Rating: 
Summary: Problems with MP3's
Review: I've had the SJ33 for about two weeks. Overall I have to agree with other reviews regarding the screen -- it is the most impressive feature of the SJ33. However, my experience with the clie has been very frustrating. I purchased it primarily as a way to have an MP3 player together with my organizer. As of this writing despite several exchanges with sony tech support I've been unable to get the MP3 player to work with any of my existing MP3s all of which play without problem on my other MP3 players, It appears that this issue will not be resolved and I'll have to return the SJ33 at this point.
Rating: 
Summary: Hitches on MP3 and ATRAC3 playing.
Review: If creating and playing MP3's is one of your big things with this, it may pay to go to the Sony web site and download the detailed product manual or "troubleshooting manual."A few things to know: 1. The included "ripping" and "transfer" software, "Sonic Stage" only creates ATRAC3 format, not MP3 format. You'll need another piece of software to convert your favorite CD's into MP3 files. 2. If you do use the "Sonic Stage" software to create ATRAC3
files, you cannot use regular Sony Memory Sticks, you have to use "MAGIC GATE" Memory Sticks, which have built in digital rights management. You can put MP3's on a Magic Gate stick, but you
cannot put ATRAC3's on a regular Memory Stick. "Magic Gate" is a special version of a Memory Stick, same size and footprint, but has digital rights stuff built in. Sort of like how a "Secure Digital" card is the same footprint as
a MMC (MultiMediaCard), but has digital rights built in. The PEG-SJ33 will accept __both__ regular Memory Sticks and
Magic Gate sticks. 3. More restrictions on MP3 format: a) The slowest MP3 bit-rate that the PEG-SJ33 will play is 32k bits/sec (32 kbps). That's fine because recorded music is usually encoded at 128 kbps into MP3 files. However, if you listen to __spoken word__ MP3 files encoded at 24 kbps (or slower), the Clie's built-in player will just tell you that
the file is "corrupted". It's not "corrupted", it just
can't interpret anything slower than 32 kbps. b) The "sampling rate" needs to be 44 K Hz, for the Clie. Spoken word MP3 files are often encoded at 22 K Hz.
Rating: 
Summary: Sony support nonexistant
Review: If sony could get a zero, I would give them a zero. Sony has no concept of giving their customers any after purchase support. The battery on this clie has never held a decent charge. Due to my work, I am not able to leave it plugged in all day; so I tried to find a car charger. No one had one not even sony and their support never emailed me back. I decided to replace the battery and once again no one had a replacement, and sony was non responsive. I guess by halting support of their clies sony believes that everyone will have to buy a psp. NOT ME!
Rating: 
Summary: More compelling design but still pricey
Review: Pros: Built-in MP3 player; fast processor; high-resolution screen; slick clamshell design; 16MB; excellent screen; hard cover; faster processor; small shape; Thin; light; great color screen; Great battery life. Cons: Wimpy scroll buttons; includes OS 4.1 rather than OS 5.0; expensive; buttons are small again; Doesn't come with a memory stick Summary: This is my third handheld, and I'm quite impressed with it. Before this I've used two Palms, the 130 and the 515. I always give my old gadgets away to family because I love keeping up with the latest. The first thing that should strike you is the great look. This is a handsome PDA; although built with plastic, and not metal, it doesn't take away from the quality feel. The screen is great. Way better than the Palm 130 and 515, and much better than most Power PC's I've seen. With the backlight on I'm able to utilize it non stop for about 9-10 hours, so this will last you probably about 2 weeks with average use. The processor speed is lightening quick, I was able to move around while playing MP3's with no lag, also playing MPEG's was a great experience. With the 128 or 256 or bigger meg memory sticks you can fit a huge amount of multimedia in there. My favorite thing about this as opposed to the Power PC is the speed with which I can just open up and use it. This is a great OS first and foremost, and doesn't have TSR's and other BS piggybacking it like the Power PC OS.
Rating:
Summary: It's an impressive handheld. Sony has done again!!!
Review: SJ33 is simply the best among OS 4.1. At this time I do not consider the new OS 5.0 'cause of the lack of software available. Unless you consider a few expensive programs would be enough, like a Pocket PC Users, forget about OS 5.0. Wait a little bit, my friend, in order not to become the first victime. Tungsten owners have a hardware without software, have a MP3 without music, a wrap without gift, it's unbelievable. Only Palm Inc. could be able to do that!!! Poor people, hardware without software is worthless. So, everybody must keep in mind that the great big assortement of palm software 4.1 makes the difference. Sony means consideration to the customers, it's a fact.
Pros: long batery life, amazing screen, high resolution (forget about the old palm 160 x 160 and even the 240 x 320 Pocket PC's resolution). MP3 with Sony quality, needless to say something else. Good value. Size is very practical and awesome, fits on my poche easily. Do not forget (overall) that SJ33 is a palm software, which means a powerfull and usefull device. Oh, yes, it's an really eye-catching, very very beatiful. Sony's hardware is better than Palm one's, only the fanatics'Palm users wouldn't admit. Finally, I think a good advice would be this: "Keep on Sony, you will never regret". Otherwise...it'd be better take notes about supports and the same old claims.
Rating:
Summary: Best bang for buck, but a star short.
