plannig to buy UX, need advices from all of you

[pupunk98]

Please tell me your opinions,
There is a store here in Japan offering to sell second hand UX50 with extended batteries, leather cover for just US$457,

do you guys think that it will be a wise buy?
I am afraid that new Clie will be coming too soon and I will get dissappointed since my savings....I am saving to upgrade my Vx
actually I am quite sad that UX50 doesn't support portrait mode..
But I want to buy a good PDA that can be useful for a long time.
(4 years)
please give me your advice, brothers, I am alone here..

is it better to wait for UX80/90??
NX70 is far better than NR70, right?

[Orincarnia]

if you want a ux form factor, wait for the UX-90, but if you wanna take candid pictures (without anyone even saying a word) get an nx-70, which is 200,000 p better than the nr.

i myself would wait 3 more months before makingmy desicion. i got the nx-70 cause i just badly wanted to take pictures and i liked the vg and portrait mode that could view movies in widescreen. in my opinion, the ux screen fits its body. should you wait to see if the ux-90 supports portrait? i dont know, its all your decision, i can guarentee if you like pdas a lot, none of these pdas will last 4 years, sony just changes things way too much....

if the ux supports portrait, then that will be my next pda. but thats just me.

[pupunk98]

thanks, I am really confused on this... seems to me that UX50 is quite OK and UX80/90 won't differ much in the form factor like nx to nr...but how if it does?? aarghhh/....

[Orincarnia]

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=377945#post377945

this'll give you vague details until something better comes along, you probably already saw it, but this is the reason i would wait (the standard palm HW keys)

[hope]

First of all popunk98, what do you want? Do you want to connect to the internet. Do you want to watch movies? Do you just want to use basic PIM stuff? Do you want os 5 or do you want to wait for the benfits of os 6 coming out soon? List what you want and if you need some help, I'll help you with whatever it is I can? Ask away.

[pupunk98]

hope, you are right. I will write what I want here:

Background:
-I am a loyal Vx user (=medium class Graffiti user (?) ;) )

Pros with UX:
-Small, software-rich PalmOS
-Fully developer-supported systems , even if you want to do strange things, CodeDiver, KeyQuick, OS5 Hack will be there fot you.
-Wireless LAN ( I don't need BT in Japan, in fact, we don't use BT)
-Camera for recording videos and still images ( is video recording quality good enough?)
-480*320

Cons:
-No portrait mode ( Decuma takes valuable screen space, and holding the device while inputting in tablet mode is quite difficult)
(Graffiti Inputting looks serious compared to thumboard, really in some meetings, if you use thumbboard, Japanese might think that you are PLAYING Gameboy or mailing someone, etc)
I love how Zaurus design their hardware....the keyboard, OK-cancel button, navigation key, etc

-Old PIMs compared to T3,TE (memo limit)
-I may have to give up on this , but well...actulaly I don't like Memory Stick, (prefer SD) but I think I can adapt to that.

though my basic need is:
-Practical use, easy to carry, long-life battery
-more memory for storage , ...and I need the device works with every programs available.

But really, if the device works in portrait mode, that means that Decuma can be implemented to VG, I will buy UX50 without fearing that my UX50 will be outdated for 3 years from now...

Opinions, please...

and btw, do you think that leather case and external battery are necessary ? that adds bulk to the device that I don' think I can pocket UX with any of them attached.

[hope]

So your basic needs are, let me get the straight

Grafiti use
WiFi
Camera and video capabilities
battery life
More storage

I'm afraid to say it Puppunk98 but, the NX80 with a WiFi CF card might be better for you. It's battery life is second to none. It's camera and video capabilities are far better than the UX. It's grafiti and decuma use are a lot better with more screen space to be used. Plus, with come CF software, you could have all the storage you want with Compact Flash cards(the cheapest and has an adapter in which you could still use you SD cards). I'm saying this because part of the UX50's glory is its keyboard. If your not going to use it or are not able to, it actually takes away from the UX. I've learned to love it and find it much faster, but I'm not worried about disrespecting others either. Probably the other big factor is your internet usage. The UX, with the widescreen is far better with a better range for WiFi. But, it would be hard to have a good internet and only a 1in screen when using decuma for everything else. Seriously, try out the NX80, for what it is, it is the best. Remembe the UX is first generation. The NX80 is in it's fourth. There is a reason it's so good. The UX is great, but imagine it in it's fourth generation (in about a year or so).

