Got the SJ33 in today. First impression?

[GeekGod]

First impression... nice! :D

I like the size, and love the new power switch design (no more attempted returns for the Hold-Switch). Sony should have done that in the first place. Brilliant!

I like the hard cover, but am worried about it not being removeable (or is it? Didn't seem to be, but I was too busy to RTFM today - someone correct me if I'm wrong about this).

Speed seemed a bit on the slow side, so I thought it was a 33MHz. But when I benched it, it was actually 66. Odd, because Bejewelled is noticeably slower for some reason.

As you probably already know, Bejewelled and Kinoma Player are Built-In apps now. Unfortunately Kinoma v1.1 is the built-in, and that version is still a bit buggy. But it still beats gMovie for sure.

Still no remote for the headphone... too bad. :(

It does have a cheap plastic feel compared to the T665. But I guess that's the result of making it out of cheap plastic to lower the price. :rolleyes:

Bottom line? Cheap replacement for the T665, and it feels like it (cheap). Still a very nice unit, though. Given the choice I think I'd opt for the T665. But if you don't have that option, this is a pretty kick-butt PDA.

Small, light and powerful. What more could you ask? (Well, okay, a sturdier feeling case, and a removeable cover, but that's just me...)

Aloha, GG

[sdkat2]

GG - it appears that Sony is selling different colored cover replacements for 14.95 on their US website so I would assume the cover is removeable. I think it looks like a cool little machine but I would miss the enhance IR so I'm going to stick with my NR for awhile longer.

[VicAjax]

Originally posted by GeekGod
First impression... nice! :D

I like the size, and love the new power switch design (no more attempted returns for the Hold-Switch). Sony should have done that in the first place. Brilliant!


i just got my SJ33 as well, and i'm thrilled with it so far.  agreed re: power switch.


I like the hard cover, but am worried about it not being removeable (or is it? Didn't seem to be, but I was too busy to RTFM today - someone correct me if I'm wrong about this).

the cover is removable; instructions are in the manual (yes, i'm a loser, i skimmed it).



Speed seemed a bit on the slow side, so I thought it was a 33MHz. But when I benched it, it was actually 66. Odd, because Bejewelled is noticeably slower for some reason.

speed is identical to T665, as measured by benchmark tests in all the reviews i've read.  and from my twiddling, i find it much much faster than my SJ30 was.



Still no remote for the headphone... too bad. :(


at least there's a volume thingy, but you have to have microscopic fingers to use it.


It does have a cheap plastic feel compared to the T665. But I guess that's the result of making it out of cheap plastic to lower the price. :rolleyes:


i totally disagree.  i was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy/solid it feels, and how nice it looks.  i think this is all a matter of what you're looking for.  i find it much more stylish than the T665, which looked too much like a miniature computer to me.  the SJ33 has a po-mo, 70s sci-fi feel to it... it's simpatico with the graphic design style of rave flyers. 


Bottom line? Cheap replacement for the T665, and it feels like it (cheap). Still a very nice unit, though. Given the choice I think I'd opt for the T665. But if you don't have that option, this is a pretty kick-butt PDA.

again, i disagree.  i'd feel more comfortable dropping this on the floor than dropping the T665 (dents, scratches, too thin to really offer any protection).  you also neglect to mention that the battery life for the SJ33 leaves the T665 completely in the dust.  in fact, the pathetic battery is what drove me away from the T665.  that, and the T665 was originally $399.


i'm thrilled with the SJ33 so far, great features, great style, great quality.  i'll be sure to post if my opinion changes.

-V@

[Aces]

Well, I've had my SJ33 for 24 hours now. (less if you take out the 4 hour charge time) I really like the unit.  but it has been somewhat difficult transfering my data from my Visor Pro.  Some of the problems are unique to my situation, since I had a hard drive problem a few months ago, and lost a few files that you never quite miss... until you try to uninstall the app. it's for. :(  In my case, I had to (after backing up all my files) re-install my old syncronization software, reboot, then uninstall it to get my PC "clean" before installing Sony's syncronization software.

Then it took me multiple tries to copy my addressbook, memos, datebook, etc.  What I had faied to grasp was that since my last hotsync was before I unstalled the Sony software, During hotsyncing, it would overwrite my desktop with the handhelds files.  The fix there was of course to do a custom hotsync, setting "Desktop overwrites Handheld" option.

Then I had to get some .pdb files that had my data into the appropriate application.  I would copy files into the correct backup directory and... yup, you guessed it, I didn't have newer dates than the blank ones on my handheld so it kept overwiting the desktop files.  It's a good thing I'd only copyed the files (Windows 98 likes to move them).  The solution here was slightly different.  Once I copied the files into the backup dirrectory, I'd double-click the files, causing them to be setup to install into the handheld.

