hope

I can't believe someone said they are surprised they fit all that into the LD. The PPC side has been doing for some time with much better success in size and weight. As far as switching, even if it was as thin with better battery life, I've invested in memory sticks and sony devices. I'm assuming most people have here too. It would just be kind of hard to switch to SD after using memory sticks for the past few years. Yeah I know memory sticks are proprietary but I've used them and been happy with them and the prices are reasonable enough now a days. For everyone who feels the size and weight are acceptable, remember the good old NZ. For those who had it, it had a little place in the heart. For the rest of consumers it just was not a good seller, especially at the price they wanted. The NZ orginally sold for 800. I've seen them for 200 at their lowest. The LD is selling for 500. I've alreay seen 450 and I'm betting these things are going to hit 300 very soon. The general market will not spend that type of money unless they feel they are getting all their moneys worth and more. The LD is a good device, not great. For 500, there is a lot of other devices that could be bought and value comes into play. I have some more pictures if anybody wants to see more. To those who have an LD, enjoy. To those who have a TH, rejoice, ours is still better. To those looking to upgrade to the LD and can not get a TH, sorry and enjoy the LD. It is the best thing for now but it's just kind of pathetic Palm can not do things a little better than what they'v been doing for the past ....., well, their entire existence really.

__________________
Official Clie Collector of all the greatest Clie's
VZ90* TH55/E* UX50* TJ37* NX80* NX73/E* -NR70- -TG50- -NZ90- -T615- -N760- S300*

* I have
-- I need

If you have ones needed for sale or would like to donate to the Clie museum, please PM me. Thanks everyone

Dreading the day I no longer use a CLIE
Keep God first. Keep your wife happy. Keep your priorities striaght. Keep your Palm on you.

daver

BSR, the TH55 has nearly 1/4 the processing power of the LifeDrivem, and the NZ90 had almost twice that of the TH55. That's why you thought video performance wasn't all that great.

as for the rest of this thread:
i still loving my TH55 more and more. For a handheld, I don't need 4 GB of space, but 400 MHz wouldn't be all that bad.
I was totally surprised that palmOne couldn't make the LifeDrive any smaller (I was expecting something around the T|3 size).

hope is right, for $700 CAD, i can get a laptop (no kidding, i even looked it up: Dell 733 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB HD). The LifeDrive is definitely something worth playing with, but IMHO, it's not worth the $$$. If i wanted 4 GB, I'd get a jump drive or something like that.

__________________
You know you messed up somewhere when you vote yourself off the island.

I AM CANADIAN!
Canuck PDA (http://canuck-pda.ca)

Back of left hand - Left arm - Paper & pen - broken Palm IIIxe - SJ20 - TJ37 - iPaq 1940 (broken digitizer) - TH55 - Treo 700p

BSR

Daver: Thanks for clearing that up -- the performance I experienced makes more sense now.

I think Palmone could have gotten the size down closer to the T3 or T5 if they had used NVRAM instead of the 4GB microdrive, but that would have driven the price up sharply -- probably close to $1000 and PDAs just don't sell at that price point.

With a little hard-drive in there, it's about the size I expected, but much lighter than I had thought. My Sonys are heavier-feeling, but smaller -- more densely packed, I guess.

BSR

trickypuss

In my experience my TH-55 rig isn't much smaller than my LifeDrive. Because with the TH-55 I was using a proporta case and having to carry three memorysticks with me (one 512 in the slot, and two 256's in the case). Since I don't really need any external memory for the LD, I can carry the contents of my wallet instead and still remain the same size as the TH55 setup. I was really surprised to find that the footprint of the two devices is nearly identical. The LD is thicker, but the lack of external memory to carry with seems to balance it out.

I've inserted links to pics so everyone can see what I'm talking about. Not everyone will use a case, but I always do with my handlhelds so for me it was a pleasant surprise to find they're very comparable in size.

