1src Forums - Hands-On with the NZ90

View Full Version : Hands-On with the NZ90

EdFrmBrighthand

01-14-2003, 01:49 PM

This was already mentioned but it got deleted in The Great Purge so I thought I'd repost that I have my first impressions of the NZ90, based on the 20 minutes I was able to play with one at CES, on Brighthand.

http://www.brighthand.com/article/CES_Clie_NZ90

This has lots of pictures, a sample of what the camera can do, a size comparison with a NX70, and more.

-Ed

volcanopele

01-14-2003, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the preview. Also, thank you for post a real example of what the camera can do

Jason

sralmas

01-14-2003, 02:12 PM

It's even bigger than I thought it was going to be.

texco

01-15-2003, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the interesting post. But you failed to mention about the positioning of the camera. Is it basically the same with the NX where you can swivel the camera? Also, do you think Sony will come out with an external foldable keyboard since you said the port is at the back of the device? I'm just assuming, the present keyboard set-ups won't allow that, since all foldable keyboards are connected at the bottom of the device.
How heavy is it? Is it twice the weight of the NX?

Unregistered

01-15-2003, 06:45 AM

On sonys site it says its 10oz, the NX is 8oz

Clie_Tek

01-15-2003, 06:46 AM

jesus it's friggin' HUGE

gunrunner

01-15-2003, 07:40 AM

The camera doesn't swivel.

LITTLESIX

01-15-2003, 08:18 AM

Originally posted by gunrunner
The camera doesn't swivel.

Check your facts - it does.

EdFrmBrighthand

01-15-2003, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by texco
Is it basically the same with the NX where you can swivel the camera?

You can no longer rotate the lens around independently of the handheld. You can only point it at yourself when it's in clamshell mode or away from yourself in tablet mode (with the keyboard hidden).

Originally posted by texco
Also, do you think Sony will come out with an external foldable keyboard since you said the port is at the back of the device? I'm just assuming, the present keyboard set-ups won't allow that, since all foldable keyboards are connected at the bottom of the device.

Right, you aren't going to be able to use any current keyboard with the NZ90. And I doubt Sony will make an external keyboard for it. Some third-party might make one but I wouldn't count on it.

mikedemo

01-15-2003, 08:51 AM

Nice features but the size makes it impractical to being used mainly as a PDA. This is more like a camera that you carry around once in a while like on a trip or an event. It doesn't seem to fit in the carry every where I go arena. The NX is much more agreeable to carry all the time, barely though.

EdFrmBrighthand

01-15-2003, 09:00 AM

Sony has developed this for people who want to carry a handheld and a good camera with them wherever they go, not for people who want a handheld to take a picture with on rare occasions. People who this might be perfect for: real estate agents, claims adjusters, new parents.

Please keep in mind, not every Sony handheld has been designed to appeal to every user. Sony's hardware strategy is to make lots of different models with lots of different feature sets and try to appeal to as many people as possible that way. Not make one model that appeals to as many people as possible.

If you want a smaller model that doesn't have the camera, consider a NX70. Or, if you want something smaller than that, wait a bit until Sony releases its T-series replacement with OS 5. This is Sony, if you don't like the current model, something new is never more than a month or two away. :-)

LITTLESIX

01-15-2003, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by EdFrmBrighthand
Sony has developed this for people who want to carry a handheld and a good camera with them wherever they go, not for people who want a handheld to take a picture with on rare occasions. People who this might be perfect for: real estate agents, claims adjusters, new parents.

..law enforcement officials :D

Eric S

01-15-2003, 10:51 AM

divination23

01-15-2003, 04:28 PM

if it had manual shutter speed adjustment,
I would pick one up! I want something
for automated hdr generation.
www.debevec.org

-div

oneeyesquare

01-15-2003, 05:29 PM

Contractors.. Grumpy ones at that...

Muzikfreakah

01-15-2003, 06:48 PM

Quoted from the article:
"One of the biggest complaints people have with their NR and NX series CLIEs is that when the screen is closed over the keyboard, what I tend to call tablet mode, the application launch buttons cannot be accessed. Sony has addressed this by adding four small duplicate buttons below the screen. (Click on image at right for larger image.) While this doesn't include the Up and Down buttons, you still have the Jog Dial for that"

My NR also has buttons like these on the lower part of the screen, are these the same buttones on the NZ or are there other extra buttons?

deadlyfoez

01-15-2003, 07:58 PM

different.

The nr deos NOT have the four button at the edge of the screen (they are on the top EDGE of the screen frame when the nz is open and showing the keyboard, bottom egde of the screen frame when in tablet mode)

AnthonyM

01-16-2003, 02:49 AM

I had a chance to fondle and caress an NZ90 (under the very watchful eye of a Sony rep.) for about 5 minutes and while it is obviously bigger (all around) than the NR or NX series, I didn’t think it would make that big of a difference to me. I guess it depends on where/how you carry your PDA. I currently have an NR and I always carry it in my back right hand pocket. My wallet is always in my back left hand pocket so I guess it sort of balances things out. I put the NZ90 in that pocket and really didn’t notice the difference. I did notice it when I had the unit in my hand and would go to utilize the unit but it wasn’t a bad feeling. It simply felt more sturdy and secure in my hands. This unit will not be for anyone that has to have a small PDA though. They will hate it and should consider a Tungsten T or wait for the new T series Clie’s. I will say that this is about as large as a PDA should get. Anything beyond this is going to be pushing tablet PC territory. It will still fit in my pocket though and that is what counts for me.

