clie_wannabe

i dont remember where ive last read that post (here in ClieSource), but someone mentioned that the reason "why Sony releases new models frequently" is maybe that japanese would abandon their present models on a whim, and get the new ones...

in my opinion, i think that sony is basing its timing on the way new models (of computers, cd players, etc.) are released here in japan - every season... yes, there are four seasons in japan, and one could expect at least TWO different cellphone models, TWO different computer models, TWO different clie models, etc. in a year...

for example, during last summer, sony released a vaio notebook, which during the following season (autumn) was RE-"released" as a same-spec computer but with only one difference --> additional software... and because of the difference, NEW model...

maybe that is so with the NX, the NZ, and the new model that im expecting around spring (feb to april)...they may have an idea what a perfect handheld would be... but they're releasing in tidbits just to rake in the profits... i dont think sony is making a mistake in the way it is designing its handhelds (if you look at it from a monetary point of view)...

just my $ worth....

utahjazz85

I don't have a clue why they would do this so often. It's definetly has nothing to do with making money though.

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Jake K

Maybe they have so many ideas for new products that their trying them all with different combinations of features till they find one that works.

Orion

Yeah, or another thing is that the engineers are coming with many great ideas and they want to release them all but cannot afford to so they're releasing one at a time as fast as possible to get all their ideas out.

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cbulock

Right, I imagine that they have no desire to make money. I think the reason they keep up with releases is that they always have a top of the line device. That way, people will buy the device. Then they will make money. I think that we all can agree that Clie's are top of the line, can't we. Thats why we buy them. Money is probably the biggest thing on Sony's mind. What else would they want?

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yOyOYoo

I hear that the reason they upgrade so much is because in Japan, technology gets updated at a much faster pace than in the US. There is no demand for Palm hardware products in Japan, so they only come out with models like 2-3 times per year.

On the other hand, the demand for innovation in the CLIE model line in Japan is very fast. We here in the US are just lucky to have SOny import those models to the US. Well, except for the NZ, we are quite unlucky to be getting that brick.

turcic.com

Why is that so? I disagree.

I own a Sony Digiphotocam, a Sony Digivideocam, a Sony Notebook, and a Sony Handheld. Let's say I have my experiences with Sony equipment. Fact is, Sony gives a s**t about customer support. When there is a problem with a product, what they do is, instead of fixing the problem (like releasing a new firmware or OS), they release a new version of the hardware. Examples:

When I bought my Sony notebook, it came with Windows 2000. 3 months later MS released Windows XP. Until today, there are no official drivers for my notebook available. Comment Sony support: You need to upgrade to notebook model xyz in order to run Windows XP.

I own a Sony DSC 707 Digicam (5.1mio pixels). Worst thing about it is the slow startup speed. Not even 3 months later, Sony released the DSC 717. Changes: new manual focus and manual zoom ring, hot shoe for external flash units, USB 2.0 support, and improved startup and shot-to-shot speed. The last is simply an improvement in the firmware. Does Sony bother to apply that improvement also to the 707 model? Of course not. Go, and buy the new 717 instead.

The idea is that Sony hopes to "pursuade" (you want to run Windows XP? You want to enhance the startup speed of your camera?) its customers to always upgrade to the latest products.

Other companies have different policies. For instance, I own a car navigation system by Harman/Becker. The Becker Traffic Pro has been on the market for about 4 years, and it is still one of the best navigation systems (for those who don't need digital maps). In the meantime, the software has been upgraded 6 times. And the software doesn't come cheap (100-200$); yet, it is still cheaper than buying a totally new navigation system. The trick: Equip the hardware with enough technology so that it will also be upgradeable for a forseeable future (DSP, Ram, CPU, etc).

Oh and if you ask me why I still own Sony technology - my company has a contract with Sony so everything we buy comes from Sony. And I love my Clie....

ballistic

Maybe everyone should read this article, listen to the message that the Sony executives are conveying, and calm down (this article helped allay my concerns).

"Miniaturize, that's Sony's DNA." Sony is constantly pushing the technological envelope of the Clies, moving forward at a very fast pace. They want to build 'impossible dream gadgets', NOT bulkier handhelds. They want to 'change the way people think about handheld computers.'

That's why there's a steady flow of models. Period.

nlode

So why is the NZ bigger? Everyone wants gadgets to converge, but we still expect them to have a reasonable size. My ideal PDA would OS5, Virtual Graffiti, Dual MS slots, and the size of the SJ30.

But I agree that Sony keeps releasing new models so they can try in the market new stuff; and their customer service sucks (remember the N710 upgrade mess).

ballistic

They discuss the NZ's size in the article. The devices will get smaller as technology allows. With the NZ, Sony is showing its vision of 'impossible dream gadgets' with current technology, and they're also saying that over time, devices with the NZ's capabilites WILL get smaller.

I agree that a lot of people would also like to see an OS5 T-series style device with VG. I'm sure something like that is in the pipeline, and it's just a matter of time to work out all of the technological hurdles of building such a device. I think the battery life issue is a major factor, an we'll see removeable lithium-ion batteries in more models.

SamuraiCatJB

If you check your market strategies, major electronic advances are made on about 12 month basis, with improvements in the 6 month arena... Nvidia was attempting to do this with their line of cards. ATI has managed to keep the same. Intel advances similar as does Motorola and other chip manufacturers. Sony and other manufacturers try to take advantage of this, if they can. Other manufacturers take the milder 12 month release schedule hoping on long term sales over constant change. Sony is consider a top-end device maker, so they really need to keep up technology.... Thus the 6 month release schedule.

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bucalo9

Sony, I think, wants to dominate a category owned by Palm and the PPCs. To gain market share they have to provide the same for less $, or provide more for the same $. To really trounce the competition, they do both and in addition add higher end models, to really stay way ahead on innovation. Sony's effectively redefining the category and gaining market share. They'll do this too at lower margins, to make the Sony name synonymous with palm-top computing. Has Sony surpassed the competition yet? I think Sony will slow down when they have that commanding lead.

ballistic

Or, if you're really pushing the envelope and truly innovating like Sony, 3-6 months. I can understand how a lot people are put off by this, but it's price the we have to pay if we want our Clies to be the best PDAs. If you don't like it, don't by a Sony.

Look at all of the features that appeared first on the Clies for a Palm device. Hi-Res color screens, VG, 66MHz Dragonball processor, 200 MHz ARM processor, MP3 support, MP4 video support, integrated camera for still & video, etc. If it weren't for Sony, we'd be stuck with the lack of true innovation that is painfully apparent at Palm. I'm not knocking the TT, but compared to the NX, it is only mediocre IMHO.

I questioned Sony's motivation and vision in releasing the NZ at first. Now that I've heard their message about their vision for PDAs from watching the cNet video and reading the Mercury New's article, I've had an epiphany.

It's all good.

Importluva

I agree with what many of you have said. Sony wants to make money, and they do so by being the best. They release so many handhelds to keep up with their new technology, as well as the new technology that was released in the public from other companies. They want to be the best, and when people think of TVs, they think SONY is a great name, you don't really hear compact disc player, you hear discman, you don't hear portable cassette player, you hear walkman. Sony did this by keepin ahead of others in their tech and they are bringin this over to PDAs. Sooner or later, they prolly hope that when someone thinks of a handheld, SONY is the first name that they will think about.