Replaced SJ33 with Zire 71

[johnnymapson]

I liked the SJ33, but I feel that I am getting a lot more for the same price with the Zire. I wish the Z71 had the sony flip cover. Just to note that I really enjoy reading everyone's opinions on the whole PDA world here.

[Shogmaster]

Originally posted by johnnymapson
I liked the SJ33, but I feel that I am getting a lot more for the same price with the Zire. I wish the Z71 had the sony flip cover. Just to note that I really enjoy reading everyone's opinions on the whole PDA world here.

I'd have probably done the same thing, or moved up to a TG50.

[yOyOYoo]

me too. For $299, the Zire 71 is the way to go!

Staples is currently selling the Zire for $294, plus there is a $30 off $150 coupon floating around out there. $264 for a Zire 71? Pretty hot deal to me.

[X Destruction]

I'm thinking of changing to a Z71, but I'll wait how sony holds up with this. God knows now Sony will do something very innovative at the mid-range and get the market back on their side. They have powerful MP3 capabilities and a better camera for their PDA's as well as enhanced IR. Heck, all they need to do is make a T665 with OS5.2.1 and VG (320x480) and maybe a 680x480 camera. Without the camera, it'll probably still be selling better than the Z71. I think Sony may go a step higher than that, they always do.

[RJSawyer]

Does the Zire 71 have a jog wheel? That's one of my favorite Clie features ...

Robert J. Sawyer
http://www.sfwriter.com

[X Destruction]

Nope, but it does have a 5-way navigator (joystick)

[Jeffry]

As of now, the Zire is the best bang for your buck. Who knows what Sony will come up with next...

[johnnymapson]

Originally posted by Shogmaster


I'd have probably done the same thing, or moved up to a TG50.

I would agree with the whole TG50 statement but I personally think the screen is AWFUL. The shadows all around the outside of the screen is very annoying to me, otherwise that would be my next choice.

[elf]

How is the battery life on the Zire?

[notmuch]

Originally posted by johnnymapson
I liked the SJ33, but I feel that I am getting a lot more for the same price with the Zire.....

Judging from your list of past PDA's, is price really a factor for you?? :)

Repeat after me: "I am johnnymapson. I am a PDA junky."

[madmaxmedia]

I wonder how the audio compares. Reviews have said it is good, if it is as good (or better) than the CLIE then that will be a great improvement over the TT.

Since I already have a SJ33, it's no big. But if I hadn't bought it yet, it would make for an interesting decision. There are still things I like about the CLIE line (jog wheel), but this new Zire seems pretty well done! And no 128 MB limit for storage! If the bundled mp3 player can do playlists then it could very well be the superior multimedia device (plus camera).

Darn, maybe I will switch...

[Alistar]

I think Sony will have to be a little more competetive in their pricing if they expect to get the market they lost to this back.

[illusion4096]

But what can you do more with the zire than with the Sony??? except for the camera

I would still go for the SJ33. Even just for the cool look it has :)

[madmaxmedia]

The new processor will be faster for certain tasks (like AcidImage). Other stuff will be the same, since the SJ33 is already pretty speedy.

Joystick vs. jog wheel and back button is a wash for me.

If the 71 has good mp3 quality, it will be a better mp3 player with playlist support built-in and access to larger than 128 mb cards. With a 512MB card (not that I can afford it now), you can have LOTS of songs.

[No MA's]

I was playing with a Zire 71 today and it certainly wasn't all it has been played up to be. The multimedia is no better than the clie, the processor is not noticeably faster, the camera is so-so, and it is pretty ugly in general. I also don't think the joystick is a big step over the job dial, and the lack of a back button is rally annoying. I think I'll stick with my SJ33 untill sony puts out something else.

[T1000X]

Gee, I think if Sony wanted to be competitive with the SJ33 they would drop the price by $50. At it's current $299 price which is the same for the Zire 71, which has a lot more for the price, is now way over priced. A $50 drop would be perfect at this time.