Side view comparison

Three Quarter view comparison

Birdseye - man I need to clean that flip cover!

hope

I have the Sena case which is probably the thinnest one out there and therefore compliments the thinness of the TH. With the Sena case and using it with 4 cards a spare stylus and some cash it still is thinner or the same as the LD without. After playing with it the second time, I really do see that it is the best PDA out right now that can be easily attained, if not still so expensive. Although, it's still a shame that The TH, now a year or so old was so advanced. Technology is supposed to get smaller, faster, better. The LD is not smaller, marginally faster if at all, and not really better but comparable. For a device that had a year to better the TH, in perspective, it sucks. Not looking at the TH and the past and so forth and just looking at the device with what is presently available, it does well. it doesn't do great and isn't an awesome device, yet it still does well. Come to think of it, with the great design and technological advancements the new treo line brought, I don't think it's out of the question to expect the same type of ingenuity and advance engineering from its other product lines.

__________________
Official Clie Collector of all the greatest Clie's
VZ90* TH55/E* UX50* TJ37* NX80* NX73/E* -NR70- -TG50- -NZ90- -T615- -N760- S300*

* I have
-- I need

If you have ones needed for sale or would like to donate to the Clie museum, please PM me. Thanks everyone

Dreading the day I no longer use a CLIE
Keep God first. Keep your wife happy. Keep your priorities striaght. Keep your Palm on you.

trickypuss

Hope, you are relentless in your dogged love of the clies. It's admirable. I was really disappointed when Sony dropped the clie line. But they did. And there will be no more sony clies coming out. I've owned the SJ22, two NX60's, an NX80V, a TJ37, and the TH55. I still have one NX60 and my TH55. I loved their interfaces and many of their features. But the memorystick issues are a problem as far as cash and size are concerned. Even if there were no lifedrive I'd be interested in switching to save dough and have more space.

Comparison shopping a few seconds ago revealed the following numbers:

2GB SD card: available through pricewatch for $135
1GD SD card: available through pricewatch for $65 (I bought one at CompUSA a week ago for my HP camera for $64 after rebates - so not just cheap on the web)

2GB Memorystick pro: through pricewatch: $323.81
1GB Memorystick pro duo: through pricewatch: $139 - local prices are often higher

There's no advantage to using memorystick over sd, unless you HAVE to own a sony product. So it's just a matter of how much you're willing to sink into your dedication to a product line that isn't advancing anymore. I personally don't see the memorysticks as being competitive or reasonably priced. Maybe prices will drop if PSP demand for memory sticks goes way up. But more than double is ridiculous.

Then consider that there's a comparable device out that needs NO external memory. I think my TH55 is a wonderful piece of industrial design. But I'm tired of only being able to carry X ammount of music on it before I have to go and swap files to the memorystick for a change of pace. On my LD I currently have over 40 albums in wma format, 5 episodes of Full Metal Alchemist at 480x320 25fps, 40 ebooks, all my e-mail, and still a Gig to spare with an SD slot open should I find I need more. Oh yeah, and bluetooth for e-mail when I'm out of range of a wifi hotspot which I use with my SONY phone through cingular. Plus SDIO if I want to add on anything else later like a GPS, a higher res camera than the TH55, etc. I'd still be loving my TH55 if nothing better were out, and it's still an impressive device considering it's age. But the LD undeniably surpasses the TH55's capabilities in a number of ways.

I'm setting my wife up with my TH. She'll love it, and doesn't need as much content on it as I'd like. So it'll find a great home with her.

Lastly, I own both and have used them side by side for a couple of weeks now on the same apps. I didn't see much difference in either device except with media playback where the LD excels. Also, the stronger processor of the LD is better for Bhajis Loops which I use for music composition. The TH bogs down when I try to work with too many tracks, but that's the Sony Engine for you. If you go by the reviews and/or just use the LD briefly at CompUSA you can't really have a good idea of it's capabilities.

I bought my TH refurbished online for $450 with shipping. After adding the memorysticks I was over $550. And then the case brought it up some more. Prior to buying the refurbished unit I bought one on Ebay that looked nice. But when I got it, it was really beat up from being carried in someone's front pocket with no case on it. So I returned that one and bought the refurb. I'm sure you can find a TH cheaper, but I doubt it will be in perfect shape like mine. The LD was just under 500 and the case was $30. So dollar for dollar the LD is the clear winner in my opinion.

