Rating: 
Summary: GREAT PDA, Very Versatile, Beautiful Design!
Review: Leave it to Sony to design the best PDAs! Based on the Palm OS, the CLIE PEG-NR70V is easy to use and easy to look at. Beautiful display, clear crips colors, built-in MP3 and built-in camera. The camera is more for the "cool" effect rather than being that useful, but worth the extra $100 or so for the fun of it.This is larger than some PDAs, so if a tiny PDA is your thing -- this isn't for you. But with the size you get a real QWERTY keyboard, digital camera, LARGE color swivel screen, MP3 player, and much more. I can't recommend this item enough -- enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! I love it
Review: My favorite gadget is my Clie. It includes camera, mp3 player, and universal remote control. It is very sturdy and takes abuse quite well (I've dropped mine several times). Pictures are really good and the color display makes Bejeweled even more addicting.
Rating:
Summary: Super PDA for the Price
Review: My wife bought this for me and I love it! The previous PDAs I have owned were not nearly as high tech. I certainly could not say more about the wonderful camera features than the other reviewer. As for all the other features all I can say is they work great. I have had mine about six months now and I have used them all and I have not had any problems. I mainly use it for my DVD and CD databases and games, but all the capabilities are amazing. I also highly recommend getting the Belkin USB Sync/Charge cable. It sure beats using a Sync/Charge Cradle since it is easy to carry anywhere.
Rating:
Summary: The Wait is finally over!!!!!
Review: Ok, Listen up folks, the wait is FINALLY over for those of us who are looking for a SOLID Palm based PDA that will be the PDA of our dreams!!! Why may you ask? The Sony NR70 series is here and it ROCKS!!!!!
I received my PEG-NR70V/U this past week and this handheld literally blows the doors off of the competition, ALL of the competition. • First let's consider this. The new series features 16MB of internal RAM plus 10MB of Flash ROM (for future Palm OS updates, specifically Palm OS 5). It comes with the new Palm 4.01 OS.
• Next, there is the AWESOME Memory Stick slot which will support up to 128MB memory sticks. That's tons of memory for data, photos, MP3's etc. In reality, its virtually unlimited on memory.
• Then there's the screen to consider. A gorgeous 320 X 480 resolution, active matrix, 3.8 inch viewable rotating screen that will sparkle and burst with vibrant color both indoors and out. I'm breathless just thinking about the screen!! It is better color in some cases than some laptop computers.
• Then there's the built in keyboard which some may or may not find useful. I use the Jot add on for entering data so the keyboard will be nice, but Jot users may still prefer Jot. Regardless, the keyboard will be an exciting addition for these units.
• Then there's the overall construction (brushed magnesium instead of aluminum or plastic). Magnesium is FAR MORE scratch resistant than any other PDA material. The clamshell design is sexy as hell.
• The Flip screen makes it so flexible that the possibilities are endless and no matter how you like to use your handheld, it is comfortable for everyone. PLUS it is a great conversational feature. Gets EVERYONES attention!!!
• The Digital Camera feature is AWESOME!!!! It takes GREAT Pictures with only a push of ONE button!!!! Nothing can be easier!!!
• The ability to edit both Excel and Word Documents is great and EASY!!!
• When connected to your PC vial the 'HotSync' cradle, the memory stick becomes a 'removable drive' to your 'My Computer' section of your PC. That is AWESOME!!! It allows you to 'drag and drop' both pictures and MP3's very easily to the memory stick!!!!
• This PDA is a true laptop replacement. I have been a Palm V, followed by a Palm IIIC owner for several years. I have been DYING to buy a new PDA for about a year now and I haven't. Why you may ask?! I REFUSE to buy a Pocket PC based handheld for several reasons (bulky, poor design, poor battery life, Bill Gates, etc). Palm and Handspring have completely fallen to sleep at the wheel. I find the M505 to have the worst color screen on the market and the M515 not much better. The Sony T615 screen is "foggy" at best and the scroll button is HORRIBLY designed and useless. And they all are limited to 8 meg of memory. The new Sony NR series addresses all of the issues that I hate about Palm based PDA's. These new devices will literally fly off the shelves!!!! Folks, the wait is over!!!
