US only product?

[fireants22]

I normally get the scoop on new sony products from: www.sonystyle.co.jp
I live in Japan so I figure I could pre-order (like the US-sonystyle.com) But somehow they make no mention (even on news/events-section) on the new NZ...
Could sony have only made this a North-American release and made something nicer (and smaller) for their own country?
This is hard to believe, but not entirely impossible.

[Unregistered]

MAYBE

[fireants22]

it's just hard to imagine them (sony) releasing something for the US market before they do locally...
But maybe sooner, rather than later- the NX-70 has been taken off the main listing of PDAs on www.sonystyle.co.jp

[LITTLESIX]

Before the crash, somebody had made mention of the fact that they'd seen information on a Sony site about that he had to translate because it was in Japanese. He didn't include the site name. If I come across it I'll let you know. My Japanese is soooooo rusty, so that might take a while. :)

[ikaris]

It was me, and it was http://www.cliecafe.com/

I don't feel like translating what I found again :P I've done enough photoshopping and translating, I'm tired :)

[fc2003]

If you go to Sony US website to buy NZ, there is a box for country in the shipping address. They must be prepared to ship to other countries.

We saw many nice things in New York, London and Paris that are made in Hong Kong and China. They are seldom sold here in Hong Kong, excelpt exports outlet. ;-)

[fireants22]

that'S funny, cuz normally sonystyle.com refuses to ship products out of the country....I have begged before for a C1-picture book (i didnT want a japanese-version) but they said IMPOSSIBLE.

[fc2003]

To fireants22: Parallel importers will bring the good close to you. That's how a T665C is selling HK$2380 in Hong Kong parallel import shop vs HK$2980 in a Sony outlet. I notice that the importers in Hong Kong are going to import NZ from US. ;-)

[fireants22]

fc2003:>>what is the HK$ vs US$ exchange rate nowadays?...and since i will be ordering from Japan, I hope they take VISA :)
Thanks for the info...you got their URL handy?

[fireants22]

...and i just got a reply from ralph from sonystyle:
--------------------------------------------------------
Response (Ralph) - 01/16/2003 08:59 PM
Thank you for visiting SonyStyle.com.

Sony values your business and interest in Sony products. However, SonyStyle.com is only able to fulfill orders within the United States. You will need to have a billing and shipping address within USA to place an order online. I suggest that you ask a relative or friend in the US to make the purchase on your behalf and have it shipped to you.

Please visit the following link for further information on ordering products in Japan:

http://www.sony.co.jp/

Please feel free to contact the Sony Style team for further assistance.

[fc2003]

To fireants22: I don't think the Hong Kong parallel importers will re-sale it through the web. They just sell on their physical outlet. HK dollars is pegged at HK$7.8 per US$. There should be some parallel importers in Japan. In Hong Kong LVHM shop, there are professional shoppers buying LV bags and shipping them back to Japan for re-sale.

Sorry can't be more helpful to you. I'm also watching closely on when the NZ will land Hong Kong (by the paralle importers first I guess). I reckon the Sony agent in Hong Kong will delay the NZ launch as late as possible. ;-)

[fireants22]

sorry to sound ignorant...but what is a parallel importer?

[clie_wannabe]

fireants22:

i too live in japan, and this is what my acquantantces at sony-japan tell me...

sony-japan and sony-usa are absolutely TWO different divisions of the same company... each with their own "inventions"... as an example...

1. the first generation clie, the s-series was a japanese "creation"... sony-usa didnt market the us-version until several months later...

2. the n-series was also a japanese "creation"... and so are the t-series, and the nr/x-series... that is why they are first marketed and released by sony-japan... then if sony-usa thinks that it too could be a hit, then they "borrow" the design to be sold in the states...

3. however, the sj and sl-series are sony-usa "creations," and that is why they were released in the states first...

sony-usa, and sony-japan engineers work independently of each other...

[fireants22]

in other-words...the new butt-Ugly NZ may be the fault of the Americans?!(sony-us)....i feel more relieved now knowing that the japanese-version (sony-japan) might look a lot better :)

[fc2003]

Parallel importers buy goods (mostly consumer electronics and luxurious items) from overseas and re-sale the goods in domestic country. For example, there are US and Japanese version of NX selling in retail outlets without the guarantee service from HK Sony. The price is usually 20% cheaper than the official outlet but the user bears the risk of no guarantee. The price discount of the parallel imported goods from Japan was even higher when the Japanese Yen was really weak against the US$.

Conclusion: study the price and know the risk of different purchase channel.

[clie_wannabe]

yes... expect another (not another! i just bought an nx70v last new year's eve as a present to myself!?!) model out by april... just my guess on how sony-japan releases its clie models - around 6 to 8 months...

[fireants22]

thanks for the clarification....in canada (where i am originally from), they call these "grey-market" products.

[fireants22]

wannabe:...how do you like the nx? I want to get a nz/nx but my japanese is really crap. How hard is it to figure out the sony-apps (i can probably figure out the basic palm apps) and configure the clie without knowing any japanese?

[clie_wannabe]

well, the nx serves me quite right - but maybe not as much as my previous clie (a japanese n750c) --> (1) my favorite hacks (like multiclip, middlecaps, etc.) dont work, (2) can listen to music while composing email, (3) a little second longer to check/record data - since i have to "open" the device, and that i dont anymore have quick access to the hardware buttons, (4) quite bulky due to the fact that it has a built-in keyboard (which i rarely use - im at around 40wpm using graffiti)... but because of the better screen, faster response, bigger memory, the virtual graffiti, built-in "internet," etc; i think my spent money is well worth it.

as in using the japanese version. not much problem though. once your proficient with the basic palm apps, you could simply figure things out. as for the clie apps - not much japanese is needed coz it is more icon-based (not much text). of course, it would take a little trial-and-error, but not that serious.

if you are going to use english third-party add-ons, then better because you'd find less need for the built-in apps (i use splashphoto instead of clieviewer for example).

[clie_wannabe]

Originally posted by clie_wannabe
(2) canT listen to music while composing email

well... maybe only time would tell... as more apps gets updated for os5 (and hi-res+), and that more hardware support comes in... i think that my nx would eventually surpass my n750c...

[fireants22]

since you sound so possitive...i imaging you are using your clie with windoze....

I canT wait until they officially grant us Mac-heads "out-of-the-box" support.
(i wouldnT even know how to install the sony-apps...i imagine they come seperately on a windoze-CD...am I correct?)

[clie_wannabe]

most of the basic sony apps are already preinstalled... you cant even delete them because they reside in rom

[fireants22]

cool.

[DigitalDeath]

Because it is not good enough for japan

[LITTLESIX]

Originally posted by clie_wannabe

(2) canT listen to music while composing email



On an Nx? Sure you can - go into the preferences and check 'enable background play'. I listen to music working other apps all the time.

[clie_wannabe]

Originally posted by LITTLESIX


On an Nx? Sure you can - go into the preferences and check 'enable background play'. I listen to music working other apps all the time.

yes, i know that setting - having owned a n750c before... it is just that though i can listen to music while using the basic apps, or any other third-party add-on; for one reason or another i cant use Clie Mail while im listening to music in AudioPlayer...

[Edmundo]

The NZ is certainly coming out in Europe, release date TBC