Rating: 
Summary: Glossy frustrations
Review: After reading all the other glowing reviews and researching just about every PDA on the market, I finally settled on this one. My primary purpose is to do my writing from the coffeeshop but without the expense and redundancy of a laptop (I'm quite happy with my power desktop). So I got the PDA and wireless keyboard, relying on hotsync to transfer my work.
WHAT a disappointment!
In the Good column, this thing is slick - gorgeous display, great features. Having owned Palms since the early days, I'm familiar enough with the OS and apps and was able to get up-to-date on Graffiti 2 pretty quickly.
In the Bad column, the switches on the side are a little non-intuitive, especially for one weaned on early Palm devices. I can't tell you how many times I've opened the camera shutter when I was trying to turn off the Power instead. I also inadvertently held down the Power switch, triggering the low-light display, shortly after I started using it. It took rummaging through apps at random until I found a FAQ on the device itself before I figured out what I'd done and how to undo it.
And in the UGLY column, I have been absolutely unable to complete a successful hotsync. The device is, as I type this, locked up yet again on a sync operation. When this happens, hitting "cancel" on either the device or the PC just causes "Cancelling..." to hang instead. Ultimately, I have to disconnect the device, let it error out, REBOOT MY COMPUTER, and start all over, hoping that at least some of my updates got synced correctly.
Then there are the minor annoyances when using graffiti - for some reason it will stop accepting my input for no apparent reason. No letter, symbols, or commands of any kind. I have to click out of the app or the item, then click back before I can write again. I haven't tried the wireless keyboard yet, since installation requires a successful hotsync.
Bottom line: I made a mistake. A big mistake. The sync problems alone make this thing an expensive waste of money and time. I'm very, very disappointed in this PDA.
Rating: 
Summary: Sony does it again!!
Review: All I can say is that this is the best PDA yet from Sony. It has everything one could hope for, excellent battery life, beautiful screen, wi-fi, new datebook and much more. I cannot find a single negative feature about this PDA. Some people may miss the bluetooth but wi-fi makes up for the difference. I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone...anytime!
Rating:
Summary: Great Little Machine
Review: All in all, the TH55 is a great little machine. The flip lid is a little klutzy, the on/off switch is a bit awkward to manipulate, and there is no native landscape support. Still, these are minor inconveniences for a PDA that comes with lots of features in a well-engineered little package.
Rating:
Summary: Best PDA I've ever owned...
Review: And I've owned quite a few: Palm Zire 71, Dell Axim X5, Sony Clie SJ30 and a couple more, just to name a few.Where to begin? The screen on the TH55 is crisp and vibrant (though a little dim compared to some other models) and huge, too! The pictures from the camera, while they're not print quality, I don't need them to be, as I already own a Sony Cybershot camera. And anyone complaining about the camera's pictures being pointless because of poor quality is crazy. With the TH55, the pics you take are perfect for use with the Clie Organizer and for e-mails--which is what they were MEANT to be for--not for making 4x6 prints. Just like with camera phones, the photos have to have a small file size, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense when you try to send it to someone. But the biggest selling point for this PDA is its multimedia capabilities. I can FINALLY watch the MPEG movies that I record with my Cybershot on my PDA! Awesome! And some MPEG files downloaded off the 'net work, too. The 320x480 screen allows me to check out photos without a lot of wasted screen space, so my pictures look even BIGGER than on my old 320x320 Palm screens. Oh, and did I mention you can play MP3s, too? Awesome! I also picked up a Palm wireless keyboard, so now my TH55 is like a portable laptop! I can watch movies, look at photos, listen to MP3's, browse the internet and send e-mail with Wi-Fi (built-in), play some seriously cool games and type up Word and Excel files (with free downloaded version of Docs to Go 6.0)--and all with a folding keyboard and PDA that take up 60% less space than a laptop! Oh, and the battery life blows away any other PDA I've ever used. I can check out pics, type up a Word document, play some solitaire and listen to MP3s and a couple of hours later, I STILL have over 75% of my battery power left over! (I do have my screen brightness at about 70%, though) For once, I can go on vacation and not have to lug around a battery charger! I hardly ever think that an item deserves five stars, but this one actually does. My only complaint? The stupid flip cover--it can get in the way sometimes and is a MAJOR dust/fingerprint/scratch magnet. But, I bought plugs for the holes for when you remove the cover, so now my TH55 is one sleek, slim tablet. PERFECT!
Rating:
Summary: A real winner here!
