burnaby280
10-05-2003, 07:27 PM
Just bought the NX70 after the price in the UK dropped to below £250 ( a year ago it was £450).
First impressions: I've read a lot of junk in what passes for the UK computer media about how heavy and bulky these machines are. When you actually get one in your hand the impression is the opposite: this is a small, delicate piece of complex hardware. If it were twice the weight and fifty per cent larger then size might be an issue. As it is it's just another way for computer hacks to take a pop at Sony, who I suspect are seen as flash johny come latelys to the computer world, in need of a good slapdown.
But as I said this device is not the Tiger Tank that the product reviews describe. Look after your NX .Get screen protectors and a protective bag. Do not wave the thing around like a magic wand. And don't bother with the swivel action, the way you're supposed to twist it180 degrees so that it can somesault back on itself-that's asking for trouble-be satisfied with the basic clamshell action.
The camera. Some of us don't want to take sexy snaps of ourselves and our pals in various trendy watering holes. Instead we want the camera to do away with the need for scanners and photocopiers, at least much of the time. The results are mixed, and I can see why people need the better cameras on the more advanced models. With much fiddling and the kind of patience that was last exercised by photographic pioneers like Foxe-Talbot and the Niepce brothers you can get reasonably legible copies of paragraphs from articles or leaflets, but it's hard going and I'm still working on it. Anytips would be appreciated.
Audio. Sound recording is a great bonus with this thing. I never want to use a tape recorder again after seeing how easy it is to organise and catalogue digital audio. No more accidental overwriting because you couldn't find a free space on a crowded microcassette, and the sound quality, especially on the high quality mode, is really impressive.
The keyboard. Very useful for short documents. Can't wait for the KB100 to get to the UK, so that the laptop can be left at home all the time.
Music: haven't tried this yet. I 've heard enough to feel that I may need help.
Overall impressions, so far. A clever, ambitious device, with lots of professional and personal applications. I'm not sure I would want to risk the original asking price-it's too small and easily damaged, lost or stolen.
Two questions: do people feel, like me, that the computer media is generally anti-Sony (you should see some of the UK product reviews-they describe wonderful Sony products, and then it's 'oh the battery hinge is slightly wonky-that means we can't give it this month's first prize')? And secondly Palm say they are looking for developers to build the palm system into a laptop-what do you think of that?
My general feeling: keep it charged up all the time-problems will occur when the battery lowers. Also-don't install too any fancy programs on this device. It's a crowded little space as it is-try to do too much and there will be tears before bedtime.
First impressions: I've read a lot of junk in what passes for the UK computer media about how heavy and bulky these machines are. When you actually get one in your hand the impression is the opposite: this is a small, delicate piece of complex hardware. If it were twice the weight and fifty per cent larger then size might be an issue. As it is it's just another way for computer hacks to take a pop at Sony, who I suspect are seen as flash johny come latelys to the computer world, in need of a good slapdown.
But as I said this device is not the Tiger Tank that the product reviews describe. Look after your NX .Get screen protectors and a protective bag. Do not wave the thing around like a magic wand. And don't bother with the swivel action, the way you're supposed to twist it180 degrees so that it can somesault back on itself-that's asking for trouble-be satisfied with the basic clamshell action.
The camera. Some of us don't want to take sexy snaps of ourselves and our pals in various trendy watering holes. Instead we want the camera to do away with the need for scanners and photocopiers, at least much of the time. The results are mixed, and I can see why people need the better cameras on the more advanced models. With much fiddling and the kind of patience that was last exercised by photographic pioneers like Foxe-Talbot and the Niepce brothers you can get reasonably legible copies of paragraphs from articles or leaflets, but it's hard going and I'm still working on it. Anytips would be appreciated.
Audio. Sound recording is a great bonus with this thing. I never want to use a tape recorder again after seeing how easy it is to organise and catalogue digital audio. No more accidental overwriting because you couldn't find a free space on a crowded microcassette, and the sound quality, especially on the high quality mode, is really impressive.
The keyboard. Very useful for short documents. Can't wait for the KB100 to get to the UK, so that the laptop can be left at home all the time.
Music: haven't tried this yet. I 've heard enough to feel that I may need help.
Overall impressions, so far. A clever, ambitious device, with lots of professional and personal applications. I'm not sure I would want to risk the original asking price-it's too small and easily damaged, lost or stolen.
Two questions: do people feel, like me, that the computer media is generally anti-Sony (you should see some of the UK product reviews-they describe wonderful Sony products, and then it's 'oh the battery hinge is slightly wonky-that means we can't give it this month's first prize')? And secondly Palm say they are looking for developers to build the palm system into a laptop-what do you think of that?
My general feeling: keep it charged up all the time-problems will occur when the battery lowers. Also-don't install too any fancy programs on this device. It's a crowded little space as it is-try to do too much and there will be tears before bedtime.