TH-55 - It's The Software, Not Hardware

[Unregistered]

It was interesting to read that most users here were more interested on the hardware of the TH-55 when perhaps its most important new feature is the software - the intriguing all-in-one Free Note.

Manufacturers have long touted a PDA to be the one device that can manage your personal information and whilst it is carried in a single device, most information are separated into many apps. Some apps have a rudimentary *linking* feature but nothing that can really bring it all together.

With Free Note, it is almost like carrying a Microsoft TabletPC without the weight, bootup time and cost of owning one. I don't know if Free Note allows you to drag in files from third-party apps (it doesn't seem to allow by looking at the demo), but this is a good start.

Yes, I think it is silly of Sony not to include a videocam app when they already have developed it. It is also silly that they are not listening to their customers - we want portrait and landscape options.

But really, the magic is not so much on the hardware of the TH-55, IMHO, it is in Free Note. Let's hope they will start to make it a standard app for all future Clies.

[ClieKun]

LOOK login ok! If you have good info lets see where its coming from. Otherewise......................its junk!

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Unregistered
It was interesting to read that most users here were more interested on the hardware of the TH-55 when perhaps its most important new feature is the software - the intriguing all-in-one Free Note.... Let's hope they will start to make it a standard app for all future Clies. I agree that it looks rather impressive. However, I don't think it's a "killer app" that will cause people to dismiss the hardware specs.

I think most people (here at CS) are still more interested in the foundation that the hardware provides. People want a minimum CPU speed and available memory. Some must have a keyboard (others, like me, like Graffiti), a 320x480 screen, and/or an integrated camera. Then there's WiFi and Bluetooth. And so on.

To me, the included software is just icing on the cake... but not a "make or break" decision. If the right hardware comes along, I'm ready to upgrade from my NX70V. I already have all the software I need (though I keep looking for more ;)). If my next PDA includes something that I can use instead of or in addition to something I already own, that's great... but it probably isn't going to have ANY impact on my next purchase.

Just my .02

[LupeValenz]

I just love the new Clie Organizer, I'm sooo jealous :(. Next new pda better be a ux version with the clie organizer on it :)

[hfy100]

I strongly seconded the poster's comment. Since i'm a Newton user, i consider handwriting to be an extremely important feature and TH55 is the first palm model which can be parallel with my faithful Newton.

For daily dairy maintenance, i wonder how much horsepower that people really need for? TH55 is clearly not for heavy AV purpose (that's why Sony does not bundle it with movie shooting function). Rather, it's on the software side and talking about PIM intergation. I understand such intergation might not matter the same to everyone. But in my view, this is definitely a large leap which cause me to make up my mind that it is time for my Newont to retire and join Psion and Pilot 1000 under my desk. :p

[ClieKun]

Lupe I sure hope so.........I`m waiting for it. Money and all..........

[gklinger]

Originally posted by Unregistered
It was interesting to read that most users here were more interested on the hardware of the TH-55 when perhaps its most important new feature is the software - the intriguing all-in-one Free Note.

That's because we already have Clies and we know about the hardware so we can relate to the specifications. The new software however, is an unknown variable, so it's hard to get too excited about it. What I am is very curious. It looks good but the implementation is everything so I need to use it for a few days before I can decide if it's the greatest thing since sliced bread or a pox on my house. I read everything I could find on the new software but I'm still not 100% clear what makes it so special. It appears to be the date book with some links to multimedia. Neat but not that innovative. I wish there was a video of someone using it so I could see how it ties together.

[UFG]

I dunno, I seem to use my PDA for everything except the built-in PIM apps, so I really don't care what they do.

[Dripps]

Maybe you'd change your mind if the built-in PIM apps were useful! The software looks very interesting to me!

[UFG]

Ah! You, good sir, do have a point.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Dripps
Maybe you'd change your mind if the built-in PIM apps were useful! The software looks very interesting to me! I agree it looks interesting... but I wouldn't buy a PDA because of it.

[Dripps]

I'm confident the brilliant minds who visit Cliesource will find a way to work those apps into our existing Clies if at all possible...so perhaps all is not lost!

[depret]

Originally posted by hherbzilla
I agree it looks interesting... but I wouldn't buy a PDA because of it.

It depends on what you are trading off.

Landscape for SheetToGo (software) almost made me buy the Palm T3. Slider design (hardware) stopped me.

No landscape may stop me from being a first in line for the TH55 if the price is too high.

[gklinger]

Originally posted by UFG
I dunno, I seem to use my PDA for everything except the built-in PIM apps, so I really don't care what they do.

What do you use your PDA for? Ebooks? Games? While those are valid applications, I was surprised that you don't use the Address or Date Book. Come to think of it, even if I was just using my Clie for games, I would rather have it than a Gameboy Advance. The types of games I prefer (puzzle games for one) are better with a stylus and I like that there are so many free games and the commercial ones almost always have a try-before-you-buy option.

[SamuraiCatJB]

Originally posted by hherbzilla
I agree it looks interesting... but I wouldn't buy a PDA because of it.

no... but if, like me, you are already in the market for a new PDA it could sway a decision between models. :)

[UFG]

Originally posted by gklinger


What do you use your PDA for? Ebooks? Games? While those are valid applications, I was surprised that you don't use the Address or Date Book. Come to think of it, even if I was just using my Clie for games, I would rather have it than a Gameboy Advance. The types of games I prefer (puzzle games for one) are better with a stylus and I like that there are so many free games and the commercial ones almost always have a try-before-you-buy option.

I use my PDA for music, games, avantgo, showing pictures (that I take w/ my T616), drawing pictures, and watching videos. I rarely use the date book unless there's something really important coming up, and even then I usually don't put it in. Address book has 5 entries. I don't really find any use for it.

[Marre]

I'm very interested in the new clie organizer app. I would like to agree with the opinion that the software is the most important addition to the TH55. Its hardware, IMO, is nothing to be excited about.

The new organizer app allows not only linking, but it apparently sticks everything around in a sticky-note style. You can drag and drop almost everything, and the new data management allows you to move/copy/reschedule with ease. If you look at clie online HK you can see that it is the biggest thing they're trying to market in the TH55. (with overwhelming phrases - see for yourself)

On other points, with the exception of sheet to go, a sufficient number of apps already have landscape including book readers and picsel. For sheet to go and PIM, I really prefer the portrait orientation as I can see further down.

And on the processor, it IS optimized for multimedia and it is the reason you get the entire 32mb instead of some 23mb as in the TJ. But I'm not sure why they decided to throw away the video recording. It could've been very useful with the new organizer app.