The only other scare I got was when I set a whole bunch of apps to install and didn't realize how big some of the Sony apps were.  After my hotsync I only had 2 Mb of my 15Mb left. (yeah I need to simplify my life with less programs... ;) ) The BIG file is one of the two video clip samples that you get with Kinoma "ks02".  It's 3.8Mb!

I really like the Documents to go for excel spreadsheets.  The only complaint I have with that at all is that if I install a spreadsheet that uses an unsupported function. this app locks the file so you can't edit it.  That makes sense, so it preserves the spreadsheet.  But is there some way to find out what functions in what cells it doesn't like? I may be forced to RTFM yet.

Oh and battery life:  I charged it up and took it off the charger about 20 hours ago.  Since then it's been on a bout 1-2 hours, mostly with backlight on (1/4 intensity) and It's been actively hotsynced about 15-20 times. I'm at 87% battery life. I haven't used a MS in it yet, and of course that means I havent had a chance to try MP3's on it either.  I've got a Lexar MS coming mail order.  Does anyone know how I can tell (by brand), if the MS will support "Magic Gate", allowing me to use ATRAC3 format?

I also dicovered one thing to NOT do with the SJ33.  Don't brag about the battery life to your wife (who owns a T615).  I called her during lunch and learned she's charging hers up (again). My bad... :eek:

[___]

I bet GeekGod doesn't even have an SJ33 and is just trying to justify his money-spent on a T665.

[Jeffry]

Thanks for the previews. I'm getting mine on the weekend (it takes so long to get here in Canada).

[Unregistered]

where did you get it in canada?

[GeekGod]

Originally posted by ___
I bet GeekGod doesn't even have an SJ33 and is just trying to justify his money-spent on a T665. Actually, I have an NR70v. But I sell these things and get to play with them more than most of you, so I try to share information when I can.

And as I said, this was my first impression.

Over-all I really like the SJ33. I said it "felt" cheap because of the plastic case. I didn't mean to imply it was cheaply constructed. If it came off that way, I apologize.

There is nothing wrong with the construction. As far as plastic can, it feels very solid. To me, personally, metal just feels better. This is a Clie after all, and the quality is great.

Nice to know that the cover is changeable. I didn't think Sony would screw up that bad (but after the whole NX CF slot thing, I sometimes wonder...).

And I did forget about the battery life issue in my quick post last night. Good point VicAjax, thanks.

I also found it benched identically to the T665 and NR70. But I swear Bejeweled runs very noticeably slower than my NR. I guess it's just the version of Bejeweled that's on the SJ33. Anyway, I got to play with it more today, and in everything else it is very fast.

I said at the end of my first post that I thought it was a kick-butt PDA, and after playing with it more I still feel that way (maybe even more so).

This one is deffinitely a winner! Way to go Sony.

Aloha, GG

[cxpalam0]

Dose the SJ33 have the remote commander software that the T665 has - i am tossing up which one to get - there are not many T665 left in Aust, that i can find and most of them are the orange ones....

I was looking at them both today and still can't decide which one.

(the only thing that is making me lean towards the T665 it that it comes with a cradle and at the moment has a free case and 16MB MS for A$849 where the SJ33 is $699 with out the cradle at A$130 and no MS or case....

the SJ33 while thicker does not seam that much bigger overall and the flip cover is nice...

decisions decisions

any help would be great.

[Windboi]

Can you guys review the actual battery life... i felt mine is quite short

[VicAjax]

Originally posted by Windboi
Can you guys review the actual battery life... i felt mine is quite short

what are you comparing it to?  it all depends on what kind of device you're coming from.  i haven't done any tests (and don't plan to), but this morning on the way to work, i read avantgo for 25 minutes and played 2 games of kickoo's breakout.  sound is on low, brightness is about 50%.

right now the battery meter reads 4.16/100%.

so far, so good.

[bg002h]

I think the sj33 might be a bit sturdier than the 665. I dropped my 665 from only a foot or two and busted the screen. I thought that maybe something lighter that would give a bit more might better protect it...Brian

[qq999]

There is design fault with SJ33 according to the technical supports of Sony HK. The IR Hotsync does not work.

Only when you connect it with power supply, you can use IR hotsync, there is not solution yet. Awaiting the factory to resolve. Sony may get back all the SJ33 from the market.

I bought it already, I got the same problem with mine SJ33. How about you?

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Unregistered
where did you get it in canada?