Review: Sony doesn't exactly develop the newest technology, but nobody
has better designers and nobody can refine an idea like Sony. The SJ33 is the case in point today: I'm a former Handspring Visor owner, when it was the first PDA to come in colors and the first to come with 8 Megs and an advanced version of the Palm OS. It was cutting-edge then... and the SJ33, while not cutting-edge any longer, will fill the bill for former Handspring Visor owners and newcomers alike. First, the display is color, 65k colors worth and bright as all heck. You want to keep a virtual picture frame on your desk, this is a nifty 320x320 screen for displaying hundreds of wallet-sized photos. Second, MP3s out of the box. Sure, no Memory Stick is included, and you are limited to 128 Meg Sticks at that (the new 256 Sticks are merely double-sided 128s), but you score a few Sticks, and you've got nearly as much MP3 space as a CD. And because it's solid state memory, no shock, no skip, just pure sound. Third, it comes with the best software bundle of any PDA today. In fact, all Sony handhelds come with superior bundles: Documents to Go lets you view *and* edit Word and Excel documents; Intellisync is the best sync software for Outlook users, bar none; the games are terrific, but Bejeweled is possibly the most addictive game since Tetris; and the utilities for viewing and managing music, photos, and movies (yep, movies too) are far beyond my expectations. Fourth, it's a Lithium-Ion battery, so you charge it whenever you're not using it, and just go. It lasts awhile, not nearly 9 hours if you're playing Bejeweled constantly or listening to MP3s, but you can go a whole day easy. Fifth, those flip cases come in colors. I'm sorry, but a little funk in your PDA is a must. I dig colors, and I'm gonna score me that excellent orange one soon. Now, the bits that kept a fifth star from alignment in the Clie Constellation: #1 The SJ33 doesn't support Memory Stick Pro, so if you think you want 256, 512, or even 1 Gb Memory Stick space, you have to go a different route, like the NZ series or T series Clies. #2: MP3 encoding from bundled software is limited to 128kps, 44Hz encoding. If you like 192 or even 256k encoding, you need 3rd party software. Good news is I can play my 192 or 256-bit MP3s with no problems. #3: The Jog Dial is very cool, but a bit small and stiff. You need some serious dexterity to properly use it while holding the unit (heh, I said "unit"). #4: Palm OS 4.1. Keeps the costs down, keeps the software in the greatest compatibility, but Sony's lead time could've allowed for Palm 5. And it's not truly upgradable either: you patch it. Ah well. #5: It doesn't come with a cradle. Yeah, the fifth star is withheld on that alone. Cradles are a necessity, and while I do give Sony credit for the compact travel sync/ charge option, I expect a cradle with any PDA. Period. Let's sum up. A solid four stars, a really good choice for your 1st PDA (it'll go around two hundred), an outstanding upgrade from older PDAs (especially B&Ws and lo-res color), and an all-around high performer. If you don't need a camera, Memory Stick Pro capacities, or Palm OS 5, this is your best bang for the buck.
Rating:
Summary: Great PDA!!!
Review: The color screen on this handheld is great and you can't beat the resolution as well. If you buy a decent sized memory stick and the 3rd party software (which is included), you can turn the PDA into an MP3 player, you can watch movies, and you can also display photo albums. Overall, this PDA is the best one I've had by far. To me, its only drawback is that the battery drains rather quickly when playing a game, but other than that, I see no problems with it.
Rating: 
Summary: It's okay
Review: This handheld is the first of all hand-helds I have owned. I have to say I am rather disappointed. It's so basic! I would think it would have more uses, but it doesn't. This hand-helds is great for business users, but not for uses other than that. Pros:
1. Great optional documents sync software
2. Easy to use menu
3. Quick access buttons
4. Bautiful picutre quality Cons:
1. Needs memory stick for the audio palyer option and for some optional games (memory stick is not included)
2. Short battery life span; i.e. 45 minutes of playing games uses ½ of your battery life
3. Lacks basic programs (i.e. word programs and other games that need to be installed later)
4. Not user friendly (To be true, I like to open and play without spend half an hour to learn how to use it)
5. No volume adjuster (This can be a drag at times)
6. IR port is only good for hand-held to hand-held transfers, not hand-held to PC transfer (USB cable is includes for that though) I've been using this hand-held for a little over a month and it has a myriad number of uses. But, where's there is good, there is bad.
Rating:
Summary: Best thing since sliced white bread-
Review: This is an excellent product. I researched it thoroughly. I still have a Visor but the SJ-33 is light-years ahead. As a medical person I use Epocrates all the time. This works much faster on this PDA. I am a Mac user which can be an issue with PDAs. I recommend this product. It is sleek, neat and comes with a swell game which is addictive:Bejeweled.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent PDA for an affordable cost
Review: This is my 2nd PDA. I had a Casio PV-S1600. So I was used to monochrome screen and no snazzy apps.
This palm OS based color CLIE just blasted me away.
The palm 4 os based software are easily available online. The PDA serves all my purpose ... entertainment or work. The built in mp3 player is great.
I give it a thumbs up! Cons:
A faster proccessor and RAM needed... (yes im greedy)
No cradle available with package
Built in Speaker not loud enough
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