My initial thoughts

[Reggie]

1. Mono speakers? Is this just the external speaker or even the earphones output? I guess it is being prepared for VoIP just as the T|C.

2. 640x480 camera. After using the NX, and NZ for quite a while, I would say I didn't have the use for really high-res pics. My main resolution was 320x480 so I can email the pics from the Clie fast. Use a separate digital cam for higher resolution pics.

3. BT & WiFi. For me the best feature it has. Connect via GPRS through BT or via WiFi if there is a local hotspot. Not sure though is BT and WiFi can run at the same time (and bridge them! ;)). This feature also addresses not getting the Toshiba e755 :D.

4. 3D Launcher. Sony might be standardizing on this as with the PSX. I would guess, the PSX can link with the UX and view UX pics and videos on the TV.

5. Screen resolution. The 480x320 (landscape) is I think the most productive mode. Good that the UX uses this mode as its default.

6. No CF slot. The thing lost here is cheap memory space. Now if Sony and other MS Pro makers would start bringing down their prices...

7. USB connector. Good step but probaby won't support usb devices directly. Hoping though that a printer, external monitor, external hard drive, etc. can be connected directly in the future.

8. Jogdial. Not sure if moving it to the bottom is a good idea.

9. Battery extension. Good move on Sony. I just hope it's not another $100 for it. Hope they sell it really cheap!

10. Overall. I think this will be a good replacement for my NZ. :D

[n2ifp]

Well, it certainly looks like a good replacement for my NX too :)

[Unregistered]

Looks like Sony has decided that the large number of people who would like an outstanding screen display but have no desire for all the extras are not a market they care to target.

[Narniahopper]

I am pretty sure that WiFi and Bluetooth cannot be used at the same time, but I'm not sure where I came across the info.

[cykalan]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Well, it certainly looks like a good replacement for my NX too :)

same here.....:D

[abosco]

How much is this thing going to cost? There's no chance in hell they can sell this model at $800 and have it be successful. I thought this new chapter would be something cool like a smartphone or something other than an NZ clunker that might catch some sales from people who don't mind bleeding cash.

Yep, Sony has done it. There is a huge problem with every single Clie in their product line.

[aussie_nx70v]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Well, it certainly looks like a good replacement for my NX too :)

Hey Larry,

I've noticed you have changed the wording on your avatar to reflect the new model... ;)

i wonder how close this prototype looked like the final product?

[Unregistered]

IMHO, i think the prototype devices looks ugly:D oh well the image of the new UX on japan sonystyle looks alot better (i guess the images have been edited with photoshop.....

[Klie]

Originally posted by abosco
How much is this thing going to cost? There's no chance in hell they can sell this model at $800 and have it be successful. I thought this new chapter would be something cool like a smartphone or something other than an NZ clunker that might catch some sales from people who don't mind bleeding cash.

Yep, Sony has done it. There is a huge problem with every single Clie in their product line.

It's supposed to be $593 or something when released in Japan... can't be far off from that...

[Katsu]

Price is 69,800 yen. I say a little over $600 depending on conversion rates. For that price, better to wait than to get the NX80V.

http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/peg/Store/Clie/Ux50/index.html

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by Klie


It's supposed to be $593 or something when released in Japan... can't be far off from that...

$590.00 USD converted in Japan

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by aussie_nx70v


Hey Larry,

I've noticed you have changed the wording on your avatar to reflect the new model... ;)

i wonder how close this prototype looked like the final product?

It looks very close, but I suspect it was camouflaged somewhat, when first shown.

[Cert]

This is great but like everything else, don't buy the first model. Wait for second generation.

[Unregistered]

Good point, Cert, especially considering the problems the NR had, for example.

[Unregistered]

Given all the nasty comments about Palm putting mono speakers in their handhelds recently, I am shocked no one is having a cow about this one.

[Denis]

Yes, the pictures are intriguing, and it's nice to see wide spreadsheets in landscape orientation...

But unless Sony built a collapsible, swiveling pistol grip on the bottom side, how are you going to hold this thing securely with one hand and use a stylus with the other for more than a few seconds and not have a painful wrist?

Think of the ergonomics! Hold either hand in a relaxed position out in front of you and look at the angle your palm makes. It's a good angle for a portrait oriented device like my NZ90. But when I hold it sideways to watch a widescreen movie trailer I grasp it between my forefinger and thumb along the edges. That's not a secure hold!


Of course my hands and arms might be disfigured and I'm the only one that would have this problem.


Denis

[yOyOYoo]

Im shocked no one notices that playing games is going to be impossible on this thing!

Also this puts us into a dilemma. Isn't OS 6 supposed to be announced in November?

This is like when I first bought my NR70v. It was amazing, a whooping 66mhz, hi-res+ screen, but it was only os4.1
A few months later guess what, sony fixed the major NR70v bugs, slapped a CF slot and OS5 onto it, and made the NX70.

I really like this device, but im pretty sure I will not get it, due to os6 coming out 2 months later. I do'nt wanna feel like I did when the NX70 came out. Imaging a UX60 coming out 2 months later! the horror!!

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Well, it certainly looks like a good replacement for my NX too :) Me too.

I particularly pay attention to communication capabilities and the widescreen will finally make the PDA viable for web browsing and even for emails. Reading documents will be more fun.

Having said that Sony has to support the wireless features better. They need to document software interfaces with wireless components.

They better support 802.1x and WPA for Wi-Fi. Wireless utilities for browsing nearby access points and signal strength etc. are welcome.

