Just a guess, but I think a good use of the lanyard loop would not be to hang the UX50 from your belt/neck, but to secure it to your wrist. In case you dropped it, the loop around your wrist would prevent the fall. Thinking about how many times I've dropped my Tungsten T (many more than my other Palms thanks to the fidgety slider and snap cover) that might not be such a bad idea.

I played with one of these at CompUSA. Couple things bothered me:

1) I have to look at the keyboard to type. I am a touch typist and I like to look at what I'm "writing". Graffiti offers this advantage--I don't have to look at my hand when entering data. I wonder if you'd eventually be able to type w/o looking on this (or any thumb-style) keyboard. Can anyone who has owned a Blackberry, Treo or other thumboard PDA tell me if they learned to type without looking?

2) Didn't like the unfamiliarity of the proprietary Sony interface. I've heard you can switch the UX50 to the standard Palm app launcher. Would be great if the full review commented on this.

In my experience, a PDA is attractive because it performs a small number of essential functions well which allows it to have excellent ergonomics. With all due respect to Sony's engineering excellence, the UX50 looks less like a PDA and more like a laptop designed for a hamster.

I read another review elsewhere which concerned me about how apps translate to the landscape screen. If this device is to be useful to me I'd want to be sure that DocumentsToGo, ToDoPlus, Verichat, VersaMail et al ran effectively.

The combined Bluetooth/WiFi is VERY attractive (Palm, please note in your forthcoming products).

Louis

Great Review.

1. Of course adding portrait support is a no brainer. C'mon Sony, start using your brain.
2. The lack of the traditional 6 applciation and up/down buttons is disturbing. Think of all the games you can no longer play on this.

But wait! Look at all of the real estate around the screen! Putting application/up/down buttons on the 320 side of the screen would make using it tablet style in portrait mode a dream.

Fix those two shortcomings, Sony, and you can have my $700. (Even though that would still be overpriced.) Please hurry, my NR-70 is getting old.

The mempry doesn't add up. 16x3+27=77. There's still 27 of the 104 Mb unaccounted for.

- Tere

This is a killer for me...so close...

Maybe the version will have portrait and keys for games!

I am totally underwhelmed by this device. Tiny not very good screen. Bulky not very good keyboard...$699???? Puh-lease.

I've had my UX-50 for a week. I pretty much agree with the review - I love the dual wireless, you get quite good with the keyboard quickly but Sony hasn't done as good a job as Handspring did with the Treo in making the OS keyboard-controlled.

One important feature to some that was not covered was the UX's excellent support for video. 30 fps without breaking a sweat. I've been on two road trips since I got mine, and watching a couple of videos on the plane has been great.

Landscape application support is still developing - some apps (VeriChat) have indicated support in a future version, others we just have to hope. I just hope a decent email program follows soon! Widescreen email is great, but CLIE mail is terrible!

(For reference, I switched from a Tungsten T. This seems to have slightly more robust bluetooth support, at least to a Sony phone)

I forgot to mention: Having a cradle that only charges, requiring you to plug in a separate cable to hotsync is an entry-level PDA type compromise, not fitting for one of the most expensive PDA's on the market. Very disappointing...

I feel like a newbie, but I just can't figure out how to use the Decuma input system on my device. I saw it demoed somewhere a few months back on one, and while the keyboard on this device is great, I'd like to play with the Decuma input system. The docs say to refer to a handbook, which didn't come with my unit apparently. Did anyone figure out how to enable that instead of Graffiti 2? Thanks in advance!

Thanks,
Dave Haupert
dhaupert@ddhsoftware.com

Setting next to my aging Toshiba laptop, the UX50 looks like Mini Me with Dr. Evil.

I really like mine -- not just sort of like it I REALLY like it.

I REALLY like the landscape-only screen -- I don't see a good reason for portrait on this particular unit. I used an Acer Tablet PC for about 6-months and rarely rotated the screen after the first few days.

I REALLY like the keyboard -- especially the dedicated numeric row. It fits my big hands nicely. The keys were surprisingly easy to feel and use, contrary to the advance reports. I actually stopped in at Circuit City just to see if the reports of poor keyboard action were right. After 60-seconds, I bought one I like it so much. Now, keep in mind a Blackberry, Tungsten C, Treo, TG50 and NX70 were all too small for me or too hard to use because I had to envoke numbers with an aukward set of gyrations.

I REALLY like the app buttons that are there -- this is a connected unit and they initiate connected apps. The Jog Dial is positioned as the up/down buttons would be. Sure, this will mess-up gamers, but I'm not a gamer per se.

I REALLY like the lanyard grommet -- I have the wrist strap in mine and it has already save it from crashing to the floor twice since Friday. Sure, you could go with a neck strap too.

I REALLY don't mind the partitioned memory -- cause that's pretty much what it is. Contrary to popular reports, you can install apps that will work on expansion media in the Internal Media space. I have Bejeweled, My Bible, Bubblet and other expansion card friendly apps installed in there. Also, that area does NOT appear as a drive in the Data Export / Import app for the Memory Stick. You have to sync the contents into it or move them on the handheld itself.

I REALLY like that Sony is using the Palm Audio API for the first time here -- AeroPlayer works fine on the unit, but it does cause it to drag slightly. I see that as something Aerodrome should fix soon.

I REALLY like the dual wireless of the UX50 -- I've paired the Bluetooth with my Timeport 270c and used the unit with my WiFi at home so far with HAPPY results on both fronts. This leaves the MS slot open for a MS.