[T1000X]

Oh, and the Zire 71 uses Palm's Sound API's, so not only can it use AeroPlayer, but also other audio players available now.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by No MA's
I was playing with a Zire 71 today and it certainly wasn't all it has been played up to be. The multimedia is no better than the clie, the processor is not noticeably faster, the camera is so-so, and it is pretty ugly in general. I also don't think the joystick is a big step over the job dial, and the lack of a back button is rally annoying. I think I'll stick with my SJ33 untill sony puts out something else.
How can you say that?!
I returned my NX70V and bought a Zire 71! While this may sound stupid, I think it is better than my NX70V. First of all, design-much better than NX. The NX70V makes my zire 71 look like a midget!! No more top-heavy feeling! Grafiti 2 is also a big inprovement over Grafiti, and I don't miss virtual grafiti one bit!

[Serotta]

Originally posted by Unregistered

How can you say that?!
I returned my NX70V and bought a Zire 71! While this may sound stupid, I think it is better than my NX70V. First of all, design-much better than NX. The NX70V makes my zire 71 look like a midget!! No more top-heavy feeling! Grafiti 2 is also a big inprovement over Grafiti, and I don't miss virtual grafiti one bit!

Wow, I think you're definitely going to be in the minority there. I can see trading in a T, SJ, or TG, but I think the NX is just too much for the Z71 to compare to.

[nigeljedi]

I have done a lot of exchanging of handhelds lately (namely because I'm very particular, and none have quite sparked my fancy) at Best Buy, and I'm still not 100% sold on the Zire 71. It is my latest handheld, and there's just something I don't like about it. I was actually going to BB to exchange my TG50 (didn't like the "no graffiti area" thing, and never used the keyboard) for the SJ33 when the sales guy pitched the Zire that they had just gotten in. I thought "hey, I'll give it a whirl...looks pretty snazzy for the same price as the SJ", but like I said, I'm not quite sold on it.
It is nice to have an inexpensive Palm OS5 machine and a built-in camera, but...
I like the simplicity of the SJ's design. Simple buttons (I'm not a handheld gamer that needs the joystick), simple case design and very small.
The only noticeable advantage to the Zire I have and the SJ33 is an improved OS and a camera. Otherwise, it's not recognizably speedier and the screen graphics still seem "clunky" to me.
Who knows? Maybe I'll be back in BB on Saturday for the SJ!!
;)

[nigeljedi]

Oh, yeah...and the Zire doesn't have any LED light indicating its charge status. I hate GUESSING if it's charged!
:(
Also, if you want to set alarms that flash an LED, the Zire doesn't have that capability either.

[Seul]

For the last month or so I've been trying to decide on a replacement for my Handspring Visor Deluxe. I'm leaning towards the SJ33 because of the form factor: the size is perfect for me, and the itegrated hard flip cover is a must-have.

I got to play with a Zire71 during lunch today at BestBuy. And I have to say that it's a great value--alot of nice hardware for a good price. And the camera wasn't too bad either.

However, I'm still leaning towards the SJ33. It'd be easier to carry around, and that's an important factor in how often I'll want to use it. If a unit isn't comfortable to carry around, it's just going to sit in the cradle. I'm not saying that the Zire71 has a horrible form factor; it's a bit smaller than I expected it to be. But I feel that the SJ33 is still more aesthetically pleasing and has a better form factor.

[nigeljedi]

I'm still tossing the SJ33 thing around. THIS IS TORTURE! I hate having a technical decision like this looming over my head!

(;))

[Chanbingo]

Me too... I was initially impressed with Zire though it only out-pace SJ33 when it comes to the Digital Camera since SJ ain't got one.

OS 5 isn't much of a improvement unless the eye-candy. Software isn't written purely for that.

And I just love my SJ33 with flip closed more than any other casing. Meanwhile I've just ordered 256MB Lexar MemoryStick for my CLIE.

So I will rather wait and see what SONY would do for the comming summer...

Chan

[johnnymapson]

Originally posted by notmuch


Judging from your list of past PDA's, is price really a factor for you?? :)

Repeat after me: "I am johnnymapson. I am a PDA junky."

I might be a bit of a PDA junky. Two things from the get go that I did not like about the SJ33 were NO CRADLE, and the graphiti area did not work NEARLY as well as any PDA that I have had in the past. I am not a real fan of graphiti 2 yet, but it's not that big of a deal. It's not REALLY about the price, for me it's what you get for that price. I do find myself trying to use the jog wheel on the Zire that is not there
:)

[nigeljedi]

...here I am 48 hours after the Zire 71 purchase, and I'm still not convinced. My thoughts still wander to the SJ33.
Am I insane?
No, maybe just bored at work!
;)

[Unregistered]

I don't know.

