Why I dumped my T615 for Tungsten T

[bherskovitz]

I have been a very happy Clie T615C/S user for almost one year, and I have really enjoyed this site and sharing info with the other enthusiastic Clie users here.

I bought my T615 in February 2002 to replace my 2 year old Palm Vx, whose battery was starting to die (not holding a charge), and I really wanted a color screen. I bought a 128MB memory stick (Lexar) and I was very happy, with a few issues. My issues mainly revolve around my own limitations; I have limited use of my left hand and while I am right-handed, I have very little granular feeling or dexterity in my left hand. This was an issue with the Clie due to my inability to use the jog dial or back buttons, and the center up-down buttons were too small for me to use with my left hand. My condition also prevents me from using thumboards, so the NR/NX/NZ series are not right for me. I also felt the keyboard-equipped Clies and way too big, I like small devices.

I saw the Tungsten had been released, but I was going to wait until the new OS 5, ARM-equipped 'T' form factor Clie came out. I work part-time at Apple Computer's retail store in Troy, Michigan, and we got the Tunugsten in stock. When I went to work the next Saturday, I fell for the Tungsten. It is the smallest Palm ever developed, the screen is way better than the T615C (with the T615's washed-out colors). The D-Pad is perfect for my abilities, and the speed of the whole system is so fast, it makes the older palm look like crap.

I find the Tungsten battery to be about 50% better than the Clie, and one of the best things is; no more proprietary Sony memory sticks (that now are not backward-compatible). The Tungsten used standard SD cards, which are available in many styles, including memory, FM radio, camera and even Wi-Fi (for only $100!). The built-in Bluetooth syncs perfectly to my Powerbook (I don't have a Bluetooth cellphone yet, damn Verizon!). There are also plenty of Palm and third-party accessories, since the Tungsten's connector has been used by Palm for a few years (including GPS for only $50!).

There was no way I could afford this upgrade, so luckily when I bought my Clie T615 (from Best Buy) I bought the now-famous extended warranty. I took the Clie back, said it wasn't holding a charge as well as it did when it was new, and I got my full $399 credit towards the Tungsten. The guy at Best Buy was not a happy camper, he knows people have been taking advantage of the warranty. I hope my original 3-year Best Buy warranty still covers the Tungsten, if anyone out there knows, please let me know.

Thats all for now, I still visit this site because the community is cool, and the postings are informative. I know you all love your Clie's as I did when I had mine, but keep an open mind about Palm hardware. For the last few years only Sony has been pushing the Palm envelope, without their efforts I'm sure the Tungsten would never have been developed, but now Palm is back!

Brian

[Ericknextel]

Your original 3yr warranty will cover the 2 years you have left on it. a couple of years ago, I bought a digital camera for a little more than $800. It was the casio QV-3000ex with the micro drive. The microdrive went out, the camera was fine and I even told them(Best Buy) that I would be very happy with a 256mb CF card (The microdrive was 340mb). They said that they could not do that. They sent the camera out for repair...the whole camera. a few weeks later, they called me and told me to go pick out a new camera. I got the Sony DSC-S85 for free, it was $799 at that time...now it goes for $499....(I wish the microdrive lasted for a year longer than it did..... :)

But anyhow back to your question. I had a 4 yr warranty on the casio, the remaining 2 years transfered to the sony. Just make sure you hold on to all of your paperwork..


-Erick

[Macabre Man]

I love the Tungsten!

[zipman]

To bad you did not take a look at the T665. I have one and I think its great. No sliding door though but its just the right size for any pocket I have.

[jedix]

If I wasn't such a Sony fan, I probably would have bought the TT. It looks pretty cool, but I think my Clie NX70 is cooler. The camera and wireless ethernet come in very handy for me. Glad to see that you found a PDA that works for you. Good luck!

[Macabre Man]

Originally posted by zipman
To bad you did not take a look at the T665. I have one and I think its great. No sliding door though but its just the right size for any pocket I have.

I looked at all of the Sony models. I've had the 760, the NR70v and I bought my girlfriend the 615 (she wouldn?t let me buy the 655 for her).

The reason why I bought the Tungsten after so much Sony products?

The size, its very, very small yet it offers allot of power. Built in Bluetooth, audio recordings, a GREAT screen and wonderful buttons.

It has a SD/MMC slot, which offers more than what the proprietary MS slot has to offer.

Plus, this product will be around for a while. Sony discontinues and releases so many new pdas, it just gets frustrating.

The fact that it has a sliding graffiti was quite innovative and that was also another factor in my purchase. After having the long NR model, I was in the mood for a smaller footprint.

And os5 is awesome!

[hotpaw4]

I have both a TT (m550) and an T615C, and I still use the T615C more. I like the thinness of the Clie, which fit's better in a slim belt case or pocket, and I like the flip cover, which keep the display covered when not in the case, but still provide one handed quick access (with a "flip"). The jog wheel seem slightly more convenient for scrolling through ebooks than the D-pad.

I use the TT mainly to develop and test accelerated armlets (it's actually faster then the NX at running a few types of armlets).

[bg002h]

What ever happened to the palm buttons that could be used with a stylus? I loved the old palms (and even the original sony models) that had buttons that could be pressed with a stylus. Add a back button, jog dial, and diveted buttons to the TT (and mp3 built-in) and you've got an efficient and fun to use pda.

P.S. Does the telescoping of the TT make it hard to put in a case? Brian

[filegrabber]

I now have a Tungsten- very difficult battle between this and the NX:)