I REALLY like the slimline cradle -- it takes-up little room and fits in a pocket nicely for portability. I REALLY DON'T like that Sony wants $49.99 for additional cradles! They shouldn't cost more than $9. I'd get one for my briefcase and car IF they were $9. As is it, the $49.99 tag keeps me from getting any extras.

I DON'T like the lack of on-unit charging slot -- but I can live with it. I DON'T like the little door thingy that covers the USB port -- it is a pain in the butt to keep out of the way when plugging the cable in. I DON'T like that it isn't bundled with any real software add-on's for business use (ie: Documents to Go or Quick Office) -- but, I had plenty of copies from previous handhelds and ended-up upgrading to Quick Office Premier and Snapper Mail anyway.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DON'T like the micro-stylus -- it't like using a toothpick for a stylus. But, I don't like normal styli anyway and use a Cross Morph most of teh time. I actually bought the UX50 because it had an ample keyboard that didn't cause my carple tunnel affected hands to cramp-up as using a stylus or smaller keyboard does. This being said, I'll end up buying a refil pack of micro-styli because I know I'll lose mine sooner rather than later.

I sat in a local eatery with my UX50 in hand, my Palm Powered baseball cap on my head and my Timeport 270c on my belt. I pulled the unit out of the case, opened it, pressed the email button and it did a Bluetooth connection automaticlly. I pulled my email headers, trashed the spam and such and marked a few for fetching. Then I fetched my email, read and typed my answers easily and happily. An Air Force Major and his wife watched on the whole time while their food got cold. I got my work done while I waited to get my hair cut and while I waited in a really long line at the grocery store (people buying hurricane supplies here in Maryland.)

I've made the decision to replace my laptop with the UX50. I'm outfitting it to be as fully functional as possible for real computing needs. Sure, I won't be creating PowerPoint presentions, developing web sites and such on the UX, but I will be able to support those functions in the field quite nicely. For me, and this is personal, this unit is pretty close to perfect overall. It's what I stated a few years back would be the perfect PDA -- hey, maybe Sony owes me some money...

Mike Lohsl
Palm & Pocket PC Advisor

www.successwizard.com

Hi,

I'm interested in purchasing the UX50 for work. I've used the Tungsten C and I found the lack of SSL support drove me mental. I couldn't get to the https site for my company email login. I was wondering if the browser on the UX50 will be able to do so? This is my biggest concern right now (no point in getting wifi if I can't read my work mail....)

Can anyone help me?

Thanks!
Jackie.

I've just discovered that there are a number of CTRL shortcuts built into the UX50 keyboard, they are just really hidden.

Press Ctrl + K to bring up a list of keyboard shortcuts, you can bring up the menu and command bar from the keyboard as well as a bunch of other things.

-Ryan

I just got to try this thing out and I think it's awful: postage stamp sized screen, slick keyboard with virtually no tactile feedback, no portrait mode, and lack of keyboard integration into the applications (you still have to poke at the "OK" button on the screen with your finger). And NetFront is as buggy and slow as before. And all of that costs $700, a hugely expensive handheld.

Unless you have lots of cash to dispose of, don't bother, this is not a good deal. The Sharp SL-7xx series shows that this kind of clamshell hardware can be designed well; Sony, in contrast, got just about everything wrong.

Does any one know whether this SONY Clie UX50 Support Viewing .CHM Format?.

I know it support Word/Excel/PDF.

Many Thanks.

Incase you haven't seen this:

SONY CLIE PEG-UX50: COMPARISON PICTURES WITH PALM TUNGSTEN T3

http://www.wehrungonline.com/palmos/ux50pics2.htm

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PDAs rule the world !

There seems to be a negative twist on most peoples comments. There also seems to be a lot of negative from people who don't own a UX 50. Having been the owner of an original palm, palm V, HPC, Cassiopia 115, and now a UX 50, let me give my opinion.
I bought mine because my casio died from a drop, and I had just purchased a Sony DSC 717 dig. cam. Been a while since I used the palm based OS, and must say I love the changes. I say that as I use my ATI TV Wonder Pro to record all the shows I like to a directory, and then use the image conversion tool to change them all over to the Sony format. Now when I'm stuck waiting anywhere, I flip open the extremely sharp screen and watch a few minutes of Seinfeld, perfectly smooth and perfectly clear. The people I have shown this to have been blown away. Next, I pop in a memory card from my camera, and pull up some pictures. Using the jog wheel, it is easy to zoom in and out, and a touch of the screen and drag moves the zoomed images around effortlesly. Of course, on the same memory card, I have some tunes that sound great on the Clie. The screen flips around nicely to be held in one hand, the keyboard works great, and being able to roam around my house while I'm browsing the net, or sending email, is very cool. Now that I have figured out how to wirelessly hotsync, no cables for me, outside of charging. The casing is very well done, the screen as sharp as I've seen one. The multimedia features will blow you away, and your friends will be very very jealous. Is it expensive? Yes, very much so. I don't feel that I spent more than I was comfortable with. The pen sucks, we can all agree on that. Other than that, and the lack of ability to sync with Outlook 2003, the Clie UX50 is the slickest "oh wow" item out there. Have two friends already looking to buy their own after using mine for 5 minutes.

I forgot my sony's clie ux-50 passward. How can i reset my pda??