Review: As always, I'm as honest as possible in my reviews. This item is spectacular. My first paragraph below will have my history of palms up to this one, so skip it if you like, but it does contain some details.... I first purchased a Palm V back when it came out. The size simply sold me, because I knew if I had a large palm, I simply wouldn't bring it with me and use it. I picked it up a hard case, and away I went for several years in fact! One day, I saw the Palm m515 that looked just like my Palm V but had a color screen! Albeit, a not-so-nice color screen (very pixely)...but still, color! I sold my V and upgraded to the m515 which I enjoyed for about a year. Palm began introducing new handhelds with 320x320 resolution - even nicer! They came out with the Tungsten E which looked on the surface like the perfect package, but boy wasn't it! I upgraded to that palm thinking that for $199 I could have everything I wanted - well it was sorely lacking in many things. Enter the CLIE.... I saw this Sony TH55, but it wasn't my original intention. I was actually aiming for the TJ37 because it had a digital camera and other lovely features, but once I saw the black CLIE TH55 with gorgeous flip up/down tinted plexiglass cover, I just had to have it. The longer display is wonderful for added screen real-estate! 802.11B wireless networking works great in my house with my wireless lan for instant messaging, email and light web browsing (doesn't fully replace a computer, but works great for grabbing movie times). Unlike the Tungsten E, this handheld allowed me to have a cradle, just like the first models I knew and loved. I like my PDA next to me while I'm at my desk, preferably in a position that is usable, not laying down with two separate cables plugged in! I picked up the Sony PEGA-UC55 cradle accessory today, and it looks nice with it. So why did I purchase this Sony CLIE? Features and Sony name. Battery life is astounding for a 802.11b wireless equipped PDA, and Sony's new processor design of having a separate sound and graphics processor are a marvel! I knew if I was going to spend more on a PDA, I would be happier in the long run! The new PIM (Personal Information Management) software on this CLIE is astounding! I can enter new events into the datebook OR write directly on the screen in my own handwriting - even place pictures! This CLIE is as close as it gets to having a physical paper datebook/planner with you, with added features of nice sound, incredible graphics, and a decent camera. The camera isn't all that steller - it will not replace your existing digital cameras since it only takes pictures at 640x480. Pictures taken look decent, and if shrunk 50% look quite nice, but we're talking small picts here. I wanted a camera for taking quick pictures of things at work, and shots of friends while hanging out, etc, and this suits my needs perfectly. Last but not least, the price - some of you may be horrified at the pricetag on this item, but trust me that if you spend the bucks, you will be happy with it. I think my history of palm pilot/PDAs really showed that you get what you pay for. My first one I paid the most for and kept the longest. The cheap Tungsten E, bringing up the "rear" of Palm's higher end line is a nice entry level palm, but my IR beaming died after 4 months - guess what, it only had a 3 month warranty - that tells you something about that model. And if your considering the Tungsten T|3 from Palm, why would you want that slider mechanism that can fail on you? The CLIE screams style at every angle. Even the indicator lights illuminate as words on the top instead of just a light. When charging, the word Power illuminates in amber, and turns off when charging is complete! Finally, an indicator for this! When using the CLIE, the power light is green, and it has a red REC light that illuminates when recording voice VIA the microphone (nice quality too). Finally, WLAN illuminates in green when the CLIE is accessing the network - very nice! This CLIE has a 1-yr warranty, comes with Documents to Go Pro free of charge from sony as a download, and a nice software set of Sony applications. So, if you are on the border trying to decide on a PDA, I recommend this one highly! You won't be dissapointed!
Rating:
Summary: Lo mejor de lo mejor en PDA'S
Review: Exelente producto de Sony. No se podia esperar más.
Siempre fui consumidor de Palm. Mi última Palm fué una M515. Y no se puede comparar con mi Clié TH55. La pantalla es asombrosa, sobre todo si posees alguna cámara digital de Sony, sólo tienes que sacar la memory stick de tu cámara, la colocas en tu Clié TH55 y podras ver las fotos tan bién como en tu PC de escritorio. En cuento a la memoria, se ha dicho mucho que tiene poca memoria, sobre todo si se compara con las pockec Pc, lo que sucede es que el sistema operativo de Palm y sus programas optimizan mucho más la memoria, tal es el caso que tengo almacenados todos los datos de mi agenda desde el año 1997 cuando tenia una Palm Pilot, mas de 300 direcciones y mas de 50 notas. Ademas de tener instalados 5 juegos y el Documents To Go Pro con el cual puedo ver y editar todos mis archivos de Word, Exel y Power Point, ademas de otros programas y aun me restan mas de 25 Mb de memoria ram.
