Zire 72 vs TJ37

[spygrad2003]

I was just looking at the Zire 72 online. It looks like it could give the TJ37 some good competitions. I haven't read much about it...But my initial thoughts were this....The Zire has a 1.2 (or something like that)MP camera, where as my TJ37's camera doesn't come close. Also, it has bluetooth. I wouldn't have any use for bluetooth, but use the wifi of my TJ37 quite often.

What are some of your opions on this, and can anybody do a comparison of these 2? thanks.

[inomad]

its 1.3mp is supposed to haved a poorer picture quality than the vga pda cameras, according to user reviews.

[strider_mt2k]

They's probably have to cop to something like "thousands of pixels" if you remeber the m130 fiasco.

[TJ37]

I heard that there's no lens protector (maybe there is). Bluetooth is useless for some people (500KB/s transfer...), looks corny, camera isn't better at all (heard bad reviews on colors being messed up), and some other stuff. There are some good things about it though. For example, a Microphone is included, runs PALM OS 5.2.8 Garnet, a bit more memory (26MB out of 32MB of usable RAM) and a faster processor (I dunno if it performs faster though).

Conclusion: Stick with the TJ37.

[chelu]

Many similarities ... here's a few significant differences

MSRP for both: $299 (however, PalmOne offers free shipping)

ZIRE 72 Camera: Photo: 1280x960; 2X digital zoom1; Video: 320x240
TJ37 Camera: Photo: 640x480; no video

ZIRE 72 - BlueTooth only
TJ37 - WiFi only

ZIRE 72 Processor: 312 MHz Intel® PXA270 processor
TJ37 Processor: 200 MHz (kind?)

ZIRE 72 Operating System: Palm OS® 5.2.8
TJ37 Operating System: Palm OS® 5.2.1

ZIRE 72 Voice memo: Yes
TJ37 Voice memo: No

ZIRE 72: Upgraded organizer sotware
TJ37: Standard organizer software

I'm certain there are other significant differences and points of contention between these two excellent devices. It's all a matter of personal preference now.

[paulmdx]

TJ37: Motorola i.MXL 200Mhz.

[TJ37]

Originally posted by chelu
Many similarities ... here's a few significant differences

MSRP for both: $299 (however, PalmOne offers free shipping)

ZIRE 72 Camera: Photo: 1280x960; 2X digital zoom1; Video: 320x240
TJ37 Camera: Photo: 640x480; no video

ZIRE 72 - BlueTooth only
TJ37 - WiFi only

ZIRE 72 Processor: 312 MHz Intel® PXA270 processor
TJ37 Processor: 200 MHz (kind?)

ZIRE 72 Operating System: Palm OS® 5.2.8
TJ37 Operating System: Palm OS® 5.2.1

ZIRE 72 Voice memo: Yes
TJ37 Voice memo: No

ZIRE 72: Upgraded organizer sotware
TJ37: Standard organizer software

I'm certain there are other significant differences and points of contention between these two excellent devices. It's all a matter of personal preference now.

The Zire72 is probably a bit faster. About the video - There was just software released enabling video recording on the CLIE. The most substantial differences are: Voice Memo (first midranged model to have this option), faster processor (first time that the Intel chip was used in a PDA), camera (although you won't be finding yourself using it that much, right about the better camera stats, but quality isn't all that great, look at my post above). Judging by the price, you are better off buying a TJ37 (because you use the WiFi). It's not really worth paying a $50 for an update in a camera you will never use, and processor that won't be much faster and degrading to BlueTooth. Your better off buying the recorder program for the CLIE for $15. Voice Memo can be useful though.

[spygrad2003]

Why does everyone say that the camera will never be used? I use the camera in my TJ37 quite often. Not the best quality, but still use it alot.

[Shion Uzuki]

Voice recorder is useful to me. However, its for university purpose. For me I am better off buying an IC recorder instead because they have much longer recording time

edit: on brighthand's forum, I've heard poeple are getting very wrong color from their Z72. Like heavy purple tint or something. Maybe its because Z72 is new, and may get a new fix soon. However, Z71 did have lots of manufecteurer problems, like clicking noise from the speaker. Build quality isn't as great as Sony's TJ37. (I had Z71, replaced it, and now have a TJ37.

[MrNako]

If the TJ37 at least had microphone....

[chelu]

The ZIRE 72 review on Plaminfocenter has three unedited samples of pictures taken with the ZIRE 72's built-in camera. As one "poster" put it, "The ZIRE 71 has a camera that takes small crappy pictures. Now the ZIRE 72 takes large crappy pictures!" Well, you be the judge. All-in-one devices are generally good in only a few of those "all" items.

Pictures are just a little bit below from the top of the web page: http://palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6775

Furthermore, as far as personal choice is concerned, since PalmOne is very strong in the education sector, they obviously are targeting a younger generation of users for the ZIRE 72. In fact, one of the blurbs in the Flash advert of the ZIRE 72 (on PalmOne's ZIRE 72 site) goes like this, "Get his phone number." "His" -- the only gender-specific word used in the whole ad (I believe). Point? Blue color, "hip" campaign, "blue" as one of the picture effects (aside from black & white and sepia -- I guess you get a bluish tint in your pic?), and BlueTooth (mainly advertised as conneccting with a BT cel phone, although you can create your own access point with an ANYCOM BlueTooth AP (www.anycom.com) - maximum 7 users per access point ... target consumers?

A lot of elementary and high schools have moved up from older m505/m515 systems to Tungsten E's and ZIRE 71's. The new crop of handheld purchases from school districts will most likely include the ZIRE 72. I'm not sure what percentage of PalmOne's U.S. sales comes from the education sector, but they do provide a lot of support and promotions for educational uses (like buy 30 and get 3 free, free shipping, and many more perks).

Anyhow ... bottom line is, as always, personal need/preference/want.

[KY933]

How about the warranty difference? Sony only has "local" warranty... which I regrets now for buying my TJ37... I'd much much rather has Palm's international warranty now.

[Story: I'm abroad (HK) now and my clie has just died. Won't be back home country for a few more months at least, and left dangled now without an international warranty. Contacted "home country's Sony" thru e-mail and they just gave me an long distance 1-877- number after a week, which I guess I'll have to shell out the very long long-D fees, and probably the hefty shipping costs both ways... I'm just disappointed totally with the warranty coverage for the price of the clie -- not even an add-on for an international warranty.]