[pupunk98]

I hope you won't get mad with my "selfishy" thinkings, hope.

honestly saying, I was attempted with feelings to buy NX80,..but I don't like the keyboard, I almost screamed in my lab when I saw UX50 announcement ! I thought that Sony has come with something like Sharp Zaurus SL760 . (though not, but this can be helped via KeyQuick)

prob the ideal PDA for me is kind of T3 without slider and WiFI capabilities plus great battery life.

looks like neither Palm or Sony will create this kind of device..
OS6 will still lacks support of software like OS5 last year, so I am thinking to buy UX50 for now...320*480 widescreen looks attractive for web surfing...

hope that somebody will find the way to rotate the screen perfectly like Zaurus. I guarantee that he will make lots of money.
(and we will see sharp decrease in T3 selling)

[hope]

Yeah the keyboard for the NX80 is terrible. But, the screen on mine got really insensitive so I had to use it. After using that, the UX50 is a god sent. I actually was still quicker with the bad keyboard than the graffiti. I just thought that you didn't want or need the keyboard. In that case, a lot of people (me), just keep the NX80 in tablet mode and it is just great. Anyway, I forgot to mention, this probably would be huge for you and a good push to get the UX anyway. I heard, not absolutely positive but pretty confidnent, that TealScript allows you to do graffiti anywhere. That means you could keep the VG closed and use the smallish screen in full size for all the programs you are able to and be able to just write anyway. I know you would probably like to have decuma but at least it's something.

[Jeepers]

Originally posted by pupunk98
hope, you are right. I will write what I want here:

Background:
-I am a loyal Vx user (=medium class Graffiti user (?) ;) )

So was I until the UX50 came out.... You won't believe the difference in using a UX!


[i]
Pros with UX:
-Small, software-rich PalmOS
-Fully developer-supported systems , even if you want to do strange things, CodeDiver, KeyQuick, OS5 Hack will be there fot you.
-Wireless LAN ( I don't need BT in Japan, in fact, we don't use BT)
-Camera for recording videos and still images ( is video recording quality good enough?)
-480*320[/B]


Not to mention, the best built in keyboard you can get, great sound and video playback, convenient clamshell design for ease of use(just open it up and put it anywhere while you type away) and screen protection when closed....but I could just go on and on here...

The video recording is good for fun stuff, but if you want serious video recordings, use your camcorder:) That said, I've used the UX on numerous occasions for spur of the moment videos and photos that have worked out great. Again, the whole convenience thing just makes this device shine.

[i]
Cons:
-No portrait mode ( Decuma takes valuable screen space, and holding the device while inputting in tablet mode is quite difficult)
(Graffiti Inputting looks serious compared to thumboard, really in some meetings, if you use thumbboard, Japanese might think that you are PLAYING Gameboy or mailing someone, etc)
I love how Zaurus design their hardware....the keyboard, OK-cancel button, navigation key, etc

-Old PIMs compared to T3,TE (memo limit)
-I may have to give up on this , but well...actulaly I don't like Memory Stick, (prefer SD) but I think I can adapt to that.
[/B]

I've gotten quite used to landscape mode as it just seems more natural with the UX. For things such as the Palm reader or Pixel viewer, they support portrait mode via software on the UX.

As far as inputting data, I hardly ever use grafitti any more. When I had my old palm, I kept wondering why people would want a tiny keyboard, but after using the UX keyboard, I am amazed at how much better it is to enter data. I actually use this to enter fairly long documents...something I never would attempt with grafitti.

If you want to take long meeting notes in real time, unfortunately nothing currently works as well as a full size keyboard (or of course good old pen and paper). You could also use one of those free form note programs but that has the same problem as paper in that you would have to re-enter anything that you wanted stored as plain text. But for me, either thumb typing, while holding the unit or hunt and peck while on the desktop works well and I haven't gotten any rude remarks from anyone yet. However, cultural differences in Japan may weigh differently. I haven't really tried Decuma for meeting notes just yet, but this also seems much better than grafitti, esp since you can train it and you actually see what will be entered before it goes to the application. And as for taking up a lot of screen space, I would think that if you are taking long notes you would want the focus to be on the notes anyway(which Decuma does well given the space it has for input) vs. viewing other info. I'll have to give Decuma a more rigorous test sometime, but at first glance I really like it.

As far as the new PIMs, forget it. It is just a stopgap done by PalmONE (not Palmsource) until OS6 comes out with major upgrades to the built-in apps and it is causing more some problems with software developers who write their apps to the old ones. Plus I've adapted everything to the current apps pretty well anyway. The bigger memo's would be nice to have though, but not a major inconvenience.

Not sure what to say about the memory stick. I actually like the memory stick better than the SD cards esp in light of all the problems palm is having. Plus they are compatible with my other Sony video equipment. They really offer good performance, large capacity, and great reliability. If you want smaller cards, look at the new Duo format.



[i]
though my basic need is:
-Practical use, easy to carry, long-life battery
-more memory for storage , ...and I need the device works with every programs available.

But really, if the device works in portrait mode, that means that Decuma can be implemented to VG, I will buy UX50 without fearing that my UX50 will be outdated for 3 years from now...

Opinions, please...

and btw, do you think that leather case and external battery are necessary ? that adds bulk to the device that I don' think I can pocket UX with any of them attached. [/B]


As far as practical use and eas of carrying, the UX has those nailed. Battery life could be better IMHO, but all the high end devices out now have the same issue. The UX has a little bit better battery than the T3, but that's not saying much. The biggest drains on the battery life are the brightness settings and wireless so you have to manage those two accordingly. If you are going to be using the multimedia features a lot, I would recommend having the spare battery pack around. This actually was well designed by Sony to fit nicely under the unit in the same dimensions and doesn't add too much bulk to the unit. I'm also waiting for Bellagio to come out with their case for the UX (probably in a couple of weeks) so I can't comment on cases yet.

