divination23
01-19-2003, 01:42 AM
Ok, so I've been doing some thinking
about the NZ and the NX and Sony's direction.
If you look at Sony, they make lots
of great products (don't worry this isn't a
sony ego stroking article).
I would speculate that their most
technologically progressive markets
are (in no particular order)
1. Playstation
2. Clie
3. Ultra high end HD-cameras.
I know they do a lot of killer sound
equipment, but I know very little about
it so I didn't list it.
You could probably argue that all of
their markets are bleeding edge, but
I would say all three of those follow the
trend that each new product in that
market offers new innovations
or significant improvements from
the previous model.
I'm going to stick with the Clie because
that is what this web site is all about,
but the other two markets are
very interesting and should show really
cool stuff in the coming months/ years.
The NZ has had lots of flack for
being huge and ugly, but I see it as
something different. The NZ is proof
that Sony listens to its customers.
People said they wanted more battery
life, they made the battery swap-able.
People said higher quality cam, they
gave 2 megapixels.
Before the N series came out, people
said "voice recorder!" and "camera!"
so it happened. The trend seems to
follow, if the buzz is asking for it, it
is very likely Sony will deliver. Even
though the Pro MemSticks are
incompatible with pre-os 5 clies, they
are something that has been requested
for awhile.
The wireless functionality is another
example, people wanted the bluetooth
integrated, and it happened (took long
enough).
So while the clie user must be a
little patient for the next model,
it is a good bet that it will have what
you've been asking for. On that note,
I want to ramble on as to what I think
the next Clie will and wont have.
Before I start, I'm talking form factor
similar to the N series. I doubt it
will look exactly like the N series, simply
because the NZ is Z model, no
more English letters after Z. I'm
sure they will make another T series
form factor, but I'm not interested in
that, it will most likely be a scaled
back version of the N-series. All the
current goodies in the NZ will most
likely be in the N-series replacement.
I think if it is not already in the NZ, those
new ultra thin screens that sony
announced will be in the next model.
Second, I think they will bump up
the ram to something like 64 megs,
mainly because of competition.
Third, I think the clock speed will be
bumped up, they want the PocketPC
market.
Forth, I think that a TV tuner will
be released as a MS stick or internal
feature, people would love this.
Fifth, even though a few people on here
say sony is dragging its feet about
the NTSC/PAL resolution video, I
think it has been limited by the
processor and the memstick size.
Now that the memstick is bigger
i think the next clie with a camera in it
will have full res recording capabilities.
If they don't upgrade the CPU, or add
a dedicated mpeg encoder, then
they will limit it to qtr res, 320x320.
I'm sure that they will keep the
wi-fi CF slot since it allows for all kinds
of communication abilities, ESP in Japan
for broadband pay services. I'm also
sure they will keep the bluetooth, Sony
almost never goes backwards on
features, within the same $$ market.
Finally, it will be smaller and lighter
then the NZ. The NZ seems to be
the transitional model, like how the t-615
was the transitional from the
n760 to the final t665. It also does not
look like it (NZ) will be sold in japan, which
makes it a little obvious that it will have
a limited life span .
Now that I've said all that, here is what
I don't think will be in the next model.
I think a celphone-clie is inevitable, I
would buy one, but I think it will
be in the form of a third separate
model series, for a period of time.
Eventually it would be one of the many
features on this Swiss army knife, but
not until there is more standards
between the networks. It will
probably come in the form of a CF
card in the beginning.
I don't think that GPS will be a built
in feature, its really cool, and I like that
the iQue has it, but it just does not
seem sony's style to incorporate it
within the form factor.
I don't think it will be palm OS 6.
I don't think it will support CF
memory out of the box (read: still
need a driver developed people!)
That is about all I have to say. This is
all just my speculation and opinions
so take it for what it is.
All that being said, think about what
the Clie after next might be like!
-Div
about the NZ and the NX and Sony's direction.
If you look at Sony, they make lots
of great products (don't worry this isn't a
sony ego stroking article).
I would speculate that their most
technologically progressive markets
are (in no particular order)
1. Playstation
2. Clie
3. Ultra high end HD-cameras.
I know they do a lot of killer sound
equipment, but I know very little about
it so I didn't list it.
You could probably argue that all of
their markets are bleeding edge, but
I would say all three of those follow the
trend that each new product in that
market offers new innovations
or significant improvements from
the previous model.
I'm going to stick with the Clie because
that is what this web site is all about,
but the other two markets are
very interesting and should show really
cool stuff in the coming months/ years.
The NZ has had lots of flack for
being huge and ugly, but I see it as
something different. The NZ is proof
that Sony listens to its customers.
People said they wanted more battery
life, they made the battery swap-able.
People said higher quality cam, they
gave 2 megapixels.
Before the N series came out, people
said "voice recorder!" and "camera!"
so it happened. The trend seems to
follow, if the buzz is asking for it, it
is very likely Sony will deliver. Even
though the Pro MemSticks are
incompatible with pre-os 5 clies, they
are something that has been requested
for awhile.
The wireless functionality is another
example, people wanted the bluetooth
integrated, and it happened (took long
enough).
So while the clie user must be a
little patient for the next model,
it is a good bet that it will have what
you've been asking for. On that note,
I want to ramble on as to what I think
the next Clie will and wont have.
Before I start, I'm talking form factor
similar to the N series. I doubt it
will look exactly like the N series, simply
because the NZ is Z model, no
more English letters after Z. I'm
sure they will make another T series
form factor, but I'm not interested in
that, it will most likely be a scaled
back version of the N-series. All the
current goodies in the NZ will most
likely be in the N-series replacement.
I think if it is not already in the NZ, those
new ultra thin screens that sony
announced will be in the next model.
Second, I think they will bump up
the ram to something like 64 megs,
mainly because of competition.
Third, I think the clock speed will be
bumped up, they want the PocketPC
market.
Forth, I think that a TV tuner will
be released as a MS stick or internal
feature, people would love this.
Fifth, even though a few people on here
say sony is dragging its feet about
the NTSC/PAL resolution video, I
think it has been limited by the
processor and the memstick size.
Now that the memstick is bigger
i think the next clie with a camera in it
will have full res recording capabilities.
If they don't upgrade the CPU, or add
a dedicated mpeg encoder, then
they will limit it to qtr res, 320x320.
I'm sure that they will keep the
wi-fi CF slot since it allows for all kinds
of communication abilities, ESP in Japan
for broadband pay services. I'm also
sure they will keep the bluetooth, Sony
almost never goes backwards on
features, within the same $$ market.
Finally, it will be smaller and lighter
then the NZ. The NZ seems to be
the transitional model, like how the t-615
was the transitional from the
n760 to the final t665. It also does not
look like it (NZ) will be sold in japan, which
makes it a little obvious that it will have
a limited life span .
Now that I've said all that, here is what
I don't think will be in the next model.
I think a celphone-clie is inevitable, I
would buy one, but I think it will
be in the form of a third separate
model series, for a period of time.
Eventually it would be one of the many
features on this Swiss army knife, but
not until there is more standards
between the networks. It will
probably come in the form of a CF
card in the beginning.
I don't think that GPS will be a built
in feature, its really cool, and I like that
the iQue has it, but it just does not
seem sony's style to incorporate it
within the form factor.
I don't think it will be palm OS 6.
I don't think it will support CF
memory out of the box (read: still
need a driver developed people!)
That is about all I have to say. This is
all just my speculation and opinions
so take it for what it is.
All that being said, think about what
the Clie after next might be like!
-Div