Rumor: T615C in Best Buy's System

According to two different sources, the Sony T615C appears in Best Buy's inventory system. Sony's suggested retail price is $415. Best Buy doesn't expect to have any in stock until Sunday, January 27, though one of the sources could only say "late January" and that it would cost "approximately $400". He was able to confirm that it would be called the T615C, though it's apparently in Best Buy's system as the "T-615".

Best Buy's SKU# for the T615C is 4471592. A search for this product and SKU doesn't turn up any results on Best Buy's webstore.

The T615C is the U.S. version of the T600C, which is already available in Japan. The T600C has a 320 by 320 pixel TFT screen that can display 16-bit color. It also has 16 MB of RAM and runs OS 4.1. The T615C is expected to be pretty much the same.

The Sony N610C, which is quite similar to the T615C, has shown up on the SonyStyle webstore as "Sold Out" since last week. In the past, this has only happened right before Sony announced a replacement. It is widely expected that the T615 will take the place of the N610C in Sony's lineup.

Sony won't comment on when or even if it will release a version of the T600C in the U.S.

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Woo Hoo!!

Beavis @ 12/27/2001 9:04:04 AM #
This should hold me over until OS-5 comes out. I hope it comes in black as was rumoured.

Palm, if you have any new devices up your sleeve, now is the time to let us know, before we purchase the T615C.

Announcing a New Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 9:13:49 AM #
OK, your post has convinced us to announce our new model, the m615 which will be available for preorder starting January 29 for delivery on or after the end of Q1 2002.

The specs of the m615 will be exactly like the T615C except it will have one other feature that we can't specify at this time. However, we CAN say that it is the other thing that you really want on your PDA.

Palm, Inc.

RE: Woo Hoo!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 9:15:02 AM #
Only can respond to this in the voice of Dr Evil:

RRRIIIIGGGHHHHHTTT....

RE: Woo Hoo!!
Beavis @ 12/27/2001 9:40:28 AM #
Thank you Palm for that wonderful announcement.

I can't wait to pre-order with you again, so I can see all of the retail stores getting delivery before I do.

My credit card is out with eager anticipation.

So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 9:39:00 AM #
Is this the color version of thier super slim one they just released?

RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
Beavis @ 12/27/2001 9:44:03 AM #
Yes, this should be the color version of the T415

RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
Ed @ 12/27/2001 9:51:16 AM #
While it has much in common with the T415, remember that the T600C is 25% thicker than the monochrome version, being .49 inches thick rather than .39. It is also .4 ounces heavier. Not slamming the T600C, just making sure people realize what they are getting. Even Sony couldn't cram a color screen into as small a casing as the T415 has.

---
News Editor
RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
mikeliu @ 12/27/2001 9:52:58 AM #
I've seen the Japanese version, and it's not quite so stunningly skinny and small as the B&W version. Still quite skinny and small, but not stunningly so.

RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
Beavis @ 12/27/2001 10:13:14 AM #
Are we not just assuming at this point in time that the T615C has the same specs as the T600C?

At .49 Inches, it is ever so slightly thinner than the Palm m505, which I currently have. Source-www.palm.com

With twice the memory and four times the number of pixels, I could live with it.

RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
mikecane @ 12/27/2001 3:09:49 PM #
Someone on the Writing on Your Palm maillist has reported that on his Japanese T600C, Thin Font Fix -- neither the Japanese nor English versions -- will *not* run. I hope Hacker Dude-san will correct this.

RE: So is this that super skinny one with the speaker?
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 5:45:54 PM #
Hacker Dude San actually does have "thin font fix" for t600.

He actually has 3 different versions.
2 of them are for japanese Clies. to fix japanese writing styles.. kanji and the other one or something like that.

Then When i told about this to my group (nxt's clie club) someone suggested it to him and 1 day later, he released Thin Font Fix (this is the english version for english clies, running this on a japanese clie will not work).

T715C vs. N760C

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 9:54:03 AM #
Can someone explain the difference?

Does this new T615 also have MP3 playback and headphones?

Seems like the N760 will still become the unit to buy...

RE: T615C vs. N760C
Ed @ 12/27/2001 9:58:49 AM #
The T615C has no MP3 playback abilities. If that's important to you, the N760C is indeed the way to go. As the article says, the T615C has more in common with the N610C, which is apparently being discontinued in favor of the T615C.

