Registered: May 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 4

I've narrowed down my list to the Edge, the m505, and the Clie 710. I'd love color, but I also value a small, light unit. My in-laws have Visor Deluxe models that they really like, but both would like color and/or a smaller form.

I plan to use this with a Windows machine at work and a Macintosh at home. Does one unit work better with Mac than another?

Any suggestions?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

Well, it's my understanding that they all have hte form factor that you want. I wouldn't buy anything, personally, but handspring due to the springboard. So my personal recommendation would be teh edge. But you really want color. If you want color go with the sony. The screen is much better and you get a built in MP3 player. If you really really want springboards and don't mind the extra form factor they add, edge is your best bet. The M505 is just not worth it right now. I'm not sure if the clie is USB but M505 and Edge are, so they shouldn't have any issues with a mac. They're probably pretty equal as far as how well they work with a mac. My roommate has a Palm V with a mac and it works fine, he just had to buy an extra cable.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Prison
Posts: 421

Your best bet is an M505

The M505, almost hands down.

Why not the Edge:
Form factor not as impressive as M505
No Color
No keyboard for a few months. (The M505's is right around the corner... so I hear.)
Only $50.00 less than M505. Not worth it. (actually, only $20.00 less if you buy it from Best Buy!!!) The M505 is a steal right now!
Price is very hard to justify.

Why not the Clie
Not as small or as light.
Most likely not mac-compatible. (Note: I do not know this for a fact. I am guessing this because the old CLIE did not sync with macs, and most Sony products are not so mac-friendly. This is not to say that it's not possible, but it's an inconvenience.)

Why the M505:
Nice color screen, and does not require the backlight. (Thank gawd!)
Smallest PalmOS color handheld.
Mac/PC compatable.
Vibrating / Flashing alarms / louder speaker!
Most bang-for-the-buck with the discounts.
And finally, it's probably the best looking PDA out there.
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It depends though. If you absolutely MUST play Mp3's off of your handheld, and not a separate unit, then you may want the CLIE. If you MUST have a high-res screen, you may want the CLIE. But from what you're asking for, the M505 is right up your alley.

After all, for the price difference of a Clie and the Price of a Memorystick, you could buy a standalone Mp3 player.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

Talk me out of buying a 505...

I have a VDX which I plan to replace with a color model. I played with a m505 today and didn't mind the screen at all. I love the form, but I also have two SB modules and a cell phone cable that took FOREVER to get my hands on, and I am partial to keeping with the visor prism.

But the 505/clie is tempting.... both SBs I have are easily sellable (soundsgood and HS 8MB flash). What would you folks do?

Talk me into a Prism.... I know it is what I want, the other toys are just so cool though

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

The edge's speaker is as loud (possible louder) than the m505's from a couple of quick tests at OfficeMax. The new Cli� is mac compatible. I'd probably say a Cli� for you. I'm rather impressed Sony kept the price below $500 (before tax) considering its feature set. My opinion is that if you want multimedia on a handheld, why cut yourself short with the m505 which can only do color? If you just need a rugged, pocketable pda and multimedia isn't a big deal to you, I'd say go with the edge. Color for color's sake is a rather poor deciding factor, AFAIC. Anyway, the question comes down to which one do you like? You'll be happier waiting a week or two for the funds to show up and getting the Cli� if getting the edge is just going to leave you lusting after bigger and better.

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Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 19

If you are interested in the m505, you should definitely try it out in the store before you buy it. I did, and I was really unimpressed with the screen. Without the backlight on, the screen is *terrible*. It is decent with the backlight on, but not nearly as nice as a pocketpc or Clie. IMO, when I pay $450 for a product, I expect better than just decent. If form factor is important for you, why not consider the m500 or even the Vx? The m500 has all the features of the m505 with a sharp, grayscale screen, and it can be bought for about $320 (check mysimon.com). The Clie is a very nice handheld, it has a very beautiful screen. I put it beside the m505 in a store and the Clie looks much, much better. The form factor of the Clie is not as nice as the m505, though- it's narrower, but thicker and more rectangular. The edge is also a nice handheld, the only problem with it is that if you want to use springboards, you have to put a pack on the back of it that kind of ruins the form factor. It can be bought for $355 on mysimon.com.