I picked one up yesterday(Feb.27) in Canada at my local Sony store in Saint John, New Brunswick. Futureshop & Staples didn't have it yet.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by VicAjax


what are you comparing it to?  it all depends on what kind of device you're coming from.  i haven't done any tests (and don't plan to), but this morning on the way to work, i read avantgo for 25 minutes and played 2 games of kickoo's breakout.  sound is on low, brightness is about 50%.

right now the battery meter reads 4.16/100%.

so far, so good.

Also if you use the Memory stick a lot that will have a big impact on how quickly the battery goes. I've used mine for 4 hrs 3 minutes according to Batteylog (it doesn't seem that long but maybe) while frequently accessing the memory stick for Kinoma, Picture Gear & Audio player & I'm currently at 74%.

[Jeffry]

Originally posted by Unregistered


I picked one up yesterday(Feb.27) in Canada at my local Sony store in Saint John, New Brunswick. Futureshop & Staples didn't have it yet.

Yea I picked one up too at the Sony Store in Cambridge Centre -- Cambridge, Ontario. The Sony sales rep said that the other stores will ship the SJ33 a week later...

The SJ33 is a grease magnet. It's a great looking device regardless :cool:

[hkfriends]

Hi all,

I also own my SJ33...(jap version) They just flash it from ENG Rom but only give me a CDR which is only for SJ30...

Therefore, when I see the CLIE Demo in SJ33, it said that it comes with a "World Clock" Program. Could you guys send me the said program?

BTW, I found a strange thing here, once you power off your SJ, any Memory Stick is remove and then insert back to the slot will cause your SJ cannot detect the MS???? that mean only the SJ is on before you insert your MS.


Thanks.

[hkfriends]

I forget my e-mail....

hkfriends@mail.hongkong.com

(Please send me the World Clock program for SJ33) ;)

[biglance]

i'm having problems with IR hotsyncing with my SJ-33. i can't send or receive beams at all. i saw that it may work if you connect to a power source, i haven't tried this yet. any news on what sony will do about this??

[Radix]

hkfriends: I haven't had problems inserting/removing the memorystick with the SJ33 off...in fact, it seems that the SJ will turn on after I insert a memory stick, beep a couple times, then turn off again. No problems.

biglance/everyone: RE: IR: I haven't been able to HotSync. No big deal -- I prefer cable anyway. But I'm disappointed to hear that beaming apps may not work. That's a real show-stopper. For what it's worth though, with a little work, I got my SJ33 to connect to MochaPPP and establish fully-functional internet connections via IR...So I'm hopeful that the IR issue can be remedied with via a flash update/some other sort of software upgrade... :)

Cheers!

[davidtm]

I have a new SJ33 and was able to beam some stuff from my old Palm with no problems. I have also HotSync'ed via IR, though that's seemed a little hit or miss. (USB is SO fast!!)

Be sure that both Serial (with the correct COM port in Setup) and USB are checked on the HotSync Mgr menu in order to IR HotSync.

[Unregistered]

Just dropped by to let fellow SJ33 users know that I'm keeping a detailed SJ33 journal of my first impressions at:

http://www.ee.ryerson.ca/~elf/sj33/

[Aces]

If you register, you might get replies from those of us who've already experienced some of your problems.  For example, If you duplicate the categories in each of the main PDA functions (datebook, todo, memo, address) then hotsync with the PC overwriting the PDA, you'll retain the categories.  I did the same way as you at first.  Then on a hunch, tried this technique and it worked.:cool:

[elf]

Originally posted by Aces
If you register, you might get replies from those of us who've already experienced some of your problems.  For example, If you duplicate the categories in each of the main PDA functions (datebook, todo, memo, address) then hotsync with the PC overwriting the PDA, you'll retain the categories.  I did the same way as you at first.  Then on a hunch, tried this technique and it worked.:cool:

I took your suggestion to heart and registered.

Thanks for that hint. I will try it for my Memos since I lost the categories there too...

[Aces]

Elf,

Welcome to the comunity.  It wasn't that long ago that I made the decision to join here. BTW, your journal was interesting to read. :)

[elf]

Originally posted by Aces
Elf,

Welcome to the comunity.  It wasn't that long ago that I made the decision to join here. BTW, your journal was interesting to read. :)

Thank you for your kind words. Hopefully, my journal will benefit all those who decide to purchase the only obviously superior model :D of the Clie.

[dmx]

Hi Elf,
I have a question regarding your failure in playing back vbr mp3. Is this mp3 sampled at 44.1kHz. I heard that other clies have problem with mp3s sampled at non 44.1kHz but runs VBR mp3 just fine if its at 44.1kHz.

Thanks,