---
News Editor
RE: T715C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 11:00:43 AM #
The MP3 player attachment is available for the T415. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work on the T615. It retails for about $130, comes with headphones and the remote. The device connects to the bottom of the handheld.

RE: T715C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 11:14:02 AM #
Ed

The T615 CAN play MP3s:

http://www.sony.co.jp/sd/products/Consumer/PEG/CLIEGEAR/index.html

Please ensure that you provide accurate information for readers (e.g. the CLIE does have an optional MP3 add-on).

Thanks

RE: T615C vs. N760C
Ed @ 12/27/2001 11:35:55 AM #
> The T615 CAN play MP3s

By your logic, almost all Palm OS handhelds can play MP3s, as there is an audio add-on available for most of them, from the Visor to the m100. Let's not confuse people and make them think that their T615C will play MP3s right out of the box, which it won't. A $130 adapter is required.

Though you do have a point, perhaps my comment was a bit too flat. Let's say, the T615C has no "built-in" MP3 playback abilities.

---
News Editor

RE: T715C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 2:23:01 PM #
I'll trade my N760C, which is quite new (obviously, since it's a pretty new model) for a T715, as I don't use the MP3 features but would really like the remote-control features.


RE: T615C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 2:25:14 PM #
Oops, it's the T615C that I'll trade my N760 for. If there's interest, I'll post my e-mail address (etc.). I live in Massachusetts, USA.


RE: T715C vs. N760C
polymath @ 12/27/2001 8:09:36 PM #
Well, T715C might be just around the corner.

RE: T715C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/29/2001 7:35:14 PM #
T715C coming in February. Waiting only for the Motorola Dragonball 66MZ. Hope it has 320 by 400 with 80 pixels set aside for soft grafitti, or in my dreams soft FITALY.
I also see a larger battery, dual MS slots (one half, one full), and a microphone. MP3 Atrac built in. $500 or maybe far less. 16 meg or MUCH MORE?

RE: T715C vs. N760C
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/9/2002 4:15:41 PM #
So I understand battery life is an issue and T615C has remote function on it (enhanced IR) but can anyone can tell me what other diff ther are between T615C and N760C. Which should I buy. Do they both vibrate? Thanks for your help!

Battery Sucks

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 10:39:42 AM #
Just to let everyone know, Some people at nXt's Clie Club has the T600C and ran the Battery Benchmark 2 and well the battery sucks.

Frontlight off, full power test gets about 6 hours and 50 minutes.

Frontlight on, lowest brightness, full power test gets about 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Frontlight On, Highest Brightness, Full Power test gets about 2 hours 33 minutes!

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 11:56:56 AM #
Just for comparison: how does the N610C or N760C perform on this battery test?

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 12:05:40 PM #
Well with the same program, (i personally didn't perform one myself, but another guy) with an n700c, with normal test, and frontlight on minimum, got 13 hours 18 minutes.

So, maybe with full power test and frontlight at maximum, you can deduct maybe 2 hours... so probably around 11 hours.

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 12:58:51 PM #
The T600 series has different screen lighting and a different battery than that of the N6**C and N7**C series. There are tradoffs for bsmaller size.

I will be sticking with my N760C.

RE: Battery Sucks
Altema @ 12/27/2001 2:40:53 PM #
Is Battery Benchmark 2 available for download? If so, where? I tried a few general searches and could not find it. Battery Log induces a delay every 60 seconds, which is not a problem unless you are gaming or watching video.

RE: Battery Sucks
Altema @ 12/27/2001 3:49:19 PM #
Thanks!

RE: Battery Sucks - m505 Problems
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 4:13:09 PM #
Speaking of Battery sucking, this morning my SECOND m505 battery suddenly was out of a charge. I tried to charge it up and it would not hold a charge anymore! I could watch it go from 1/2 full to empty in about 1 min with backlight on. The first m505 I bought this happened 6 months after purchase, the second unit it happened about 1.5 months. IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM??? I'M ON #3!!!!! THANKS!

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 4:17:22 PM #
Yup. I just did. Last week the same thing happend to me with my m505. I was very surprised. Never happend before. So I did a pin rest and that did nothing. Disabled all hacks and pin rest; nothing. So then I did a warm reset. Same thing. Then I hit reset once, and stupidly hit reset about 3 seconds after that, sending it into a rest loop, which then of course required a hard reset. So, although my dumb Palm had been nuked, the power resumed it's normal power consumption not falling 1% every second like before.

Make sure you have BackUp Buddy installed or something.