If Sony turned around and fired up the Clie line again I'd consider going back. But for now the LD is a great alternative.

Karim

2GB MS Pro $199.94

I get so much **** from that site it's ridiculous. Even their customer support rocks.

Edit: That 2GB SD price is for a 2GB flash drive, not a 2GB SD card. The only card on Pricewatch is over $300.



The hard drive is about the size of a quarter, not a chicken nugget.

__________________
http://image2.sina.com.cn/IT/other/...40204113056.jpg

daver

really? that's awesome! where'd you read about that? i've been trying to figure out the size of the internal parts, but no where on the internet (through Google that is) talks about the internal parts, except for the usual processor speed, storage space, blah blah blah in reviews.

__________________
You know you messed up somewhere when you vote yourself off the island.

I AM CANADIAN!
Canuck PDA (http://canuck-pda.ca)

Back of left hand - Left arm - Paper & pen - broken Palm IIIxe - SJ20 - TJ37 - iPaq 1940 (broken digitizer) - TH55 - Treo 700p

Karim

__________________
http://image2.sina.com.cn/IT/other/...40204113056.jpg

Area_Educator

Do people actually do this-- put PDAs in their shirt pockets?

Even a light one tends to tug uncomfortably in that pocket. And anything not clipped to the pocket (ie, anything except a pen) falls out at least once a day for me.

hope

The LD is not that great at being an all in one. Battery life isn't great, which is a key factor, and it's way to big to make up for carrying other devices. If you want to use it for music you can get a iPod mini for $170 which is smaller and much better for music. If you want to use it for movies or games dare I mention the wonder that is called the PSP for $250. Oh, are we still under the $500 mark, why yes, yes we are. You can then get a 1gb memory stick pro duo for about 85 (that's with rebates) which just puts us at $505. You could say you do not have a PDA then. Yeah but a lot of people use their iPod's as a PDA type and the LD is a little bit to chunky to be classified as a PDA. That's why it's called the LifeDrive the Mobile Organizer or something like that.

P.S.
Memory sticks are still more expensive. Yet, that are not outrageous as they have been in the past. 1gb SD=60, 1gb MS= 80-90. That's not enough for someone to have a clear cut decision on choosing a PDA with an SD card. Also for someone who has a PSP and sony camera with a memory stick reader, me, it might be a little harder than some to simply switch.

__________________
Official Clie Collector of all the greatest Clie's
VZ90* TH55/E* UX50* TJ37* NX80* NX73/E* -NR70- -TG50- -NZ90- -T615- -N760- S300*

* I have
-- I need

If you have ones needed for sale or would like to donate to the Clie museum, please PM me. Thanks everyone

Dreading the day I no longer use a CLIE
Keep God first. Keep your wife happy. Keep your priorities striaght. Keep your Palm on you.

Srcguy

I'm no educator, but if things not clipped to my shirt pocket fell out at least once every day, I'd use a diffent pocket, or clip them.

__________________
I once owned a casio calculator

trickypuss

So according to you, hope, to have a good pda experience including a lot of music, video, games (which I don't care about) pims and business apps I should spend money on a PSP, memory for that thing (the PSP makes the LD look petit, by the way) an iPod mini, and a TH-55. And somehow all this is easier, smaller and cheaper than the LD? Nuts. Absolutely nuts. That's $170 plus tax for the iPod, $250 plus tax for the PSP, $130 for a 1GB memorystick pro duo (which are rare as hens teeth if you have a PSP and are looking for one - they're always sold out - I've looked for friends and when I was considering a PSP), about $400 for a TH-55 in excellent condition plus shipping - with tax and shipping that's nearly $900, three devices plus external memory just to do what the LD does for right at $500 with tax bought locally. Oh yeah, and if you keep your devices in great shape like I do, you'd have to buy cases for all of those. That adds another $80 or so. I'd have to switch to wearing cargo pants all the time just to carry all that stuff around. Silly, I tells ya.

