New Clié to Be Less Expensive than Earlier Version?

Yesterday, Fujio Nishida, president of Sony Electronics, admitted that the version of the Clie that was released in the U.S. last year "was a little pricey" for a non-color device. "This year we are bringing out a better product." Cnet, who is carrying the story, took this to mean the recently-announced PEG-N700C would be less expensive than the currently-available monochrome PEG-S300, which was released at $400.

Mr. Nishida also said that his company finally plans to sell advanced peripherals for the Clié's Memory Stick port. Though he didn't give any details, a Global Positioning System module and a digital camera were mentioned. The company has already talked about its upcoming Bluetooth Infostick.

Back in January, Sony and GoAmerica announced that they will also develop a wireless service for the Clié, which Mr. Nishida described as "unique".

Sierra Wireless and GoAmerica have teamed up to deliver wireless Internet access for the Clié, with Sierra Wireless making the modems and GoAmerica being the wireless ISP.

Sierra Wireless will create the AirBoard for Clié, an attachment for Sony's handheld that will allow it to use some of Sierra Wireless's PC Card AirCard modems. Clié users will be able to use either the CDPD or Ricochet version of the modem. These can also be used in laptops, allowing users to access the Internet from two devices with only one modem.

Sony is hoping that Clié sales in the U.S. will held the company weather the current economic downturn. "Sony's strength is in product differentiation, so we are maybe the least affected company in this environment. This year we are looking at double-digit growth again," Mr. Nishida said. "Of course, it is lower double-digit growth."

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Nate @ 4/4/2001 10:57:57 AM #
Has anyone heard how these things are selling in Japan? I'm hoping that they are 1) selling well enough to urge Sony to continue making them, and 2) not selling so well that there are shortages...

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Can't wait to buy a new Sony CLIE

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/5/2001 12:19:42 AM #
I think New CLIE is a lot better product than the Palm m505.

RE: Can't wait to buy a new Sony CLIE
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/5/2001 12:33:05 AM #
How the hell would you know. You haven't seen either. Are you a sheep who follows the flock?

RE: Can't wait to buy a new Sony CLIE
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/5/2001 1:09:45 AM #
Why does he have to hold one in his hands to know what he wants? Enough information on both is all over the Web to make an informed decision.

I think a better question is, are you somebody who likes to be rude to people on message boards for no particular reason?



RE: Can't wait to buy a new Sony CLIE
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/6/2001 2:59:24 AM #

Well,

I have to sort of agree with the above..

If you haven't seen or used either device in person how in the f%$K can you REALLY tell how good one is over the other????

Do you just go by all the hype flying around on the web? I would hope not...

Before the firt Clie's were released, there was some major major hype flying around about all the amazing things it will do and how great it is.

Turns out, it didn't have half the features they said it would, and its amazing color screen turned out to be so bad they didn't even bring it to the U.S!

And for all of you who think sony's device is going to be sooo much more advanced because it can play mp3's, think harder numb nuts, its mearly a seperate technology INTEGRATED into a palm device. THATS IT. Its not an IMPROVEMENT to any technology. Just a palm device with a built in module. and the increase in its size reflects that.

If they could put both into the current Clie form factor then I would be impressed.


Sony messing with us

sen.sei @ 4/5/2001 1:57:57 PM #
I think Sony is playing games with european customers. They release this new colour-multimedia-320*320- device in Japan while they release here in Germany the old grey one for DM 899 ($ 400) at the same time. How long will I have to wait to get a colour Clié without learning Japanese ? Does Sony want me to buy a poor screened m505 (I now what I'm talking 'bout, I tried one on CeBit) ?
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