[kdn102]

Wait, isn't the sj33(see disclaimer) only 66mhz and the zire71 144mhz arm?  I haven't played with it yet, but if the 144mhz arm is only 25% slower than my nx70 arm then I would not agree in saying the sj33 is 'already pretty speedy'. 

Disclaimer:  Palm's site conveniently leaves out the processor specs on the sj33, and I'm too lazy right now to look them up :P

Originally posted by madmaxmedia
The new processor will be faster for certain tasks (like AcidImage). Other stuff will be the same, since the SJ33 is already pretty speedy.

Joystick vs. jog wheel and back button is a wash for me.

If the 71 has good mp3 quality, it will be a better mp3 player with playlist support built-in and access to larger than 128 mb cards. With a 512MB card (not that I can afford it now), you can have LOTS of songs.

[Unregistered]

if z71 have built in either buletooth or WIFI, if z71 have voice recorder, if z71 have vitural graffi...

there are alway something missing.

[bgreschke]

Warning: This is going to end badly.

I've had a PDA for years. First a TRG Pro, then, and now, a HandEra 330. HandEra announced last week that they were not going to be making any more 330's and Pro's, so I was on the hunt for a new machine. I've really been wanting color, mostly for looking at photographs, for a couple of months now. Plus the screens of some software program's are getting so crowded that you really need to go to color to keep everything visually separated. Also, it was just time to upgrade. Both of my PDA's have been all over the planet from the jungles of the Philippines, to the Gobi Desert of central China, to three months in a tent in Antarctica. I've never had a serious problem with either of them. They've never been abused, but they haven't exactly spent their lives bluetoothing email back an forth over a cell phone in some New York restaurant. So that's were I'm coming from. Now remember, this review is from the perspective of someone who travels for work, and doesn't use a PDA as a toy to play games on or listen to MP3s of the Dixie Chicks.

I ordered the 71 from Palm the morning that they were announced (Wednesday). It was shipped out USPS that afternoon, and I received it Friday morning. It went back to the post office Friday afternoon.

The screen is VERY nice. When I look at the launcher on a Sony Clie the icons look like a bunch of pixels on a computer display. On the 71 it looks like they have been printed on a piece of paper. It's almost eerie. :)

The back light is nice and bright, and the brightness is continuously adjustable with a slider, but you can't turn it completely off! You can slide it down quite a ways, but not off! Why? I need the battery life. You don't need the light on at all when you are out in the sunlight. The screen is quite readable in full sun.

I could see where the camera might be handy. It is fixed focus and seems to be optimized for stuff that is less than 20 feet away. Outdoor scenery shots -- forget it. They are just too blurry when you download and look at them. I WAS able to take a picture of a business card, download it and read it. You couldn't quite read it on the 71's screen. So that would be useful
for business people...and spies. :)

The sliding parts of the camera made me nervous. If any sand were to get in between the moving parts it could be ugly. Having the PDA come on, and the camera software pop up when you slid the back down to expose the camera was OK, but as I recall you couldn't get out of the camera software until you slid the back up again and covered the camera. And if the PDA was off, and the camera was still exposed, the PDA would come back on when you closed the camera. I think. All I know is that the PDA coming on and switching applications became a little bit annoying after a while. It was just a little too automatic for me. What if I just want to slide the back down to try and clean out the sand? :)

There is no LED indicating if the battery is charging or if it is finished charging. What moron came up with that? Even an LED soldered to the pc board somewhere and just left to shine through the cheap plastic case would have been acceptable. It wouldn't be quite so bad, except for that stupid Universal Disconnector that the 71, and every other new Palm, uses. The
HandEra uses the old style Palm III connector for charging and syncing. With that connector you KNOW when the PDA is connected, you KNOW it's going to stay connected, and there's NO questions about anything. What a flaky piece of junk Palm's new connector is. I was able to make and break the electrical connection just by moving the connector through its normal range
of motion. Even Sony's connector is a major improvement over the "UC".