The "pda" functions on the iPod are minimal and clunky. No text input, no e-mail. There's no text input on the PSP currently either except via the dpad, which is slow and tedious, and to surf the web you have to use a hacked version of Wipeout Pure which is not a great browsing experience, let me tell you. I use my pda's for a combination of things that heavily include apps like Documents to Go, SplashMoney, AllTime, ThoughtManager, SnapperMail, all the palm pims, etc. The LD DOES make a great all-in-one for a lot of people, AND the battery life in my actual, real-life experience is very similar to the TH-55. I've used it to listen to music, surf the web, send and recieve e-mails, do some accounting, log time on jobs and gotten almost 6 hours of use out of it before a charge. My TH55 usually goes about that long. Maybe it would go longer if I used AudioPlayer instead of p-Tunes, but then I can't play wma's which I HAVE to on the TH if I want to get a lot of music on the memorysticks. You assume I haven't looked into all of those options, and I have. None of them were right for me. Also, according to you, I should save money by abandoning all the palm software I've collected and maintained my data with over the years just to carry a couple of devices that won't do the other things I need. Whack.

I also like your reasoning about the price of memorysticks. They're still on average 30% or more expensive even by your estimates. That's a lot! Plus, if you own one of the thousands of non-Sony cameras you already have SD or need it. I've owned two Sony Cybershots. They were pretty good. But I switched away so that I could have more memory for less. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done this. You know, so I can take more pictures at high res, and longer videos? Two 1 Gig SD cards for the same price as a 1Gig Memory stick pro duo hold a lot more vacation memories, you know?

Heavens. Just admit that you love your TH-55 and that you don't need what the LD offers. But don't sit here and try to tell people what the device is like when you just don't really know. I only offer the comparisons because a lot of TH-55 users (just like me) are going to need to replace their units sooner or later and the LD isn't a bad choice at all. And seeing as I own them both I expect I have a good idea what they're both capable of. If Sony had kept going and offered a TH-55ish device with a lot more storage that's what I'd probably have. But that's just not going to happen.

hope

Whoa, simma da na their buddy. Memory cards and their respective devices are investments. Some people have invested in SD and others in MS, CF, or even XD. Also, an all in one device that does each aspect well is quite difficult and very hard to be succesfull in the marketplace. The treo 600 was a great device, but like the LD had quite a bit of advances to make before becoming what the treo 650 is. For all the 600 was, it was well worth the wait for the 650. In the same respect, the LD is a good device. Although, its drawbacks are ones that a pretty big (no pun intended) to ignore, it really is a category that will blossom with its concept and OS leading to its success. Enjoy your LD, don't feel a need to jusify your purchase. I just can truly recommend to Clie owners and Tungsten owners to wait for the 2nd generation as it will be better in almost all regards. Think of the original Tungsten, the T2 was much better and the T3 was a revolution. Remember the main complaints for the 600 were no removable battery and no bluetooth. Both of those issues were addressed. Even the Tungsten E, the E2 has addressed some of the main issues and is a much more solid device. Palm takes a little longer than we like and maybe longer than they should but they eventually get to the ultimate goal of what the consumers want and need.

The biggest problem with the LD is really size and design and battery life. An all in one device must be able to be at the very least competitive with the devices it competes with. Thus, I brought up the iPod mini and PSP for their various functions. I don't want to argue that the LD is comarable to the mini in any regard except convienence. I don't want to argue the movie capabilities compared to the PSP or an Archos. On the other hand, the treo is successfully able to be very comparable with a regular PDA and a great phone, which is why it is such a success as people did not have to settle on mediocrity. The LD is mediocre in all that it does when it has the potential to be so much more. For those considering the purchase who are able to wait, do. The next generation is going to be much much better. I really feel as though the LD is almost a half way design and implementation of the concept.

__________________
Official Clie Collector of all the greatest Clie's
VZ90* TH55/E* UX50* TJ37* NX80* NX73/E* -NR70- -TG50- -NZ90- -T615- -N760- S300*

* I have
-- I need

If you have ones needed for sale or would like to donate to the Clie museum, please PM me. Thanks everyone

Dreading the day I no longer use a CLIE
Keep God first. Keep your wife happy. Keep your priorities striaght. Keep your Palm on you.