Answer this question: Instead of a VZ, I could have bought..

[PalmNx]

No, I am not knocking the technology that is the VZ-it is extremely cool! I am just amazed though at the price when I start to compare what else I could buy in the technology realm instead of a VZ.
Basically, lets see, for 1020 dollars I could have bought an archos video player with a few gig hard drive, and record ability like that of a tivo directly to the unit...

What could you have bought instead??



[well in a way, this may make me buy one because I really do want one, just the price tag scares me]

[CliePet]

>... lets see, for 1020 dollars I could have bought an archos video player with a few gig hard drive, and record ability like that of a tivo directly to the unit...

The Archos AV480 (80GB) is only $700 or so. AV420 (20GB) is $550 or so (buy 2 ;-)

However, it is like comparing apples-to-oranges.
If you want a general purpose media device, then I recommend the Archos.
+ great for larger capacity
+ very easy to record movies (directly to DivX - no software tricks)

The VZ90 is superior as a media player for a few significant reasons:
- has a bigger screen (480x320 compare to 320x240)
- has a much brighter/richer/deeper color screen (OLED)
- has a much longer battery life (especially for audio playback, but also for movies)

http://aibohack.com/clie/vz90_v_archos.jpg

The VZ90 has many more "PDA" features of course (no comparison)

----
You can't sanely rationalize that you 'need' any of these devices.
It is a matter of how hard you 'want' it ;->

[RichieRichDolla]

could have bought a Laptop. Thats what Iam going to get. I was thinking about getting the vz but Since sony is totally stopping there support I wont. Thanks sony. I might get the u50 or whatever its called, if I can get over how sony does its costumers. Any Ideas. Smeggie do u have the multimedia player.

[binjinx]

I'd wait for the Archos AV500 comming out in 1Q05 (might be Dec'04) just picture the AV400 series with Linux PDA features built in also!!

[cerberus]

Instead of a $1000 Clie, I could buy this watch......Omega Seamaster (http://www.omega.ch/omega/co_watch?ID=1252&line=116&gen=G&sublineID=360)

Or I could get a HK USP Tactical (http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/handguns/usptactical.html)

Maybe 6 PS2s (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1095432812044&skuId=6885454&productCategoryId=cat02164&type=product) with enough left over for a game or two.

Or 50, $20 CDs or DVDs? 20, $50 PS2 Games?

How about a full-fledged laptop? I'd like to buy one, but can't justify the price when I can get a laptop that will do what the VZ will do and more...... Sorry Sony....not this time!

[lmame]

I guess you could have bought a lot of candy too, a ton of burgers and some biers...

[PalmNX]

Well I bought an HP Ipaq Rz3115 instead, but I am going to sell it on ebay and just go with a dell axim50. The HP looks cool with the media options, and streaming music,video etc.. but axim is just a few 100 more and gf will pay the difference as a present for me.... well not a Sony VZ but at least a camara less handheld with wi-fi and a video processor to boot

[Rebel76]

I would buy a Sony U70 or a laptop... If I was looking for another PDA, a Fujitsu-Siemens Loox 720!

[JAmerican]

I didn't buy one but if I had that kind of money, I would probably enhance my computer, buy a Pocket PC and dump Palm due to its lack of fast processors and a WMV player. Plus , I have a Windows OS on my pc.

JAmerican

[Joel]

I could have bought an iPod photo.

[Cyker]

How about a really crap second hand car? :D