[Ezikial Anta]

I want it! Love it! It looks like a Tablet PC i can actualy afford!

[boomer]

This thing is small!

The screen must be half the size of the NX series. 

[palmsolo]

yOyOYoo, I mentioned this same gaming issue in my news blurb to be posted at PDAGeek tomorrow morning. It looks like games will be virtually impossible unless you use the stylus.

I was about to switch from my NX70 to a NX80, but will have to see one of these in person. Then again, OS6 devices may be out before Christmas so I may wait even longer. I wonder how reliable that date is and if there really won't be OS6 devices until 2004.

[Hes Nikke]

i just held my T665c in a landscape position just to see how it feels and i think it's fine, then again, i've got big hands. as for games, i don't think they will be usable, or the jog dial for that matter, my thumb points in the wrong direction - if the jog dial was on top it would be great. maybe the shipping product will be able to switch between landscape and portrait (like i with the NR, NX and NZ can do) in which case the jog dial would be located in the right spot, but games would still be useless.

[madmaxmedia]

The answer to the questions about one-handed usage is that you just don't use this model one-handed. This is a brand new model and form factor, and probably shouldn't be thought of as a replacement for any existing CLIE.

It was designed to be a mobile communicator device, almost like a Blackberry. If you need one-handed usage, then you have existing CLIE's to choose from.

[nickster87]

I'm am getting this thing when it comes out. ;)

Just sold my NR70V for $500, yes $500, to get this.

Can't wait!!!

I hope it is out by late August or early September for the school year, but I know that is probably pushing it.

[Unregistered]

"Just sold my NR70V for $500, yes $500, to get this. "

Guess there is a sucker born every minute :).

Congratulations for getting that price for it.

[mkrueger]

The problem with the Palm was that the HEADPHONE JACK was mono (I know, I owned a T|C...SO stupid of Palm). Pretty much all PDA's have mono speaker. This is fine as long as the headphone jack is stereo, which we assume the new Clie is.

Pretty much ever other PDA ever built with a headphone jack is also stereo, except for the T|C.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Given all the nasty comments about Palm putting mono speakers in their handhelds recently, I am shocked no one is having a cow about this one.

[Jeffry]

Don't forget:

The screen is horizontal. It can't be vertical like the NX series.

There's a USB port on the side!

[PEG-SJ30]

Originally posted by Cert
This is great but like everything else, don't buy the first model. Wait for second generation.

1. Never buy the first generation of ANYTHING
2. Wait until the second (or newer) generation is discontinued

Following this sage advice, I got my brand new NX60 for $300. I hope I can wait long enough to score a second generation "UX60" for that much.

[Jeffry]

Originally posted by yOyOYoo
Im shocked no one notices that playing games is going to be impossible on this thing!

Also this puts us into a dilemma. Isn't OS 6 supposed to be announced in November?

This is like when I first bought my NR70v. It was amazing, a whooping 66mhz, hi-res+ screen, but it was only os4.1
A few months later guess what, sony fixed the major NR70v bugs, slapped a CF slot and OS5 onto it, and made the NX70.

I really like this device, but im pretty sure I will not get it, due to os6 coming out 2 months later. I do'nt wanna feel like I did when the NX70 came out. Imaging a UX60 coming out 2 months later! the horror!!

LoL

That's MARKETING.

--> Sony Style :D

[Vidge]

This device looks pretty good to me EXCEPT the 16meg memory. (I know - 22 meg for other stuff.) This just doesn't cut it and may very well keep me away from it.

[tonyreynolds]

The Japanese Clie website lists 104MB of RAM total, they just break it up funny and allocate blocks to the user for different purposes:


"Memory Total 104MB (user active territory itself: Approximately 16MB, built-in media: Approximately 22MB) "

This was from a Bablefish translation, but it ocurrs to me that the 104 MB may be the total for both RAM and ROM...


Tony

[mvfrancisco]

Regarding games and hard buttons, do you think it's possible that sony's included some sort of Keyquick type app to make better use of the build in keyboard? There's even a dedicated row for numbers, so at the very least that should free up some keys for blue shift.

[yOyOYoo]

how many mhz is this machine?

I think I read only 123mhz somewhere...

[Kbranch]

Originally posted by yOyOYoo
how many mhz is this machine?

I think I read only 123mhz somewhere...

Yes, it's only 123 MHZ, but it's custom made for the clie, so in reality it might be faster than the NX. It also has a DSP and graphics accelerator chip.

[JwY]

i read it was variable or something
so that'll save power when ur not running much

[Kbranch]

Yea, it can go from 8 to 123 depending on how much is needed.

[OcellNuri]

Originally posted by mvfrancisco
Regarding games and hard buttons, do you think it's possible that sony's included some sort of Keyquick type app to make better use of the build in keyboard? There's even a dedicated row for numbers, so at the very least that should free up some keys for blue shift.


I'm confident that if this feature isn't already programmed in, it will be hacked. I'm sure someone could get a "game mode" running on the keyboard, where you can map certain letters to simulate hard buttons.

I'm glad I only paid $8 for my Clie Gamepad... doesn't look like I'll be using it if I pick a UX up.

[outdoor]

imho, everything looks "cooool" or "woooww" when it first releases. but after say, a month or so, then there will be people who bought it saying "ahh this and this sucks" or "ooh the screen is hard to swivrel around" etc.... just like the NX70v.


but anyways, i think the 3d launcher looks bad. i'd prefer the classic launcher.