Not having a charging/power LED is, I think, supposed to be handled by having the 71 make a beep noise when you connect it, and disconnect it from external power. The only problem is that the beep sound doesn't always happen. It was just hit or miss as to whether or not you would hear anything. Maybe it needs a firmware update. OH WAIT! The firmware is in permanent ROM and can't be flashed. (Did you like that segway? :) It can be patched (like Handspring models did), but who wants a bunch of system patches taking up more RAM space? Plus, there are a lot of people that like to store programs and data in the unused portions of the flash ROM.

The AC adapter puts out 5.2v and up to 1 amp. I don't know how much it will put out when plugged into a 220v outlet, because it's only made for 120 VOLTS! I can't think of anything I own, except for the toaster, that doesn't run on 100-220v power. It doesn't really matter, though. I'd need an extra suitcase just to carry the wall wart around. The thing is HUGE! For 5.2v at 1 amp!? And the only thing it will plug into is the cradle, so you'd have to drag that along with you too. The only thing I can figure is that they found 1,000,000 of these wall warts in a warehouse somewhere and paid $10 for them...not each...for the whole lot.

I found myself in an acid flashback: scrambling around looking for something to stick into the hole in the back of the 71 to do soft resets. Why can't the hole be the size of a stylus tip like on other machines?? And the stylus on the 71 is just a piece of plastic. You can't unscrew a portion of it to reveal a pin that really should be confiscated, along with your fingernail clippers, at airport security checkpoints. Now I remember something...You have to slide the back down to get to the reset hole, so the PDA comes on and the camera software pops into action when you do that,
unless, I suppose, the PDA is frozen.

There were reports of clicking noises (over and above the normal system click noise) when you poked at buttons on the display and changed applications. It happened to me a few times, but it wasn't that bad. It probably needs another non-updateable firmware change to fix that.

I never did get around to trying the MP3 player. I've read that it sounds good, but that the volume (through earphones) is a bit weak. When I want to listen to music I go home and listen to music on a real stereo. The 71 doesn't come with ear phones or buds, so if you buy one get a pair of those too while you are at the store.

The speaker, for things like alarms, is good and loud, but you can only adjust it to Low, Med, Hi and Off. My HandEra has had a volume slider for years.

My final target. Someone should hang for designing and approving that joystick. The other buttons are so well designed (unlike the four application buttons on some Sony units), but then they stuck that thing in the middle. It sticks up higher than the surrounding plastic, and when you move it the 71 turns on and displays the time. !!?? Does anyone else see a problem here? As you slip the 71 into the case that comes with it, and if you squeeze the case any time after the 71 is in there IT TURNS ON! !!?? If you put the 71 into ANY case where the case is going to touch the joystick the power will come on any time the stick is bumped. I'm still having trouble coming to grips with this feature. It was the stylus that broke the camel's back. I called for an RMA number as soon as I recovered from the shock. The power button on top also sticks out a bit and could get bumped, but it is a bit stiff to push, so that helps prevent that some.

It's a nice try. It really is. I had every intension of being a happy
camper for years to come when I ordered it. The screen is very nice, the camera is a nice touch, it seems pretty speedy, and it is a nice size and weight. But...no thank you.

Even though I've verbally abused Memory Sticks since the second I found out about them, and have always thought Sony should be taught the real meaning of sodomy by someone really big for inventing them, I've ordered a Sony SJ-22 and a 128MB MS to hold me over until a Zire 72 comes out.

The New Guy

[lgmccoll]

Welcome to the dark side bgreschke. I have lived the life of a HandEra clone and a Palm clone but came to the Sony darkside for quality and I don't have to worry about them going away. Also, they seem to announce new products continously.... for those who never have enough.

[PaulNB]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by kdn102
[B]Wait, isn't the sj33(see disclaimer) only 66mhz and the zire71 144mhz arm?  I haven't played with it yet, but if the 144mhz arm is only 25% slower than my nx70 arm then I would not agree in saying the sj33 is 'already pretty speedy'. 

Ok I'll say it then, the SJ33 is allready pretty speedy. I'm very happy with mine as it was zippier than my N760. It may not be technically as fast but it works pretty darn well.

