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View Full Version : VZ90 Review 1


hope
01-14-2006, 12:53 AM
First thing you will notice about the VZ is the size, followed by the screen, followed by everything being in Japanese. I guess I'll tackle this thing going backwards starting with the translation. Now, even though most things are recognizeable from past clie users, it is just weird as well and dificult to fully use. Using CliePet's Partial English translation is a lifesaver as without it I don't think I could have done anything else. I would say that doing the full translation or possibly 90% of it was my first task and it took a couple days as various files from the NX and TH seem to corrupt the VZ and sent me into reset loops.

I took some files from my TH and NX to make an otherwise full English VZ. The PIM apps, ClieOrganizer, ClieFiles, DataImport, and the installation of additional apps make the translation even more complete than the great work Cliepet did. I took the time to make a folder with all the required apps required for the translation. I would love to distribute it to all VZ owner but I'm not sure what legal grounds are.

A few things still in Japanese are the categories in all the apps, such as memo, todo, etc... A few of the choices in CO are japanese, specifically, the choice to switch the bottom option to stickers, todos, or the pictures, videos, voice, and freenotes option. There are also a few Japanese characters in Hotsync and Prefs. All of these are almost hard to find and are not really noticed as I actually had to look for them. There may be a few more but its pretty much complete and changing the categories is a one time thing that just catches you as I rarely use Todos and just noticed those categories were still in japanese, oops.

As noted in some of my other posts, I was having a problem installing ClieRMC and there is debate as to if it works. Well, I got it to work and it just so happens I'm in a hotel traveling on business with a Zenith TV, with which the ClieRMC does not have a code. It also doesn't have magnavox, it does have all the major brands though. So, I can't test it out which is :mad: frustating after getting it to work.

I hope this helps as I will be going over the screen, use and ergonomics followed by thorough comparison pics with a PSP, LifeDrive, TH, and NX for size estimations. Please let me know any other things I should be going over or any one else might want to know.

dragonsgames
01-14-2006, 10:40 AM
When mine gets here, you are going to have to show me what to install ;)
I have seen a lot of pics of the VZ90. Every day without it is gettting harder. :D

xell
01-14-2006, 01:21 PM
^^Ditto on that.

My friend from Japan will be sending the VZ90 in a few days. So I can expect mine hopefully in a week or two. I know I'm going to need some help. :)

I currently have my TH synced with my PC laptop. I think I want to have my VZ90 synced with my Mac. Hope, you are using a Mac, correct? So any help you can provide would be great.

Thanks for the review.

dragonsgames
01-14-2006, 01:39 PM
I am using a Mac as well. I am using Missing Sync, and I think Hope is too. :)

hope
01-14-2006, 09:03 PM
I am using a mac but I using missing sync. I found 1 other area not translated, Media Launcher. Should I be able to use the UX translated version? I'm currently doing battery tests and will write my 2nd review tomorrow.

dragonsgames
01-14-2006, 09:08 PM
Is Media Launcher difficult to navigate in Japanese?

hope
01-15-2006, 11:18 AM
No worries, I was able to install the Translated ML and it works fine. The only thing in japanese is one of the options and the title of the memory cards but those have pictures anyway. Also, in ML, only the MLPhoto will actually have japanese. Specifically, when trying to tranfer or move a photo all the options are in japanese. I put the translated version and its perfect. For the MLmusic, which I have used much but it seems all gui, its fine, and for MLMovies its pretty self explanitory. I have found the netfront is in all japanese. I tried putting the VZnetfront Translated version from JA and it won't copy over? If anybody can help me with that I'd be greatful. OK, finally it pretty much complete in the translation. I'm assuming I'll just send the folder with all the files to anyone who PM's me. But, I would still like help to get NF3 to work translated.

I'll be posting some pictures of comparisons today with the VZ90 and the LD, TH, NX, and PSP. As well as conduct some battery tests for tomorrow and go over how using it as a main PDA has been. Even I didn't expect to use it as my main but I'll go over that later.

dragonsgames
01-15-2006, 01:18 PM
I am looking forward to getting mine. I can't wait, you will need to guide me through it all... :D

xell
01-15-2006, 01:23 PM
Thanks for the update. I will PM you later today. It would be great to find out what programs that are actually working and what other programs you had problems bringing over. But I'm sure you are in the early stage.

I'm assuming all of the files were loaded on the MS or CF and then copied over to RAM using Filez and not hotsynced?

In my case, I plan on using it mainly as a multimedia device (internet, movies, ebook, and some music) My TH55 will have all PIM functions and other non multimedia.

Looking forward to the next review.

dragonsgames
01-15-2006, 01:27 PM
It is weird, it is like the VZ90 was just released, because everyone is just getting one. ;)

xell
01-15-2006, 10:00 PM
Mine was shipped today so I figure a week or so and I will have it in my hands. The joys of price reduction. When the VZ90 was first released, I never thought about owning one of them. :)

dragonsgames
01-15-2006, 10:02 PM
How did you order yours?
I never thought of having one either... ;)

xell
01-15-2006, 10:07 PM
^^ A friend in Japan ordered it for me.

dragonsgames
01-15-2006, 10:14 PM
Oh... I ordered mine from Sonypenguin... :D