Sony's mistake with the UX series

[Jack Bauer]

Instead of offering the UX-50 for $699, and the UX-40 for $599, which are exactly the same except that the UX-40 doesn't have Wi-Fi, Sony should have offered the UX-50 with a digital camera, and the UX-40 without a digital camera, BOTH with Wi-fi AND bluetooth.

Wi-Fi is far more useful than a cheap, low-end camera. Most people who buy this will already have a digital camera anyway..

That being said, the UX is still pretty rad. But whether or not I'll shell out the $$ for it, I don't know.

[dannyboy]

i wished sony had included wi-fi with the UX-40 too instead of the camera. perhaps a ploy to sell wi-fi memory stick in the future?

[s_n_m]

I agree.

Also, the prices should be the same as the NX series, that way, it's like you can get an NX and have a camera, or get a UX and have wifi and bluetooth.

[Alistar]

Yea, I totally agree. I made the comment in one of the other threads as well.

[Jeffry]

The mistake of the UX series in my opinion, is the horizontal screen. I wish we could have the option to make the screen vertical so we don't have to use graffiti on the right or left side of the screen, but rather on the bottom where it should be.

[ssulux]

Originally posted by s_n_m
I agree.

Also, the prices should be the same as the NX series, that way, it's like you can get an NX and have a camera, or get a UX and have wifi and bluetooth.

could not agree more:D

[heydave]

I'd prefer a UX with no wifi, no camera, but a little thinner and $200 less.

I'm happy with the bluetooth, the keyboard and screen.

[Phalanx]

I think the big mistake was the external design. This thing is ugly IMO. (Not trying to troll or anything)

[ricleo]

I think that if sony offers a customization service like dell does for its laptops to add/remove features for different prices, they will have a winning sales and marketing strategy!

[UZI4U182]

You should change the subject to "Sony's mistakes with the UX Series".

1. Physically small screen
2. Ugly case design
3. Slow processor
4. Still not enough RAM
5. Landscape screen not convertible to normal
6. Too expensive
7. Buttons look like they might be pushed easily if in pocket
8. Proprietary CPU (i doubt overclocking will be possible on these models)
9. No MP3 remote
10. Big, black border around the screen

[ashVID]

I agree, not impressed. Why would they release their touted wireless model WITHOUT WIRELESS!!!????? DUH!!! Sorry but you are just plain rich or stupid to upgrade to one of these, at least wait for an OS6 version!



ash =o)

[dannyboy]

Originally posted by UZI4U182

2. Ugly case design


Too each his own. Some ppl think Julia Roberts is butt ugly ;)

[yOyOYoo]

The biggest mistake in my opinion is taking out the hardkey buttons and the up/down rocker. Hell We all hate the up/down rocker but this thing doesn't even have one!

Sony only has 3 alternate hardkeys now and only a jog up/down scroll.

It would have been awesome if sony put on a set of hardkeys in the tablet side, like the faked TW20. That way we could use them in Portrait mode.

Oh yeah, that big black border around the screen is hideous! such wasted space! They should have made the screen larger and more flush.

[zzarg]

would like to see the jogdial on the side... would be easier to use it one-handed....
not sure why there is such a wide border round the screen... okay, so it gives the WiFi/BT antenna somewhere to go and probably a heck of a lot of the internal magic.... but I'd love to see the screen larger (it's the reason I love my NR70V.... compared to the Palm devices the big screen rocks)

[Phalanx]

Originally posted by UZI4U182
You should change the subject to "Sony's mistakes with the UX Series".

1. Physically small screen
2. Ugly case design
3. Slow processor
4. Still not enough RAM
5. Landscape screen not convertible to normal
6. Too expensive
7. Buttons look like they might be pushed easily if in pocket
8. Proprietary CPU (i doubt overclocking will be possible on these models)
9. No MP3 remote
10. Big, black border around the screen

Agreed. Especially with #2.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by UZI4U182

3. Slow processor

How many times do I have to say this to people? It could easily be faster than an NX running at 200 MHZ since it's custom made for the Clie. It also has a DSP to tackle the normally CPU intensive stuff like multimedia and a 2D accelerator for games. This will probably be the fastest Clie or maybe even PDA released to date.