Yes, the price is a bit high, but once you have this little baby in your hands, you will totally forget about the higher price. You, like me will be saying to yourself, 'how do they get all this in this awesome looking, little device. I am so glad I bought this.. everyone in my office is wanting one now.... I give Sony an A++++++...
Rating: 
Summary: The Clie Dream Gadget
Review: OK, so I'm one of those gadget guys that has to go out and always buy the latest everything...and much to my wife's dismay, spend a lot of money in the process. As far as PDA's go, I have been from the Palm (m505), to Pocket PC (Ipaq) and now I'm back to the Palm again with the Sony Clie. Always looking for new features, I have been attracted to different PDA's for different features...and of course, the industry cannot come out with one single unit that does everything because that would hurt their bottom line, so I have been forced to buy several different types of PDA's. The Sony Clie does not disappoint when it comes to features and overall aesthetics/appearance. Sony is the first that I've seen to realize that it's a smart idea to include the "case" as a feature of the unit itself. If you want to purchase a leather case to protect your unit even further, you can definitely do so, but the design of the NR70V has a nice titanium looking hard case on the outside of the unit which protects itself. No need to carry the bulky pocket-book looking leather cases. This isn't a review that will list every feature of the unit because you can get that by just visiting the Sony web site ... Instead, I'll highlight some of the good and bad features for you so that you can make an informed decision. First of all, as of the date of this review (6/11/2002), the price of the unit was still in the high [$$$] range, which is an extremely high price for a PDA. Waiting a few months, you may find the price will drop a couple hundred bucks and let you pocket that hard earned money. The digital camera that comes with the unit is nothing more than a novelty. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you'll use this to take pictures at your next social function or Holiday party. The resolution is horrible, but with that said, you are buying a PDA folks. Despite Sony's attempts to promote this unit as an all-in-one "Personal Entertainment Organizer", it is still a PDA. Which means that you shouldn't expect a 4 mega-pixel camera. The camera should be used in its context, which for example may include taking a picture of a book in a bookstore that you want to make sure you read in the future, or a picture of the CD in the music store that you want your wife or parents to buy you for your birthday. Bottom line on the camera is don't set your expectations too high and you won't be disappointed. It might be cool at first, but should not be a deciding factor in your purchase decision. The music player feature is great. You can play mp3's and use your PDA just like a walkman. The thing to watch our for here is that unfortunately Sony does not include a memory stick with this unit, despite its price (not even a 4MB stick to get you started!!), which I found extremely annoying. If you're going to play more than a few songs at a time, you'll need to invest in at least a 128MB memory stick which will run you upwards of [$$$] depending on where you buy it (cheapest place I found was by using the shopping comparison on Yahoo!). The screen that the Sony comes with is superb to any that I have seen. The resolution is great, pictures show up clear, and movies are also pretty good. (this technology has a long way to go, but Sony is still at the top of the list). Having experiences the ease of use of the PocketPC, I find several features of the Palm OS, and in turn, the Sony Clie, extremely frustrating. For example, there is no software that allows you to see all files that you have saved on your unit in one screen, and allow you to open/delete/change or beam them. The unit comes with MS Gate which is a program that attempts to do this, but unfortunately is extremely lacking. The features I found most annoying is that it lists ALL files, including system files that you don't care about, and it also will not let you open any of the files from this program. In contrast, the PocketPC lets you simply use something just like the Explorer included with Windows (as a general comment, if you are used to Windows and do not want to deter from it, go with a PocketPC and stay away from Palm). The QWERTY keyboard is a great feature of the unit. It makes entering everything much easier, and for those of you that find Graffiti frustrating, this is your savior. For some reason, the people that designed this unit put the audio speaker on the bottom of the unit in the exact place that your hand goes when you're holding it. This muffles any sound that comes out, and seems like poor design....just my humble opinion. The size of the unit is great. It's nice and slim and rivals the M500 and Palm V series. Something frustrating to note hear is that the screen is a good size, but unfortunately you cannot always use its full length. Only certain applications that have been specifically designed for the full screen will let you take FULL advantage of it. Well...have I said enough?? Overall, I think the Sony Clie NR70V is a step above the rest and Sony has made a good and pioneering effort to include several features that you can't find on any other PDA's. The question is, whether or not these features will make you fork out the extra few hundred dollars. For me, the answer was Yes, but being the gadget guy only means that I'll be doing it again with the next model, and the Clie NR70V will be a thing of the past. Spend wisely.
