New model? PEG-TG50?

[Rob]

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109096,00.asp

http://www.itworld.com/Comp/1235/030130clie/

Sleek Shape
The graffiti pad that resides under the main screen of many Palm OS devices is gone on the new model leaving a screen that is roughly square. The row of application buttons that usually sits under the graffiti pad, such as on the new SJ33, has been moved up to remain under the now shorter screen and underneath these buttons is a Qwerty keyboard.

[Eric S]

AAARRRGGGHH! I wanted a T with VG and no keyboard, not a keyboard and no grafitti area, virtual or otherwise! Breath, Breath, this is from FCC disclosed info, maybe they got it wrong, or maybe there's another Clie that will get it right. It's looking more like the iQue is going to be my birthday present to myself.

[stevec_ny]

Hopefully they at least changed the layout from the crappy one on the NR series. The built-in bluetooth is a plus for me, but losing the screen real-estate is a big drawback.

[ikkoku]

lack of graffiti area maybe due to use of Graffiti2?

[cbulock]

Originally posted by ikkoku
lack of graffiti area maybe due to use of Graffiti2?

Based on info from the Palm website, Graffiti 2 will still require the use of a dedicated Graffiti area.

[JenixSJ30]

lol the new t series will have this shi‡‡y keyboard attached to it right next to the screen so u cant get rid of it like the nr,nz, and nx series. I feal sorry for those who wanted a VG. i wanted it too.

[jmg_NX21]

Very puzzling upgrade feature... the NZ keyboard looks promising BUT a pinky-board???

PS Rob, fellow ALUMNUS!!! I can't wait until march!! Arizona game this weekend :eek:

[rldunn]

Wow, I'm surprised. I can't believe they still haven't released a non-clamshell version with VG. Must be something to the rumors that a non-clamshell device can't currently support VG with any kind of battery life, especially in a T-body.

[pigburger]

I wouldn't be surprised if it ships along the side with a model with a graffiti area, possibly VG. It's not like Sony to not give you an option, you can get a NX with or without a camera, a B/W SJ with or without rechargable batteries and I'm assuming a TG with or without a keyboard. At least I'm hoping. I don't know what the FCC regulations are if they have to get approval for each model or just what. I don't remember a leak like this for the TT....

[Griff]

It concerns me to see a Clie coming out keyboard-only. I fear the writing is on the wall for the future. I read somewhere that keyboards will be the thing and VG areas will go away in 2-5 years.

I honestly am better at using Grafitti on my NR70v than the keyboard. I sure hope pen input does stick around.

On the positive side, Palm's introducting G2 does give me hope.

[kstuart]

Everyone who is not a "PDA enthusiast" is not at all interested in Graffiti and wants a keyboard.

Look at the success of the "Blackberry".

On TechTV, one of the geeks who does hardware testing for a living, said that styluses are history, "thankfully" - and there were only murmurs of assent from the other geeks in the room.

PDA enthusiasts are willing to use Graffiti, because until recently, it has been a necessary and integral part of the whole PDA World.

PS One constant insanity of ClieSource is that whenever a new Sony Clie model comes out, everyone assumes that all further Clie models will have exactly the same features. But, this has never been true. When the NZ90 came out, everyone was upset that it was so big - as if this meant that all new Clies will be really big. Now, the TG50 is not big (see the PC World picture), but everyone assumes that this means no VG area in any future Clie - even though the NZ90 with VG area has not even shipped yet!

Future Clies will be not be identical to the TG50...

[Griff]

Sort of my point...it looks more and more like styli will be phased out, my thought is Sony has just helped to bolster the thought.

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm waiting for the Tablet PC in the form of an NR70v, running Palm OS. Now that'd be sweet.

[___]

If u all want vg so much, just move to a more powerful(alot more powerful) machine: ppc

[Unregistered]

give one feature, take two away.

If Sony keeps this up, the next N series will be

32 MB Ram
OS 6.0
Graphics Chip
4 MP camera

AND NO SCREEN

LOL

[thack]

I agree with what you guys are saying about the keyboard. I posted this in the other TG50 thread:This is interesting... I had a T665 and I liked it alot except it had poor graffiti recognition (probably due to the smaller graffiti area) and found it inconvenient when writing out long notes. So I bought a NR70V and I think it's a great device. I can use the keyboard when necessary and I still have virtual graffitti.

If I had known about the TG50, it would have made my decision very difficult. The keyboard is very useful and I think we will see several more handhelds with keyboards. The keyboard is probably the simplest input method for new users since they don't have to learn strokes or anything.

The thing that makes the keyboard difficult is the Palm OS and the lack of keys (and applications) that allow you to use the keyboard without any stylus taps. That's why the NR70V is a beautiful device. You get to choose between methods. I like the NX but I have no use for wireless therefore the extra hump and weight would be useless for me.

I would like to see another NR70V form factor with OS5. Possibly with a Visor Edge style clip-on slot. Either that or the NX successor with a useable CF slot.

I guess we'll see in another 3 months. ;)With bluetooth and a mobile phone this is a great email/internet combo. I think it will do well for a lot of users. Perhaps a VG model will come out. There are certainly enough enthusiasts looking forward to it.

[Spiral]

It seems to look very ugly. Somethign similar to this is one of the treo's, which also has a keyboard, and if you got that, u wouldn't even need a mobile phone to go online.

[pigburger]

I think people are over reacting. After seeing the picture it's actually pretty cool looking. I would never get one myself because I like the extra real estate I get with the VG of my NR. I have a friend though who has owned a Palm OS PDA for 2 years now (my old S300 for a year now) but still can't figure out graffiti. He was considering upgrading to an NR because of the keyboard but was intimidated by the size. I'm going to recommend that he waits and gets this, it meets his needs without the extra bulk. I think this will fill a niche that is missing with Sony's line up. It's not for everyone, but is way cooler than a treo...

[Jeffry]

The screen is still small. When can we get our VG (320x480)? No mini keyboard, please.... 'cus we already have that accessory available. That's all I asked for, and a faster processor + MP3.

[Shogmaster]

T replacement without VG/Hires+/320x480 screen is USELESS!

I think we'll see more folks join the likes of our TBellas and go with Tunsten T if the new T series is a mere Sony version of TT without additional superior feature like the Hires+ screen that made us go Sony in the first place! (I would not have bought my N710 if it didn't have the 320x320 hires screen. I would have just bought the Palm m505).

Sony is sadly mistaken if they think people would go with a Sony product just because of the name. They have to give us a good reason to skip Palm and go with them, given their crappy customer service. They need to give us a superior hardware feature that counts (like hires+)!

[jiserrab]

How 'bout Garmin? Looks very tempting. I will wait though. I think there will be more devices in this T-series line yet to come.....:confused:

[Shogmaster]

I'd go Garmin in a second if it wasn't so damn fugly.......

[wnm]

Lack of grafitti was one of the reasons for the lack of enthusiasm for the Handspring Treo line. Yes they are phones too, but I think there is a connection.

[Griff]

Originally posted by Shogmaster
T replacement without VG/Hires+/320x480 screen is USELESS!

I agree...I honestly don't think I could go back to a smaller screen. The one thing I've noticed when looking at new handhelds is how small the screen is. I wonder how people can ever get by using that little space, then I remember I somehow managed for 5 years :p