The storage on the unit is good by having the 29MB internal area (which can be used for MP3 files, unlike the internal palm memory). Plus, you can move programs to that memory using just the built in sony functions and have the programs listed under the appropriate category on the launcher vs. just showing up as an external storage app.

Lastly, regarding being outdated, I can tell you one thing for sure....EVERY PDA ON THE MARKET NOW WILL BE OUTDATED IN 3 YEARS. The pace of innovation in the PDA market has heated up significantly and there will always be something better coming along very quickly. Best thing to do is get what you need now and enjoy the enhanced productivity you get. I think most people will be upgrading much quicker these days with all the competition now.

Cheers,
Greg

[Orincarnia]

wow...........thats an article

[Enceladus]

Actually the UX's 30fps video capture is second to none.

[sindu]

Originally posted by Enceladus
Actually the UX's 30fps video capture is second to none.

That is very true !!! After I used it to display some video, Gosh...I am going to get the 1G MS Pro so that i can convert some DVD and watch it in UX.

[Jeepers]

Originally posted by Enceladus
Actually the UX's 30fps video capture is second to none.

Yes, that it is! I was just comparing it resolution-wise to a quality video recorder. As far as PDAs go, the UX50 has it all.

[pupunk98]

Jeepers, you are the best!
I have purchased UX, and I never looked back to my VX..
though sometimes I still admire the thin form factor of UX

guess what? my problem with UX and its case is that it is not pocketable as Vx, but that's not a big deal.

Jeepers, as you have similar background like me (former Vx-er), will you recommend to me some softwares (freeware if possible) you are using in your UX?

For me, right now I have the following in my UX:
-Easy Calc
-Bible+
-Smbmate
-MergicPing
-McPhling
-CrsLauncher (press any alphabetical key and you can move the cursor, cleans up file throughly)
-CrsMeDoc

any other recommendations?

[wellsjs]

If you're not a "gamer," then the UX might be ideal for you, but without hardware buttons, playing most games on the UX is a horrible experience. So if you are or intend to get into games, maybe the NX80V would be a better choice. That's what I have and I love it. I didn't like the cheap look/feel of the UX, not to mention smaller screen. Bluetooth is of no use to me and I got the wi-fi card for the NX80 and love the combo. Plus the NX80V carries OK in the pants pocket, whereas the UX is just enough thicker to make it not a pants pocket device, IMHO! ;) Pros and cons . . . you've done a good job of listing yours, so it's your choice! Good luck!

[Orincarnia]

i thought the ux was thinner than the nx's

[hope]

The look and feel of the UX is at least as good and not better than the NX80. I've had both. The UX is a lot more resistent to scratching and the hinge is at least 3 times as strong. Plus, for me, the WiFi card was a hassle. 1)not have a scanner 2)having to open and close the case and take the card in and out every time not to suck the life out of the battery 3) Makes the looks of the big NX even bigger. Wellsjs are you blind. Can you not read, see, or feel. The UX is plenty thinner than the NX and barely wider. How is it "not a pants pocket device"? If your gonna post, know what your talking about. Don't give poor or uninformed advice. Like other people have said, people need to spend more than just 5 min at a BestBuy to be able to fairly judge the UX.

[Orincarnia]

dude chill out hes human, before you became all inteligent you probabaly gave less than superior posts too.......

[Orincarnia]

by the way at bb they had a ux right next to an nx-80, and the ux camera seemed to run a whole lot more smoothly than the nx, it actually performs like my nx-70 when it is zoomed in, choppy and a little less than smooth when you shift the camera back and forth, and all the ux's i've seen don't have the 3d luancher, they're all flat but they still. look like the 3d ones i've seen, only not so sphereical

but i like the feel of the ux and the very crisp looking screen, (if it didn't have a permanent landscape orientation, and if it didn't cost so much) i would have bought it immediatly

[Chinoz]

I toyed with the UX once, and am never going near it anymore

[Orincarnia]

why not?

[anitanium]

i played with it too

what i dislike:
1. screen too small.
webpages are TINY to look at on that screen, and once you go with an NZ or NX screen, why would you go to UX?
2. weird looking hinge
the whole barrel shape of the hinge in the UX makes it look not so nice as compared to nx or nz series

like
1. integrated WiFi/bluetooth
2. big keyboard and backlit

[Unregistered]

You need toeep in mind while reading these posts that many NX80 users feel threatened by the UX50, and tend to make negative comments about it even though they no real experience with the device.

[Dropzone]

I agree that the camera on the UX is much better than the one on NX80V. I had a feel on UX and I think its pretty cool. But the camera MP is pretty low and the fact that one would have to put the UX in the cradle to charge and another USB cable to hotsych is pretty annoying and its making me think twice again about upgrading...

I yet to decide to upgrade or remain with my NX80, I guess size play a big part in it..