Red Boats
03-23-2003, 03:42 AM
I was having trouble with my T665 so I returned it and picked up a TG50. Now it must be reported that I'd read a review that seemed reasonably favorable, but I had not actually tried one in the store. Also, I have not read the stinkin' manual.
That said, here are a couple of comments after a couple hours messing with the TG50.
1) the screen seems smaller than the T665
2) the Graffiti implementation sucks--it seems you have to stop and press one of the buttons EVERY TIME you want to invoke Grafiti! Like, if you're filling out a form, you press the button, fill in the first number of your height, say, 6 (feet); then you press DONE, Graffiti vanishes, you move the entry point to the inches blank, press teh silver button (hard), Graffiti pops up, you enter 2 and then press the DONE button again. Etc. The absolute worst implementation I can imaging, so much so that I wonder if there isn't some other way--these designers AREN'T THIS DUMB!
3) But I'm afraid they are, afraid this is something they call a "tradeoff" for the smaller screen and the buffoon keyboard.
4) I'd best get control of myself.
5) But seriously, folks. THis isn't a great keyboard. Those aftermarket $39 keyboards are better, seems to me. THese require hard pushes, and pretty careful pushes. THey work, but not readily.
6) THe power switch--it's on the side, along with three or four other switches. Is it just me or is this thing slippery to start with? ANd now I have to manubver around with my thumb, crawling it up and down to operate the on/off/hold switch, the BACK switch, the Sony JOG DIAL, and the RECORD button? Give me a break.
7) OK, then there's this: I'm used to tapping the HOME button ont he graffiti silkscreen on the T665 to get out of one program and back to the launcher. Sorry, no can do. THere is no way out, without pressing the HARD BUTTON on the outer flank of the FIVE STANDARD BUTTONS. Of course, it's got a dimple, but I don't think yhey want you pressing this with the STYLUS. Could be wrong, but I expect that wouldn't be good for the stylus tip. ANd besides, it requires considerable pressure, so you have to be holding the TG50 firmly before you can press it at all (if, for example, the 50 is sitting in its cradle on your desk and you try to push teh HOME button with the stylus, you'll just push the TG50 & CRADLE around, or knock them over).
8) I thought the screen was suppose to be as good in qualioty as the NX70? I would say not, though I could be wrong.
9) 11 MB.
10) The weight is fine, though the flap cover is a bit awkward. As someone said of the 33, surely the flip up cover is going to get bent or busted off?
11) Why doesn't the stylus go in the top? I mean. this is a stupid thing on the NX60/70, too, but really. Is this some "I Just Got My Design Degree Yesterday" guy that Sony hired?
OK--all that said, I STILL kind of like it. I figure to get one of those all over screen Graffiti thens like NewPen or GrafAnywhere, and I think that'll end the need for the Graffiti popup. Or maybe I'll discover (please help me!) an easier way to get the pop up virtual Graffiti area to pop up? Maybe I'll get used to the awkward and hard to use power button (how I long for the simple and functional button on the T665!).
I like the weight and it seems plenty fast. I like the voice recorder but it seems not as good as the one on the NX70 I tried out.
I guess maybe I'm just tired? Maybe that's it. Not interested in cutting the TG50 that much slack. I guess in worst case I've got a few weeks to trial run it, and I can always go back and get an NX70 or similar, or even a 665!
Just my initial $0.02
Cheers--
Rocket
That said, here are a couple of comments after a couple hours messing with the TG50.
1) the screen seems smaller than the T665
2) the Graffiti implementation sucks--it seems you have to stop and press one of the buttons EVERY TIME you want to invoke Grafiti! Like, if you're filling out a form, you press the button, fill in the first number of your height, say, 6 (feet); then you press DONE, Graffiti vanishes, you move the entry point to the inches blank, press teh silver button (hard), Graffiti pops up, you enter 2 and then press the DONE button again. Etc. The absolute worst implementation I can imaging, so much so that I wonder if there isn't some other way--these designers AREN'T THIS DUMB!
3) But I'm afraid they are, afraid this is something they call a "tradeoff" for the smaller screen and the buffoon keyboard.
4) I'd best get control of myself.
5) But seriously, folks. THis isn't a great keyboard. Those aftermarket $39 keyboards are better, seems to me. THese require hard pushes, and pretty careful pushes. THey work, but not readily.
6) THe power switch--it's on the side, along with three or four other switches. Is it just me or is this thing slippery to start with? ANd now I have to manubver around with my thumb, crawling it up and down to operate the on/off/hold switch, the BACK switch, the Sony JOG DIAL, and the RECORD button? Give me a break.
7) OK, then there's this: I'm used to tapping the HOME button ont he graffiti silkscreen on the T665 to get out of one program and back to the launcher. Sorry, no can do. THere is no way out, without pressing the HARD BUTTON on the outer flank of the FIVE STANDARD BUTTONS. Of course, it's got a dimple, but I don't think yhey want you pressing this with the STYLUS. Could be wrong, but I expect that wouldn't be good for the stylus tip. ANd besides, it requires considerable pressure, so you have to be holding the TG50 firmly before you can press it at all (if, for example, the 50 is sitting in its cradle on your desk and you try to push teh HOME button with the stylus, you'll just push the TG50 & CRADLE around, or knock them over).
8) I thought the screen was suppose to be as good in qualioty as the NX70? I would say not, though I could be wrong.
9) 11 MB.
10) The weight is fine, though the flap cover is a bit awkward. As someone said of the 33, surely the flip up cover is going to get bent or busted off?
11) Why doesn't the stylus go in the top? I mean. this is a stupid thing on the NX60/70, too, but really. Is this some "I Just Got My Design Degree Yesterday" guy that Sony hired?
OK--all that said, I STILL kind of like it. I figure to get one of those all over screen Graffiti thens like NewPen or GrafAnywhere, and I think that'll end the need for the Graffiti popup. Or maybe I'll discover (please help me!) an easier way to get the pop up virtual Graffiti area to pop up? Maybe I'll get used to the awkward and hard to use power button (how I long for the simple and functional button on the T665!).
I like the weight and it seems plenty fast. I like the voice recorder but it seems not as good as the one on the NX70 I tried out.
I guess maybe I'm just tired? Maybe that's it. Not interested in cutting the TG50 that much slack. I guess in worst case I've got a few weeks to trial run it, and I can always go back and get an NX70 or similar, or even a 665!
Just my initial $0.02
Cheers--
Rocket