Rating:
Summary: Your New Best Device
Review: Once, years ago, I had proclaimed, "I could never use a PDA; I'd always be worried about running out of batteries or losing the information. Good old paper organizers are enough for me." That was then. A while later, while sorting through all my Post-It notes and hand "archiving" them into the back pocket of my fabric organizer, I decided to look into PDAs. Couldn't I keep a typed list of things to do without straining for hours to decipher my hasty handwriting on yellow bits of paper? Wouldn't it be nice to put an organizer that weighed a few ounces into my bag instead of the one I had which was quickly reaching the weight of a brick? Being a student, I wanted something reliable that also scored exceptionally well in the "coolness" section. My first inclination was to go with a Palm Pilot - after all, they're everywhere, right? Palm this, Palm that. Celebrities swear by them according to a few magazines, ads show off shiny new models all the time, and "Palm Pilot" seems to have become synonymous with the word "PDA." That's it, I had decided. I'm going with a Palm m100 or m105 (a decision purely determined by price); the next day, I said, "That's it, I'm going with the Handspring Visor (the decision purely determined by the cool case colors). Little did I know that seeing a PDA on the web is very different from seeing a PDA in person. Like supermodels and magazine covers, most photos of PDAs seem to go through this "retouching" phase thanks to Adobe. When I saw the Palms, I was immediately disappointed; the screens were barely visible to me. When I saw the Handsprings, I was again disappointed; the supposedly vibrant "colors" turned out to be rather dull and unimpressive. After asking others for their opinions, I was told that the Sony Clié was the best way to go. The Sony what? I had never even heard that Sony was in the PDA business. A sales guy showed me the Sony Cliés - it was instant love. I first purchased the Sony T-615, a perfectly competent model that did everything I hoped it would; until, that is, the NR-70V came out. As someone who loves the latest and greatest, I traded it in for the newest model. A built-in keyboard? Better resolution? A camera? I was sold! Of course, there were those who jealously defended their Palm Pilots, insisting that Palms were the best in this and that, that Sonys can't even touch what they had. Well, I was already taken by the Sony. I now laugh that I went from the... 150 m100 or m105 to the... NR-70V. What a leap! I had just returned from a summer vacation to Thailand. I always use a vacation as a diagnostic test on how effective an electronic device is. Why? Because while at home I am gingerly handling the device, careful not to scratch it, afraid of wasting the batteries, terrified of using it too much; while on vacation, however, thrown into, ironically, hectic situations (handling airline schedules, quickly converting currencies in line at the store, checking world times before flights, bringing up dictionaries to haggle with store owners), I am forced to break out the device to apply it to life situations. In Thailand, the PDA never left my side. Carefully protected in its Brando leather case, I used it for everything (see parentheses above). I even took pictures with it. Be careful to note, however, that the camera on this device is not top quality; they're pictures you take for fun, not ones you take to print out brilliant photos later. So, if you do want to take digital pictures on vacation, be sure to bring a capable camera. However, there's great value in having a camera with you all the time. The camera is great for taking quick photos when you don't have the time to whip out your digital camera (or even when you forget to bring it). "I wish I had a camera with me!" Well, now you do. A variety of programs can also make your NR-70V even more useful. BugMe! is a program that is designed like Post-It notes (you know, the pieces of paper I used to have all over the place pre-PDA); you just tap the icon on your device, bring up a new "sheet," and use your stylus to write right on the screen in your own handwriting. A great program for those who don't want to use Graffiti or type on the cumbersome mini-keyboard. Another program called Energy Dimmer is great for automatically dimming the backlight of your PDA after a number of seconds. If you are going to use this PDA for typing up notes, keeping the backlight on will drain the batteries quickly (along with using intensive programs such as games). Download this program so it will dim when it is idle, thus saving you batteries and the trouble of turning the device on and off every few minutes. After visiting three airports, countless stores and restaurants, and many scenic sights, I have to say that this is the best PDA on the market. There are several good reviews out there that contain more technical jargon than I've provided here; I just hope this review has been helpful for those