I though mine was just a fluke thing, but who knows. I've never seen anything on it before.

But, good luck. Back everything up.

Just scanning the posts, waiting to hear when and where the first T615C's hit the shelves so I can go see about upgrading!

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/28/2001 8:40:02 AM #
I read a post at another site that mentioned a similar problem with another handheld. The solution was to do a warm rest while the unit was charging in the cradle. Worth a try.

RE: Battery Sucks
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/28/2001 9:03:10 AM #
I tried the warm, soft, hard, cradle, resets - all to no avail. THANKS ANYWAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lousy buttons

Scott @ 12/27/2001 11:01:42 AM #
How can they keep pumping out handhelds that have such lousy buttons. These devices seem to be aimed at being the best gaming Palm handhelds out there due to their increased resolution, fast processors (for a Palm), and improved sound, yet the gaming advantages fall apart due to the poor design of the buttons.

Once again I'll insert here that, IMO, the best gaming Palm OS device out there is the Visor Prism. The screen is gorgeous, albeit low-res, and the standard buttons have great tactile feedback. Not only that, but you can buy snap-on gaming pads for it. Of course, I don't really play many games on these things, so I don't know why I'm bothering to post about this.

Scott

RE: Lousy buttons
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 11:19:44 AM #
Scott,

I disagree; the M505 had the best, most usable buttons of any Palm Device I've owned...I've owned a Palm IIIc, a Visor Prism, ab N760, and an M505.

The problems with the Visor was the cheap ass construction...the silver paint from the buttons kept rubbing off onto my fingers and the plastic case was a bit wobbly.

RE: Lousy buttons
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 1:02:59 PM #
If I want gaming, I will buy a game boy. Why would I spend $400.00 for a game boy? Someone, tell me?

This is a P-D-A.

RE: Lousy buttons
Altema @ 12/27/2001 2:48:10 PM #
I don't think anyone in their right mind would pay $400 for a game boy. I had trouble convincing my wife that I needed to pay that much for a PDA. BUT having a PDA that does a few good games is better than hauling around two devices. Sneaking a couple rounds of LodeRunner during a drawn-out meeting is less noticible than whipping out a game boy in front of everyone. Plus, you can't really do relational database management on a game boy without cartridge swapping! :)

Seriously, out of all the palms I've used (IIIe, IIIxe, Visor Deluxe, Vx, IIIc, M105, M500, M505), I like the solidness and response of the M5xx buttons best so far. Have not tried games on the Prism, so I can't tell if the controls are the same as the Deluxe. I liked games on the screen of the IIIc (similar to the Prism), but the "carbon contact in a rubber boot" type of button was nothing like having a real brass and steel switch. I also like how you can rock your left thumb across the two left buttons, and rock your right thumb between the up and down buttons.

In this position, you can still press the memo or to-do buttons with the lower part of the thumb, but it's difficult, especially with games that really cry out for a direction pad like Defender (which I STILL don't have the hang of yet...)

Speaking of direction pads, I do feel sorry for those who bought some models of PPC devices with the really sweet control pads... only to find out that they could not press more than one button at a time. This was fixed in the newest models, but imagine shelling out all that money and finding out you can't move and fire at the same time!

RE: Lousy buttons
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/28/2001 2:10:54 PM #
Why not with the new BeOS also license Nintendo Gameboy technology and put a game slot in the top. Of course you would have to add a gamepad to the bottom, but it could be done, then you wouldn't need fames

Sony is kickin'!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/27/2001 12:32:15 PM #
It's amazing to see what Sony can come up with on the Dragonball cpu. I bet Sony is just dying for OS 5 to come out so they can make Palm handhelds with 64 megs of ram and hundreds of mhz of ARM power. Compaq has most to lose here
AriB

RE: Sony is kickin'!
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/28/2001 2:26:31 PM #
Sony is kind of late dude, lets see, the Ipaq has been out for, 2 years now. Compaq already got the sales out of this machine. now it is for pure fun! palm's and ppc's dont compare (except in price, which PPC's win anyways...)

RE: Sony is kickin'!
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/28/2001 3:48:26 PM #
There! I have to say it again to read this fine sites name. PALMinfocenter. This is not some wussy WinCe in pain site. This is Palm, it is different from the rest like the rest are from Palm. Palm is simple, life does not need to be complicated by adding Windows in your hand. Windows the best at home or work, but not in your hand! Bill Gates gets enough money as it is! Don't make me go after you WinCe advocates again!

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