Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 62

My Visor Deluxe screen is broken and now with more choices out there, I want a new PDA.

I know HandSpring is giving out $100 discount on the Edge, which costs $299 after rebate.

I start my research on the Sony PEG-S300.
I was wondering which one is better.

Edge or PEG-S300?

Here's my need...
1. Clear bright screen (I want to read some docs on it)
2. Don't need fancy features
3. Small, compact
4. Reasonably priced (I want to know if the PDA is worth it)

Also compared to the Deluxe, which one delivers higher text resolution and bigger screen. I know Sony PDA has no PictureGear thing, but I don't need it.

Thanks!

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Last edited by usbworkshop on 06-08-2001 at 02:00 PM

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 17

Screen Size

The screens on the Sony CLIE are smaller. They are about 20% smaller than the Visor/Palm. The M100/105 is the closest in size.

The PEG-S300 is the smallest Palm OS device I have seen. Personally I don't like it because it is too small. Unless you have a small hand it is hard to hold. It also has the older version of the Palm OS similar to the Palm III series and the screen to match.

On the other hand for $299 it does come with a 8MB memory stick for a total of 16MB out of the box.

Also, www.sonystyle.com has a $50 rebate running now.

If you don't mind paying more and getting a good deal the PEG-S710C is the better deal. It comes with built in MP3/ATRAC player with headphones and remote stick. It also has the most advanced screen available. It is 320x320 in color and from what I have seen is the clearest easiest to read screen out there. The catch is the $499 price.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Posts: 19

I'd say go for the Edge - the B&W Clie is indeed quite small, but the Edge maintains decent dimensions (except for thickness, of course). I'm starting to like Sony less and less because they want to dominate the entire electronics industry, or so it seems, but they're still okay.

Ultimately, it's up to you.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Bonn, Germany
Posts: 55

according to your criteria, I'd say get an edge.

It seems more durable in my hands than the clie, also
the edge has a nicer screen, not just bigger mind you, but it has better contrast.

Some people feel the edge feels cheaply made, I don't I think it feels like the sturdiest PDA on the market (except the stylus does seem cheap), it seems much much more durable than the sony products that I've tried out...

Ultimately, I'd recommend going to a Best Buy and take a look at as many of the PDAs as you can.

Good luck, buying handhelds at the moment is kind of shot in the dark, so many things changing so quickly and clearly there is major inventory reduction going on...

Kg

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 62

Guys, I ended up getting a HP Jornada 548 w/ Targus keyboard.

I don't really need the MP3 playback feature, but I do need big, bright screen as shipped w/ the Jornada.

I have no problems reading docs and webpages on the 4096-color screen. The most important thing is that my eyes won't hurt anymore. When working with Pocket PC OS, I feel like I'm in Windows. Most of the apps I use on my desktop such as Word, Excel, Media Player and IE are being adopted as Pocket versions in my Jornada.

The battery life is only 8hr, a bit low compared to other units. That's one thing I don't like.

Expansion is another drawback for Jornada. Although 548 is shipped with a CF Type I slot, manufacturers are not very eager to roll out stuff for my handheld. Most add-ons are Type II cards, which fit into the expansion pack sold seperately for Compaq iPAQ handheld PCs.

I was thinking of buying the iPAQ, but some people point out that iPAQ expansion pack and a flip cover adds to the weight and size. The HP J548 has flip cover and add-ons aren't obstrusive as iPAQ's expansion pack.

The MP3 playback is an icing on the cake, but no bass or treble setting adjustment. As an extra, video playback is possible, but iPAQ delivers better performance.

I also found out Pocket PC has tons of multimedia apps, and MS site has many MS pocket titles.

I forgot about the keyboard. The Targus keyboard is free. I really need it for typing in Word.

I still haven't convinced myself Jornada 548 is the right handheld for me, but so far, I like it.

What do you think? Any comments are welcome.

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