[bgreschke]

Thanks, Lynn! Oooo, and just when my credit card was starting to get cool enough to touch. :)

[nigeljedi]

Well, there have been a lot of good points brought up about the new Zire 71. I KNEW there was something fishy about it. I had already mentioned the lack of LED and the joystick, but the other points have made me scratch my head and nod in agreement.
I think my mind is made up. Back to Best Buy the Zire goes.
Tuesday, the SJ33 comes home!

:)

[bgreschke]

Originally posted by nigeljedi
Well, there have been a lot of good points brought up about the new Zire 71. I KNEW there was something fishy about it. I had already mentioned the lack of LED and the joystick, but the other points have made me scratch my head and nod in agreement.
I think my mind is made up. Back to Best Buy the Zire goes.
Tuesday, the SJ33 comes home!

:)

Yup, it's too bad. I guess with it being $100 less than anything else with its features they had to cut corners somewhere. They just cut them a little too tight for me.

My retiring HandEra is the same form as the old Palm III's. It has a removable flip cover for the screen. It normally rides around in a MarWare SportSuit that fully zips shut. But when I travel I additionally attach the flip cover and call it my "blast shield". I'm not sure what you would do with the 71. It does have those two holes in the back where it looks like you could attach a fabric flip cover like is on the Clie SJ-22, but I haven't seen anything about that.

Bob

[macktv]

I've had a little fiddle with the Zire and personally I'm not really too fussed about it up close. First things first though. When I walked into the shop they had it on a glass shelf next to the black SJ33. No contest there. I had to pick it up on principle, and because I hadn't bothered checking them out before.

Anyway I really hated the joy stick. That has to be the most annoying thing I've soon on a PDA in a while ( yes over the T615's buttons, at least they looked good). The screen does look great but I found the icons off-putting but thats just a minor. I thought the slide down camera function was pretty cool, looked good etc. I also thought the refresh rate on the screen as a view finder was good too. I took a couple of pictures and they didn't look too bad. The fact that you can't do anything else when the camera's out is a little silly in my opinion but hey, what ever makes ya happy.

I'm not really to won over by it, even though I was really expecting to be. Seeing it next to the shimmering SJ33 didn't help.

The funniest thing for me though was looking on the shelve above. Now here in the UK they have the 2 selling for about £250 or so but right above them on a shelve was a TT selling for the exact same price. And guess what? They were also giving away a free attachable digital camera! Talk about kicking yourselves in the foot!

[nigeljedi]

It's a shame that Sony didn't use insider information and develop a model between the TG50 and the SJ22 and 33 to directly compete with the Zire 71. One without bluetooth and a keyboard, but with a beefier processor and OS 5 (at least, seeing as though the Zire 71 has OS 5.2.1 now).
Sony is a little behind in this particular price range.
Although the Zire 71 has some newer and better features, it has enough downfalls for me to take it back and "downgrade" so to speak to the SJ33.

[logizesthe]

I was kind of bummed when I heard about the Zire. I had purchased my SJ33 about a week prior and wished I would have waited. Now I'm pretty much over it because I love the Clié.

[fredmac52]

Originally posted by elf
How is the battery life on the Zire?

-------------------------------------------

The battery life of the Zire71 is shorter than the sj33. But zire is Palm5 with an ARM based processor. The true comparison is Zire to TG50. I would guess they would be similar. The ARM based machines cant compare with dragomballz processors.

[OcellNuri]

When I played with the cam on the Zire71 I found the refresh rate on the cam viewfinder to be very very slow in contrast to the NX.

[Jeffry]

Originally posted by OcellNuri
When I played with the cam on the Zire71 I found the refresh rate on the cam viewfinder to be very very slow in contrast to the NX.

I think that will change if an overclocking utility is available...

[nigeljedi]

Took the Zire back...got the SJ33.
Happy! ;)

[logizesthe]

Way to go Nigeljedi!

[elf]

Look inside the Zire:

http://tokiolapalm.cool.ne.jp/giken/030429zire/inside.htm

[p105]

it's very bad???