Lo único que te recomiendo es que compres una mémory stick de al menos 256 Mb, para poder almacenar tu musica preferida y documentos.
En cuanto al navegador NetFront v3.1, sólo puedo decir que es exelente. Navego muy bien a traves de la red Wireless con un Router Linksys BEFW11S4. Lo único que me gustaría es que el navegador se pudiera configurar para poder utilizarlo en modo landscape.
Si te la piensas comprar para tomar fotos, entonces si vas a perder tu dinero, ya que la cámara no es de buena calidad. Sólo saca buenas fotas cuando hay mucha luz.
En cuanto al audio MP3, es muy bueno, sobre todo si te compras unos buenos audifonos marca Sony.
Es muy necesario y recomendable comprar un protector de pantalla para asi evitar rayaduras en la pantalla, ya que con el uso del lapiz se tiende a rayar la pantalla de LCD.
Lo otro que recomiendo, es que si vas a usar tu PDA TH55 como unidad de almacenamiento, es muy recomendable comprar un cable marca Belkin USB Sync Charger with USB CLA for Sony T/NR/SL series, model No.F8Y1100, que sólo cuesta 15 US$ y funciona tanto como cargador y sincronizador, conectandolo tan sólo a un puerto USB. Recomiendo que grabes el driver USB de la TH55 en un disco compacto Mini CD-R y lo mantengas en tu estuche, de forma que si la conectas a una PC que no tenga el driver, se lo instalas de una vez.
Finalmente, en cuanto al estuche para guardarla, no hay muchas opciones, ya que por poseer tapa protectora, sólo se puede usar aquellos en los que hay que sacar la Pda del estuche, por lo que recomiendo el PEGA-CA23, en el cual cabe perfecta la TH55, un mini CD-R para el driver USB y una memory stick adicional. Debes colocarle, y es muy importante esto, la correa de mano que viene con la PDA, ya que es muy facil que se te resbale de las manos.
Le recomiendo a todo el que quiera una buena Agenda de bolsillo que la compre sin temor alguno, a pesar de que Sony saca del mercado para este año los productos Clié, está garantizando todos los respuestos por un periodo de hasta diez años. Ademas, los productos Clié seguiran comercializandoze en japón.
Rating:
Summary: Dead-end product
Review: First, I'm not sure why owners are giving the TH-55 such glowing reviews. Yes, the screen looks great. Yes, the battery lasts a long time. However, Sony has stopped exporting Clie products. Next, the majority of Palm OS software will not work on Clie products. Actually, as far as expansion/accessory development goes the TH-55 is already extinct. Also, there will never be a way to connect with bluetooth since the only slot is for the memory-stick. My last pda was an ipaq. Lots of possibilities...I purchased a 1gb micro-drive for storage. Try to find a memory-stick with that capacity. Had a compact flash fm stereo tuner card, a bluetooth card for the ipaq. Transferring media files to the memory card and play them on the ipaq was simple. The Kinoma player bundled with the Clie is useless unless you pay more money for the Kinoma producer program. Then you still have to invest the time to convert video files.
Yes, I'm going back to my ipaq until I can afford to buy a new pocket pc 2003 model.
Rating:
Summary: Healthcare Review
Review: I am a surgical resident that recently purchased the TH55. It has been an amazing product, allowing me to streamline patient admissions, collect snapshots of xrays for checkout, and send xrays, pictures of wounds, etc directly to attending physicians using the Wi-fi function. I purchased snappermail separately which has enhanced email attachment diversity. I also use a few ebook medical books, medical calculators, documents to go, and epocrates. Anyone looking for a product to enhance efficiency and deliver better patient care should strongly consider this device.
Rating: 
Summary: USE SHUTTER BUTTON AS POWER BUTTON
Review: I do love my Th55. Only things I don't like are the stylus and that the buttons are no good for games (but are fine for everything else) Gaming is not a big issue because almost all games from megasoft2000.com and astraware.com have full stylus support and are alot better than many of the button games.
I found a free program written for the TH55 that you can do any or all of the following:
- When the lens cover is closed... allows the Capture button
to be used as a power on/off button... and you can also opt for the Capture button to work as a back button or scroll button if pushed quickly.
- Use the Voice Record button to hotsync with computer with one push. will still voice record if held for a few seconds
- Allows you to reprogram the 4th bottom button to any function
the file is at this link http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fairy/chimera/files_p/THeGoGo118.zip
it is written in japanese so you will not be able to read it when launched... It is four checkboxes with a few sub-checkboxes.