4. Still not enough RAM

When you factor in the 29 meg of internal flash, the UX has 45 meg of storage. The default launcher will probably be able to see apps on the internal flash just like they were in RAM. It will probably be much much faster than a normal MS too. I think I'd rather have 45 meg of storage that won't be taken out by a hard reset (since it also has 16 meg of backup flash) with 29 that can store anything you want instead of the 54(?) meg of plain RAM that the T|C has.

[Kbranch]

Stupid Cliesource, the above was from me.

[Eddy]

darn cookies. :(

[kp*]

Originally posted by ricleo
I think that if sony offers a customization service like dell does for its laptops to add/remove features for different prices, they will have a winning sales and marketing strategy!
That would be SO cool! They could have various standard shell sizes, and adjust it for which features you need included. Of course in the long run it might cost more money, but hey -- look at Dell.

[ssulux]

we sure will get those customization on, maybe, year 2006. whenever the technology is mature enough.
ha ha ha ...
can't wait for that time.

[dante21]

I like the case design I don't however like the border around the screen,

[pdagal]

Remember, the UX also has to fly in Japan, where camera phones abound and in general intregrated cameras are popular.

Sony thinks that the ability to send photos in email with this unit is important, regardless of what we think ;).

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by ashVID
I agree, not impressed. Why would they release their touted wireless model WITHOUT WIRELESS!!!????? DUH!!! Sorry but you are just plain rich or stupid to upgrade to one of these, at least wait for an OS6 version!



ash =o)

The same can apply to the NZ90 too... :D

[outdoor]

imho, it isn't actually a great model for me, or anyone who owns a NX, to upgrade. I bet one can find a better deal to get a WL100 and BT memstick that costs lower than those ugly UXs. At least I did. :D

[Unregistered]

don't remember the NZ being touted as a new and wonderful wireless model.

[Jezlyn]

I agree that there are some "classic Sony" elements in the UX50 that people are taking issue with, like having the screen seem smaller than it should be on this device (though I think they have plenty of good reasons for making the screen the size it is -- hardware limitations, size limitations with all the electronics, etc.), most notably having the price very high. The one "mistake" that was listed that I =do not= understand is that of processor speed. It's kind of like the knee jerk reactions people have towards Apple's processor speed numbers. Just because their numbers seem lower in magnitude doesn't necessarily mean that their performance matches their numbers. (No, I'm not an Apple "zealot", I'm just aware of the realities of processor performance vs. "on paper" specs.)

As was mentioned by someone else, the apparent design that Sony implemented was meant to optimize performance and speed vs. battery life, much like the laptop/mobile-oriented processors made by Transmeta and Intel (their new Centrino processors). These processors are all meant to throttle processor speed when not needed. You're not going to have the same processor usage surfing the web or doing e-mail as you are when you're playing a graphic-intensive game. In addition, Sony added some other hardware meant to take the strain off of the main processor during video and/or audio processing. All of this combined should make for a faster, more efficient machine in the smaller form factor, with supposed "lower" processor speed.

Whether or not this new processor design will really deliver on its promises of speed and efficiency remains to be seen, but the design specs are not as bad as people are making them out to be.

[elf]

You're new here, Jezlyn.

You have to realize that there are many computer-architecture and chip-design experts on these forums. So they tend to weigh in heavily on all the perceived mistakes Sony makes on architecture design.