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by nigeljedi
It's a shame that Sony didn't use insider information and develop a model between the TG50 and the SJ22 and 33 to directly compete with the Zire 71. One without bluetooth and a keyboard, but with a beefier processor and OS 5 (at least, seeing as though the Zire 71 has OS 5.2.1 now).Sony is a little behind in this particular price range.
Is Sony really? The TG50 can be had for $350 over the web from reputable vendors easily. The SJ33 for around $260 from reputable vendors. Sony is a consumer electronics company; their stuff is regularly discounted heavily.

Palm is not so much consumer electronics and their stuff isn't so discounted. The Zire 71 falls between the two in effective price. Which makes sense; it has inferior MP3 to either Sony (we have a Zire 71; I know whereof I speak. It's decent quality but not loud enough.) It lacks a decent case, it has a processor that is effectively closer to the SJ33 than to the TG50 in speed (see my benchmarks (http://www.kittycentral.net/palms.html) page, looking at non-ARMlet performance), and a plastic case about mid-range between the SJ33's nice plastic and the TG50's metal.

I don't think they could have split the difference better if they'd tried!

[nigeljedi]

Not everybody needs a keyboard. Not everybody needs bluetooth. Some prefer a better navigator than the TG50. I don't think the TG fits everybody. I had it, and for the most part I liked it. It just had a few quirks that I didn't like.
If there were a model similar to the SJ33 that had a beefier processor, OS 5 and NO keyboard, that would have been utterly perfect for ME. I can't speak for everyone, but I just know what features I can use and those I can't.
:)

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by nigeljedi
If there were a model similar to the SJ33 that had a beefier processor, OS 5 and NO keyboard, that would have been utterly perfect for ME. I can't speak for everyone, but I just know what features I can use and those I can't. Curious... what have you found the SJ33 processor insufficient for, and what have you found OS4 insufficient for? Are your desires for an ARM 144MHz+ and OS5 based on experience and need, or are they instead based on a desire to be on the most-current latest-and-greatest platform? (And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.)

[nigeljedi]

Well, to be perfectly honest, a little of both. I'm a very experienced computer (Windows and Mac) user as well as a Palm and Pocket PC guy. I DO desire the latest and greatest to a certain extent, but that is hardly the only reason I would desire a faster processor and the latest OS.
The reason I would want a faster processor is not just for speedier datebook or contact lookup (which is the least intensive application base I use), but because OS 5 REQUIRES a meatier processor (I like using non-vegetarian pronouns for stuff ;)) to run. I like OS 5 because of it's advanced graphics capabilities and built-in features. OS 4 is fine, but most software is being either created for or souped-up to use OS 5. Soon, OS 4 software will be hard to come by, or at least, not as feature rich as apps built for OS 5.
Just my 2 cents!

[PaulNB]

built-in features. OS 4 is fine, but most software is being either created for or souped-up to use OS 5.

Is it true that all hacks don't work anymore with OS5 though ? If so that's a mighty big flaw right there, many people like the amount of customization you can achieve with hacks on pre OS5 devices. I know I have many hacks I wouldn't be willing to part with!!

[Magicster]

Originally posted by TechnoCat
Curious... what have you found the SJ33 processor insufficient for, and what have you found OS4 insufficient for? Are your desires for an ARM 144MHz+ and OS5 based on experience and need, or are they instead based on a desire to be on the most-current latest-and-greatest platform? (And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.)


Well i would probably want the 144+ for storing programs on my memory card and loading it from there. Remember since the Zire 71 is faster proccessor wise it will load programs as if it were stored on RAM (PocketPC). If i added a 128 MB SD card and loaded it from there its like having 128 MB of RAM except my DATA cant be erased. With the faster proccessor i can also view movies without that much of a disruption. I dought games will be any different becuase they're arent that many that require that much power for Palm OS although there most lickely will. Since there is PalmOS 5 you have to ability to listen to music and run applications at the same time, i dont know if you can do this with the SJ-33 but if you could it would probably be slower.

Memory card BM test for the SJ-33: 1.880 ms, 3404 kB/Sec
Memory card BM test for the Zire 71: 1.590 ms, 64402 kB/Sec

Hint: Notice the speed increase when loading programs from card.

Common guys just face it the Zire71 is better in every aspect compared to the SJ-33. You guys are just mad becuase you bought the SJ-33 then found out about the Zire 71 and now your making excuses so you wont have to worry about it. Am i right?

