replacing nx-80v?

[davidkow]

I've been nursing my beloved NX-80v along but it's starting to get increasingly flaky (digitizer works when it feels like it, starting to do spontaneous resets while I'm working, sometime's does a hard reset when I hit the soft reset button). I was going to try and hold out until I could get a Smartphone that was a good phone AND which met all my PDA requirements but looks like that might be a long wait. Seem to be more choices if I go for a straight PDA replacement. I'm reluctant to go with another Sony product (although Sony's professional-level gear is pretty rugged, my experience with their consumer electronics has ALWAYS been that they build really great designs that don't stand up well to daily use). So I'm looking at the Palm T|X even though I'd give up the camera and keyboard that way. Anyone hear have any comments on how good a replacement that would be? Is there something else I should be considering? FYI, my primary concerns are

at least 128MB RAM
some kind of memory card expansion (preferably in a format that doesn't disrupt the form factor (e.g., like the nx80's memory stick fitting inside the body as opposed to how a CF card sticks out of the slot)
320x480 screen with flippable (portrait or landscape) rotation
built-in wifi a nice-to-have
camera a nice-to-have but not essential
keyboard nice-to-have but not essential
Palm OS (so i don't have to replace all my apps!)
a generous supply of included apps would be nice


Thanks for any comments or tips!

--David

[kiteandcamera]

Two comments...

Have you tried a hard reset and fresh reinstallation of your apps and databases? Not a recovery sync from your backup files, but a total reinstall of everything. Your NX may just need a good 'spring cleaning'.

Second, since you are having digitizer problems, your screen may be wearing out. Have you considered sending the unit to Sony for complete refurbishment? The cost, as I recall, is around $150. Depending on what the cost is for a Palm replacement, it may be a better deal to have you unit overhauled since it has all the features you want. I personally sent my NX to Sony last year for an overhaul.

[davidkow]

Haven't tried a full re-install but if Sony's still doing refurb's on the NX80's, that's tempting. How long did it take to get yours back when you did it?

[intellidryad]

I would say that a Palm TX's built quality is not better then Sony, maybe similar. But the casing material doesn't feel as good as a Clie.

The main reason the NX get flaky with time is the hinge. With my old NX73 all weird things happen when I turn or even touch the hinge. The hinge is very good and convenient to have when it works good, but the connections in it tend to short circuit as it gets old.

My advice: If you could live without a hinge, get a TH55 or a TX, a device without a hinge will survive longer.

[mmulhern]

My old NX70 started exhibiting many of these symptoms, and after much research I found the perfect replacement - another NX70 (for only AU$102.50 compared to the AU$1149.00 for the original).

With 6GB (4GB CF & 2GB MSPD) I have sufficient storage for documents, music and video, and as the finish is near pristine, there are many other PDA users who want to have a look at my new PDA, only to be shocked that it is (considerably) older than their machines.

I find that the only feature that the NX70 lacks, is built-in WiFi, but even that is not a show stopper.

So the message here is to all Sony Clie owners is, get your hot swap Clie replacement units while they are still available and cheap.

[kiteandcamera]

Haven't tried a full re-install but if Sony's still doing refurb's on the NX80's, that's tempting. How long did it take to get yours back when you did it?

As I recall, tunaround time was about one week. Sony sends you a shipping container and you pay to send it to their facility in California. I remember calling the service center to insure they were going to do all the reapirs I requested. Of course, in the past year, my power button and voice record buttons have fallen off, but that is not a big deal. I reassigned the power on/off to the camera capture button and rarely use the voice record function. The only thing that is costing me is battery replacements every 12 months or so.