seeking a more "day-to-day" review. Some more specific points and tips to help you decide: * The button placements are not ideal. They are awkward, requiring one to reach in and push into the heart of the PDA. * The built-in keyboard is not very user friendly. The buttons are small; not much of a relief from using the Graffiti. It is a pain to capitalize and use numbers. I recommend getting the newly released PEGA-KB11 keyboard. It's a fold-out and full-sized keyboard that allows you to type as though you are on a laptop. * If you want to use the camera instead of a digital camera (meaning these are just fun photos, not to be printed at great quality), use it with plenty of light, as there is no flash included. I took photos of some people in my tour group - one in a dark restaurant, the other in a bright restaurant - the difference is great. You can take pictures of people with this and insert the thumbnail photo in your address book. * The MP3 player, in my opinion, is not very useful. First of all, you need a special white memory stick (different from the blue ones) to store the files. The price can add up. The design of this PDA is also a bit bizarre, so it's not really convenient to use it as a music player. * The screen resolution is the best on the market right now. Some PDA screens will become almost unreadable with the backlight off; the Sony is still readable (with some reasonable ambient light) without the backlight. * Be sure you can live with the clamshell design. Many people find this design awkward and unnecessary. Personally, I think it gives the PDA a "mini laptop" feel and plenty of versatility. You can sit it open like a laptop, flip the screen over like a spiral notebook, et cetera. * If you don't want to use the cradle to charge or hotsync, purchase a cable that'll allow you to charge and hotsync via your computer (using the USB slot). In conclusion, the Sony Clié NR-70V is a great buy if you know it'll be compatible with your needs. It is always with me, and many programs and add-ons can enhance the experience. This is your all-in-one device: an organizer, a camera, a currency converter, a laptop, a photo gallery, a subway map, your international watch, a music player, a remote control, a movie player, etc. After having this for a few months, I can't believe I ever preferred a paper organizer over this. This is definitely everything you want it to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Semi-engineered
Review: Pros: built-in camera; good display resolution, add-on memory
Cons: lack of data back-up battery, large size, flip design, large charging / hotsync cradle, inadequate software, memory media type, memory stick not included, price, battery life, camera quality, lack of modem. The built-in camera, the display quality, and the add-on memory are the three features that make the NR70V a standout. Unfortunately, there are a plenty of annoying design flaws and inadequacies. When the battery dies, so does all data. In 1996, my first HPC had a back-up watch-type battery. While one can restore all previously sync-ed data, it's still an inconvenience, plus all new, un-synced data are lost. The problem is aggravated by the fact that the large odd-shaped cradle cannot be taken on a trip unless one has check-in luggage and figures out how to pack it so that it does not break in two while handled by airline and security staff. Battery life is about two work days (average business use, no sound player use). In addition to increasing size, the flip design probably reduces durability. When flipped, one cannot access the quick buttons. At this price, camera image quality is inadequate. The lack of modem, wired or wireless, makes the included e-mail application obsolete. The calculator does not have scientific functions, the remote control cannot control a CD player, the document view software (word and excel) does not allow the documents to be viewed in a formatted state. Included images and graphs are not transfered. There are more wide-spread and equally portable memory types (e.g. smartmedia) that would have been more practical than the memory stick.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Perfect, THE Best PalmOS PDA
Review: Screen: The screens are both excellent. The Sony has a definite edge in sharpness and overall quality, but the iPaq is more colorful and brighter. The edge goes to Sony because for reading small text, the Sony wins. Sony 340x480, iPaq 340x240. It does make a difference. Form factor: The Sony is nice and slim, but about an inch too long to be comfortable in a shirt pocket. The clamshell is also awkward, and I almost never use the keyboard. On the plus side, the flip screen protects it, nice solid metal case. The iPaq is also slim, but wait. It's rounded and feels "slippery." Add the standard plastic screen protector case, it gets bigger. Add anything else (like an adapter for Compact Flash, or wireless) and it's as thick as paperback book and HEAVY. Edge to Sony.