If you get the file and would like me to explain it to you, e-mail me bgotsens@verizon.net
I loved my TH55 beforehand, but this program makes it almost perfect. I hope this helps.
Ben Gotsens
Rating:
Summary: No More Palm and More Than Thrilled
Review: I have been a long time Palm User, I can't even recall how many I've had. My latest was the M500 which I liked considerably because it was B&W and its battery lasted a month with heavy use. When my first M500 expired I purchased another, primarily because of the light weight and long battery life. I was very reluctant to try a color PDA, as I feared the frequent need to recharge. The ultimate failure of my 2nd M500 forced me to reconsider, especially in view of the fact that many new apps don't seem to run on Palm OS 4.x. When I read that the Clié TH55 battery can last 15 days, I gave it a try. I have not been a bit disappointed, the TH55 can indeed go 15 days between charges. (Unless you are a mole who plays Acid Solitaire 23hrs out of 24.) In writing a review of this product I'm somewhat hampered by the fact that I don't know which of the many useful software features are inherent to Palm OS 5.2 or are unique to the Sony authored software. I can only say that many of the software capabilities are extremely handy, such as the interconnections between the datebook, freenotes, addresses etc. There are many ways to do everything on this PDA, such as enter text, configure the address book, use freenotes. Most everyone should be able to customize the use of the apps to their taste and needs. The color screen is of good size and performance, not the best but close, in my opinion. Despite the 123mhz rating, apps don't seem to run slowly, though some may load a tad slowly. The TH55 fits neatly in my shirt pocket and the plastic screen protector, that almost every review berates, actually serves its main purpose nicely, it protects the screen. I use a tissue or a clean piece of cloth to remove dust and fingerprints if necessary, but believe me that's not the big deal that many seem to make of it. So what if it's hard to see through, it protects the screen from other items in my pocket or on a table, and that is what I need. My M500s were smaller and lighter than the TH55 but by the time I put them in an adequately protective case, they became bulkier and heavier, to the point that it was a squeeze to get them in some shirt pockets. In my opinion something that makes the TH55 or any Sony better than any of the many Palms I've had or tried, is the way the Sonys hook up to recharge. I don't care if the TH55 is shipped without a cradle, when I plug it in to charge, it charges. You can purchase a cradle if you want, and maybe I will. The fact is that all the more recent Palms have a very unreliable way of hooking up to power. To digress; I have had to adjust my Palms perfectly in their cradles and put a weighted object on top, then turn on the unit to see if the lightning bolt is there. Often the power light illuminates but the unit is not charging. Frequently it would take many adjustments to seemingly get it right, only to find that instead of charging overnight the unit is discharged. My Fiancés' Zire 71 is worse, there isn't even a light to make sure you're getting contact. I love the way my new Sony has a positive locking feel when the charging adapter is inserted, and I know a little jostle can't break the connection. OK, so the camera is a lousy "Camera" but if you use it as another reviewer mentioned, to record a price tag, a spec sheet, or to give someone an idea of how something looks, it can be invaluable in saving lots of writing and talking. There are PDAs with better cameras, they are still poor cameras. I don't recommend chosing a PDA based on the quality of it's camera, at least not today. It would be nice to have Bluetooth, but I've had to make worse compromises in the past. The only thing that upsets me about it, is the arbitrary way it was done. Seems that Sony's "Suits" know that many Americans will go right out and buy the next iteration of the TH55, ditching this one, because it will then incorporate Bluetooth. I guess Europeans are more frugal about things like that. The best thing Xerox ever did for Palm was to cause them to develop Graffiti 2. G-2 is much improved over G-1 and very easy to learn. For example, I found it very annoying and often confusing to perform an upstroke before writing a capital letter, and two upstrokes for caps lock was often too much for my multiple dead pixeled brain. Writing caps on the dividing line is just too easy. And now X's and K's write like they look and won't be easily confused. It only took me a few attempts to completely learn Graffiti 2, most of you can probably catch on even faster. My only real disappointment with the TH55 is the Stylus. Come on Sony you can do better! I use a Ballpoint Pen/Stylus combo which I keep in my shirt pocket. The Palm Styli were perfectly adequate. So score one for Palm, they still lose overall though, IMHO. To summarize: why should one buy the Sony Clié TH55? -Compact size with only a small compromize in power
-Much better than average color screen performance and size
-Excellent battery charge life
-Palm OS 5.2 and the excellent Sony apps I reviewed virtually every PDA made and none are perfect, one has to decide which features are important to you and which aren't. As a much more eloquent reviewer stated, "Try before you buy." I couldn't agree more.
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