When you say that MP3 is not loud enough you don't mean loss in sound quality right? becuase your not going to max out your volume 24/7. And i hear people complaing about how the camara doesnt have a high enough resolution. Well to be sure, doesnt the Zire 71 have the same resolution as the NX-70v? The quuality not might be quite as good but considering this unit cost almost Half the price of the NX-70v. And considering the SJ-33 DOESNT EVEN HAVE A CAMARA?!

You also complain about the cheap case? Well what about the cheap plastic the SJ-33 has? Although the SJ-33 does have a nice protective cover is it really worth more over the Camera, 2x Faster Proccessor, Palm OS 5, and Brighter screen? I'd just spend the extra money and get a $20 case for the Zire. I also heard theres 2 clips on the back of the unit and maybe it might hold a flip top.

Common guys just face it, the Zire 71 is in every aspect BETTER than the SJ-33 price wise and feature wise

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by Magicster
Since there is PalmOS 5 you have to ability to listen to music and run applications at the same time, i dont know if you can do this with the SJ-33 but if you could it would probably be slower.

Common guys just face it the Zire71 is better in every aspect compared to the SJ-33. You guys are just mad becuase you bought the SJ-33 then found out about the Zire 71 and now your making excuses so you wont have to worry about it. Am i right?

Common guys just face it, the Zire 71 is in every aspect BETTER than the SJ-33 price wise and feature wise

(Heavily snipped)

Gee, Magic, I've never said anything about SJ33 being better. We own a Zire71 and don't own an SJ33. Sheesh! ;)

Anyhow, you might be wrong about the music/multitasking speed. I don't know if the SJ33 does it either, but the SJ33 has a separate DSP portion for MP3 I believe, so if it can multitask it, it's likely to be significantly better at it than the Zire 71... which lacks a DSP.

There are only three things I prefer about the SJ33 over the Zire 71: the flipcover case, the jog-dial, and the MP3 volume. Things I like about the Zire are the processor, SD slot (I don't like MS) and OS.

[Magicster]

Originally posted by nigeljedi
Took the Zire back...got the SJ33.
Happy! ;)


Hey TechnoCat look at the quote above. :)

[TechnoCat]

Magicster, I was referring to your plural usage, as in, Common guys just face it the Zire71 is better in every aspect compared to the SJ-33. You guys are just mad becuase you bought the SJ-33 then found out about the Zire 71 and now your making excuses so you wont have to worry about it. Am i right?
I suspect most of us aren't quite as partisan as nigeljedi was. :)

[riversen]

The Zire 71 is impressive, but the lack of vibrate alarm, low RAM, no 320x480, and none switchable battery is making me wait to see what Sony will do. If they don't hurry, then Garmin will be my new PDA... lol.

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by riversen
The Zire 71 is impressive, but the lack of vibrate alarm, low RAM, no 320x480, and none switchable battery is making me wait to see what Sony will do.The Garmin is a bit bulky, no?

Out of curiousity, what unit does have all those features, and what price are you actually willing to pay for them? It seems to me that if it had them and boosted the price by, say, $200, they might wind up with the same situation... people stating, Nice unit, but they should have brought something out for $300. For $500 I can get a high-end iPaq or a small laptop!

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Magicster



Well i would probably want the 144+ for storing programs on my memory card and loading it from there. Remember since the Zire 71 is faster proccessor wise it will load programs as if it were stored on RAM (PocketPC). If i added a 128 MB SD card and loaded it from there its like having 128 MB of RAM except my DATA cant be erased. With the faster proccessor i can also view movies without that much of a disruption. I dought games will be any different becuase they're arent that many that require that much power for Palm OS although there most lickely will. Since there is PalmOS 5 you have to ability to listen to music and run applications at the same time, i dont know if you can do this with the SJ-33 but if you could it would probably be slower.

Memory card BM test for the SJ-33: 1.880 ms, 3404 kB/Sec
Memory card BM test for the Zire 71: 1.590 ms, 64402 kB/Sec

Hint: Notice the speed increase when loading programs from card.