- Anthony

aaronrkelly

01-16-2003, 03:33 AM

Wow, that thing is big - T series in a case isnt even that big.

Muzikfreakah

01-16-2003, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by deadlyfoez
different.

The nr deos NOT have the four button at the edge of the screen (they are on the top EDGE of the screen frame when the nz is open and showing the keyboard, bottom egde of the screen frame when in tablet mode)

Are you sure? My NR70V has the home, menu and find button on the lower left (on the status bar) is this what he meant? here is the pic of the NZ90

http://www.brighthand.com/images/clie_nz90_5.jpg

big_raji

01-16-2003, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by Muzikfreakah

Are you sure? My NR70V has the home, menu and find button on the lower left (on the status bar) is this what he meant? here is the pic of the NZ90

http://www.brighthand.com/images/clie_nz90_5.jpg

That's a very bad picture for showing what we're talking about. There are actually 4 physical hardware buttons on the bottom EDGE of the screen. You can't really see them in this picture, because they're on the bottom.

markgm

01-16-2003, 10:03 AM

No, he means hardware buttons.

Spitz

01-16-2003, 10:10 AM

Am I seeing correctly? Is it about twice the thickness of the NX?!?  I love Clie's, my first PDA was the NR and now my girlfriend has the NX, but the size of these 'things' that Sony is making is getting out of hand.  The NZ is impractical as a PDA in that size...guess that's why they call them PEO's now.  I opted for the Tungsten|T ONLY because of the size, the rest I truly believe the NX is better at including price/performance and features.

 

The size of the NZ is outrageous... Now if only they came out with an NX WITHOUT a swivel and keyboard :)

EdFrmBrighthand

01-16-2003, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by Muzikfreakah
My NR also has buttons like these on the lower part of the screen, are these the same buttones on the NZ or are there other extra buttons?

I've edited my article to make it clear that these are hardware buttons.

EdFrmBrighthand

01-16-2003, 12:27 PM

Here's a picture someone else posted earlier of these buttons:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=2536

NJL!2016

01-16-2003, 03:42 PM

I kinda like the thickness. I think that thick PDAs are more comfotrtable to hold in your hand.

Muzikfreakah

01-16-2003, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by EdFrmBrighthand
Here's a picture someone else posted earlier of these buttons:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=2536

Thanks! That certainly clears things up. Sorry for the inconvenience guys, just couldntsee the hardware buttons on the first pic and the artcile said to look at the lower part.

AnthonyM

01-16-2003, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by Spitz
Am I seeing correctly? Is it about twice the thickness of the NX?!?  I love Clie's, my first PDA was the NR and now my girlfriend has the NX, but the size of these 'things' that Sony is making is getting out of hand.  The NZ is impractical as a PDA in that size...guess that's why they call them PEO's now.  I opted for the Tungsten|T ONLY because of the size, the rest I truly believe the NX is better at including price/performance and features.

 

The size of the NZ is outrageous... Now if only they came out with an NX WITHOUT a swivel and keyboard :)

As I had stated in an earlier post. It is noticably larger than my NR70. I really cannot tell the difference between the NR70 and the NX70. That little hump didn't make the difference I thought it would. What I left out of my last post was that my first Clie was an N760C. I had the stock Sony leather case for it. The N760C in its leather case (for screen protection) was thicker than the NZ90 is. You don't need a leather case for the NZ90 as well. So it really just depends on what you have now, how your carrying it etc but it sounds like your a Tungsten T man. That implies that the smaller size os very important to you so I am not surprised to learn that the size of the NZ90 is not to your liking. I already suspected that those PDA users that preferred smaller footprint PDA's wouldn't be to fond of the NZ90.

- Anthony

sephiroth

01-18-2003, 11:45 AM

You guys got it all wrong! Who says NZ90 is a PDA?

It is a BDA! B as in "Bricky". NZ90 is a great BDA, a very "great" one, indeed!

It is designed for people with big hands.... So don't feel upset by its size. Remember, it is just not your regular PDA...

deadlyfoez

01-18-2003, 12:42 PM

unfortunately, due to the added dimensions and different location of the hotsync port, the game controller cg10 won't work with the nz90.

gunrunner

01-18-2003, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by LITTLESIX
Check your facts - it does.
I guess it depends on your definition of "swivel". It doesn't swivel like the NR and NX, independently of the hinge area. It does swivel with the the opening cover.

oneeyesquare

01-18-2003, 01:13 PM

Less swivel, more rotate!

yOyOYoo

01-19-2003, 08:01 PM

The gamecontroller doesn't work for it! AHhhh! That is the dealbreaker for me. I don't think anyone will bother making an external keyboard or game controller for this thing.

Unless of course they come up with a bluetooth one, but I doubt they would bother, and even if they did, im sure I would gasp at the price