:D

[Jezlyn]

I know you have a smiley at the end of your message, but I don't know if you're poking fun at me for pointing out that the new Handheld Engine processor could be faster than the 100-some MHz spec belies, or if you're poking fun at the "experts" on processor architecture and chip design... Hmmm. :)

Anyway, I'm not that new; I just tend to lurk rather than post. And I am a computer engineering grad, so I kind of know about processor architecture and stuff, but it's been a few years since I graduated, so I may have forgotten some key details. :)

I just wanted to reiterate to some people that they shouldn't just judge on the rated speed of the processor before they actually see benchmarks and see the performance for themselves. But then again, maybe you're poking fun at me because to do so would be like talking to a brick wall. *smirk*

[TheZodiac]

Hows this - if you dont like it... stay with your NX :-D
Not having WiFi in the UX40 makes a certain amount of sense. If you dont use it?... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Some people (allot actually) may have a Sony phone (or another model) with bluetooth - making the UX49 (in fact) wireless without the need to be in a WiFI area. The idea was giving it wireless options, camera is a glossy gimic - youll have to live with it. There will be another model released before the end of the year - so wait and see.

MS|WiFi?. definately.

[loucifer]

Originally posted by Jezlyn
I agree that there are some "classic Sony" elements in the UX50 that people are taking issue with, like having the screen seem smaller than it should be on this device (though I think they have plenty of good reasons for making the screen the size it is -- hardware limitations, size limitations with all the electronics, etc.), most notably having the price very high. The one "mistake" that was listed that I =do not= understand is that of processor speed. It's kind of like the knee jerk reactions people have towards Apple's processor speed numbers. Just because their numbers seem lower in magnitude doesn't necessarily mean that their performance matches their numbers. (No, I'm not an Apple "zealot", I'm just aware of the realities of processor performance vs. "on paper" specs.)

As was mentioned by someone else, the apparent design that Sony implemented was meant to optimize performance and speed vs. battery life, much like the laptop/mobile-oriented processors made by Transmeta and Intel (their new Centrino processors). These processors are all meant to throttle processor speed when not needed. You're not going to have the same processor usage surfing the web or doing e-mail as you are when you're playing a graphic-intensive game. In addition, Sony added some other hardware meant to take the strain off of the main processor during video and/or audio processing. All of this combined should make for a faster, more efficient machine in the smaller form factor, with supposed "lower" processor speed.

Whether or not this new processor design will really deliver on its promises of speed and efficiency remains to be seen, but the design specs are not as bad as people are making them out to be.


with 3g about a year away, gsm/gprs or 1xrtt would have made this a homerun.. Killing wifi, particularly 802.11b, no big loss with g draft around the corner. It appears that convergence of communication protocols is more sellable then some typical .jp gadget gee whiz..

but then again, sony's stay in the pda world will probably be shortlived <<<two yaers

[mvfrancisco]

if 3g's a year away, maybe they're waiting for that... in the c|net interview the Sony VP of IT said that adding WAN functionality was going to be the next step in the clie's evolution.

[sindu]

I for one like the form factor of UX as I use my PDA for business purposes. The WIFI and BT in itself is a selling point for me. It means that i can download e-mail, ICQ, and browse in any hot spot, offices, and home with the WIFI. When I am on the road without WIFI infrastructure, GPRS BT enable phone like SE T610 would enable me to do the same. Furthermore, SMS would be a whole lot easier. The backlit keyboard, eventhough I have not play with it, looks like a winner. Low res camera is a plus. It allows me to take a quick picture of things which i could distribute to my colleagues through e-mails. If i want to take good picture, i would use my 5.0 megapixel digital camera. RAM does not look to be a problem. I don't install that many 3rd party software anyway. Auto backup and voice recorder is a bonus. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

[nz007]

Once again Sony have demonstrated how out of touch they are from their customers!

I have upgraded to almost every new higher spec clie from N770 to a NZ90 now and this is one I will give a miss!

The new releases from Sony seem to miss out on the "wow" factor that we have come to expect from company!

:-(

[Ddeath]

Yeah, it's totally off. Looks like those old Casio digital library I used to have, 10 years ago.

[EPSOLON]

are these two clie the ones that were demonstrated on friday?

[EPSOLON]

i was hoping for the upgrade of the NZ