Common guys just face it the Zire71 is better in every aspect compared to the SJ-33. You guys are just mad becuase you bought the SJ-33 then found out about the Zire 71 and now your making excuses so you wont have to worry about it. Am i right?

When you say that MP3 is not loud enough you don't mean loss in sound quality right? becuase your not going to max out your volume 24/7. And i hear people complaing about how the camara doesnt have a high enough resolution. Well to be sure, doesnt the Zire 71 have the same resolution as the NX-70v? The quuality not might be quite as good but considering this unit cost almost Half the price of the NX-70v. And considering the SJ-33 DOESNT EVEN HAVE A CAMARA?!

You also complain about the cheap case? Well what about the cheap plastic the SJ-33 has? Although the SJ-33 does have a nice protective cover is it really worth more over the Camera, 2x Faster Proccessor, Palm OS 5, and Brighter screen? I'd just spend the extra money and get a $20 case for the Zire. I also heard theres 2 clips on the back of the unit and maybe it might hold a flip top.

Common guys just face it, the Zire 71 is in every aspect BETTER than the SJ-33 price wise and feature wise


IBM laptops are the slowest of the bunch, yet they cost that much more. Do you know why?

[riversen]

Originally posted by TechnoCat
The Garmin is a bit bulky, no?

Out of curiosity, what unit does have all those features, and what price are you actually willing to pay for them? It seems to me that if it had them and boosted the price by, say, $200, they might wind up with the same situation... people stating, Nice unit, but they should have brought something out for $300. For $500 I can get a high-end iPaq or a small laptop!

No PDA has all of these thing... YET. I would be willing to pay $300 to $400 (no camera needed, no all the time Bluetooth or WiFi). If some of those things were added... then $400 to $500 and whatever extra for the batteries, etc.


The Garmin is much thinner than the Sony Clamshells, though. The antenna is much smaller that you might think. It is about the size that I am looking for. Ideally, I would like one in the size of the T665, though. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I am hopeful, though.

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by riversen
No PDA has all of these thing... YET. I would be willing to pay $300 to $400 (no camera needed, no all the time Bluetooth or WiFi). If some of those things were added... then $400 to $500 and whatever extra for the batteries, etc.
Your message is a bit confusing... you'd be willing to pay $300-$400 for what? And $400-$500 for what?

And, if you don't mind, can you project back a year? What were the critical features for you a year ago?

Thanks

[riversen]

Originally posted by TechnoCat

Your message is a bit confusing... you'd be willing to pay $300-$400 for what? And $400-$500 for what?

And, if you don't mind, can you project back a year? What were the critical features for you a year ago?

Thanks

As I said when I was referring to the previous email before the current email that is referring to the other previous email before the last email (Now, how is that for clarity?), I would be willing to pay for the specified items that the email had mentioned. I was asked what I was willing to pay and replied.

A PDA with ARM processor (400 Mhz?), 320X480 screen, large RAM memory (32 to 64 Meg's), no camera, no Integrated Bluetooth, no integrated WiFi, possible switchable battery or larger capacity battery were the features that I would want.

A year ago, I had no PDA. I had given up my PDA when I was in school to buy a laptop. Now that I am working and use my PDA a lot, these are things that I would want on my PDA, so I can use the current power applications. Because the speed and available RAM is also increasing on PDA's I want a PDA that can allow me to utilize such things.

If I were looking for a PDA a year ago (it was in the back of mind, though), I would want the faster processor 66MHz or better, color screen, Memory Stick or other available external memory, 16 Meg's of RAM, and MP3 player. These are things that I remember as being cutting edge and would be really cool to have. I use all of these features now, and I suspect that I would use the current cutting edge technology as well.

I had read an article that one analyst suspected that we will see the integration of the TabletPC and PDA's in the future. That would be cool, but I still believe that there will always be a place for the smaller PDA's, so people can easily carry them around. That is why Sony has not woo'd me to the clamshells, the brick, or the TG (though the TG is close, but I am not going to pay that much for such little RAM and bigger size when my fingers are too fat for those small buttons). I am leaning more toward the Tungsten T right now if Sony does not respond. It is compact and powerful. I like both of these features, but I want to see what Sony will do. It would be nice to give my T665 to my wife and enjoy the new TX995 or whatever they will call it.