Apps: Apps for both were ok. I found that unlike PalmOS apps, most PocketPC apps cost money, not as big of a shareware community around PocketPC. Some PocketPC apps I liked better than Palm, some Palm apps I liked better than PocketPC. Text and email and spreadsheets were all the same, but again, edge to Sony because the fonts looked better. Slight edge to iPaq, because you can always get rid of the keyboard for more screen real estate (we have to wait for Palm OS 5 from Sony before we can do this.) Toys: Sony has the camera. Nice, but not great. iPaq was simply stellar with MP3 playback with a MUCH better internal speaker, and did great with video. But I found a lot of PalmOS shareware video players that also kicked [...] I wish the Sony had a decent built in speaker, because it has the better MP3 player, but you need to use headphones or external speakers to listen to music. The iPaq you can hear across the room with zero distortion. The iPaq has built in BlueTooth. What they don't tell you is that you need a BlueTooth receiver, and those get pricey. It should have built in Wi-Fi instead like the Toshiba does at this price. You can add wireless to the iPaq, but hold onto your wallet - at least [$$$] more. And more bulky add-on adaptors. Sony has no public wireless add-on plans for the Clie, but a BlueTooth Memory Stick is available overseas and wireless is rumored. Sync: It was nice that PocketPC autosyncs, PalmOS you have to force Hot Sync. Transferring files was easier with the PocketPC OS. But again, big plus for Sony since I all need was a hot sync/charging cable, the iPaq uses a very bulky cradle with a ton of wires (I suppose there is an aftermarket one like the Sony has.) Memory: The Clie has 16 megs internal and I added a 128 meg Memory Stick. BIG plus - you can run some apps off the stick - nice! The iPaq has 48 megs in ROM, 64 in RAM, and you can add more with a Smart Media card. Edge to Sony again. It has less internal memory, but PalmOS apps are also MUCH smaller than their PocketPC counterparts, so you can run more apps with less memory. I was surprised at how quickly I ran into memory issues on the iPaq. Neither PDA wins points for the memory form factor. One other point. In two weeks, the Sony locked up once. The iPaq froze three times in two days, not a good sign. All things being considered, and after testing several apps for both platforms (including mapping, games, multimedia, presentation programs, web browsing/clipping, email, etc.) the two units were similar and neck and neck. I waffled between the two for three days, but the verdict is in.
Sony wins. Bottom line is that the iPaq costs [$$$] more than the top end Sony. It also gets quickly tops [$$$] when you add wireless and other features. This is bad enough, but the form factor is a killer. The iPaq is simply too bulky even in a standard configuration - I don't want to carry a paperback book from meeting to meeting. I'll keep an eye on the iPaq line, but for now the Sony and PalmOS still offer the best bang for the tech buck. To win me back, the iPaq needs: 340x480, built in Wi-Fi, better form factor/screen protection,[$$$]off the price. Then I'd look at it again.I expect that by the time we see this unit, Sony will have PalmOS 5 support, a better built in camera, and Wi-Fi as well.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular!!!!
Review: Simply perfect, I changed my old palm for this and have it all, plus very good price against others similar to this one
Rating:
Summary: Why not the extra cash?
Review: Sony's new Clies are definately worth a look at. The new software Grafti area, although this may be a personal dilusion, seems to allow for more accurate writing than with regular Palm-type devices. As it traces what you are writing, you know what to correct, which may be why it seems better. Either way, you'll know when you're making a mistake as well as why. The display as well is clear and clean, as should be expected from high-res. The new fonts are easier to read than the low-res versions, simply because they are actual lines rather than blots on the screen made to look like letters. Probably the biggest change from other PDAs including the other Palm units is the flip-open design. This itself is an interesting addition, which has allowed for further expansions, such as the keyboard on the unit, and no doubt other additions in later versions. However, I would really like to know if Sony performed any tests to find out what the lifespan of the hing is. No doubt years, but no one will be happy when their Clie starts flopping all over the place when a year before it would stay in any position you set it in. Of the weak points this unit has, the placement of the buttons may be given. For those used to the hardware buttons on most Palm devices, suddenly having them moved to a strange place, and completely missing when the unit is used with the keyboard portion closed, this may be a large drawback. However, the jog dial is said to make up for the loss of mobility, plus no doubt in time the software Grafti will be modifiable to take over the functions of the calander/notepad/etc. button, although no such thing seems possible yet. The keyboard itself, as well, is more of a nicety, and should not probably be the reason a person buys the Clie. A quick word on the camera. It is really only a gimmic feature, and not what a person should get if they really want a digital camera. Still, it may be useful for some applications, like snaps of friends or things along that line. It may not be worth the money, in short. Still, if you have the extra cash and just want to impress the socks off of your rivals, it may be worth it.
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