Registered: May 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 4

Some additional information...

I'm the original poster. I thank you all for your helpful answers! This will be my first PDA.

First and foremost, it will be an organizer for me. I lean towards color because I think it will be easier (more interesting?) to read text. Plus, I have a little girl about to turn one year old and I'd love to carry some of the many digital pictures I've taken of her!

I'd be surprised if I did any Mp3 stuff at all. I don't currently.

I gotta admit the Edge is such a nice looking PDA, even though it is a b/w screen. I can't seem to take it "off" my list.

But it really is down to the 505 and new Clie for me. I expect the Clie's screen may sway me, though the 505 may be more "mac" compatible. Still, my work desktop is a Windows machine and I'll likely sync on that.

Keep the opinions coming! I really am learning.

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 19

You may also want to read some product reviews.

For the m505:
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/m505-review.html
http://www.zdnet.com/supercenter/st...,472573,00.html

For the Clie:
http://www.zdnet.com/supercenter/st...,479387,00.html

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

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From the Cli� review
But the CLIE has more than just good looks. Based on the fastest processor available for the Palm OS, the 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ, it includes 8MB of RAM and 4MB of flash memory. But the feature that distinguishes it from other Palm-based competitors is its color display, a reflective TFT with a resolution of 320 by 320 pixels--twice that of the Palm IIIc or Handspring Visor Prism. As a result, although all three devices display the same number of colors (256), the CLIE's display appears significantly brighter, smoother, and more detailed.

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Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Prison
Posts: 421

Well...

The M505 will most likely be less expensive than the CLIE. Best Buy is really hackin' prices.

I would not call the M505 screen "terrible." But it could be better, but it's good in all conditions. Nonetheless, for the discounts on the M505, I think it's a pretty good value. The form factor is wonderful on it.

The CLIE's got a superb resolution, but it's about the same size as an iPaq.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

Re: Well...

quote:

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Originally posted by bblue
The M505 will most likely be less expensive than the CLIE. Best Buy is really hackin' prices.

I would not call the M505 screen "terrible." But it could be better, but it's good in all conditions. Nonetheless, for the discounts on the M505, I think it's a pretty good value. The form factor is wonderful on it.

The CLIE's got a superb resolution, but it's about the same size as an iPaq.

---

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Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Re: Some additional information...

quote:

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Originally posted by Rico
....Plus, I have a little girl about to turn one year old and I'd love to carry some of the many digital pictures I've taken of her!....

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

Re: Re: Some additional information...

quote:

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Originally posted by bkbk

I'd pretty much have to say that if you care about photos (& video)in any way, shape or form, you should prob. go for the Edge.

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

quote:

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Originally posted by dick-richardson
I didn't know the prism only displayed 256 colors. Wait'll the truth in advertising people get their hands on this!

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Re: Re: Re: Some additional information...

quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn
Ah, but the kids look so much better in color. I'd say if that is a key thing, get the prism!

---

Gee, there's a good chunk of truth, too.
Yep, we may have to bump you up a bit in size & weight for the excellent color screen of the Prism....
You be the judge, of course.

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Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 19

Maybe terrible is an overstatement, but with the backlight off I had a really hard time seeing the m505's screen. Maybe it looks better outside, I could only try it in the store. Like I said, with the backlight on it's not bad at all. It would be nice if the screen was brighter and a little less grainy, though.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Prison
Posts: 421

Well,

Well, you may want to take it out of the display and hold it in your hand. I found that the hotsync cradle holds it at an angle where it seems to avoid most light. Also, take a look at the iPaq screen with the light off. It looks worse (due to the ugly PPC OS.)

Also.. he already has a digital camera, right? If you want good looking photos, the M505 should serve the job. If you want the crispest photos possible, you may like the Clie.

Either one shows colors nicely, and both would serve the job!

But I have a small question. Does the CLIE have 256 or 65,256 (?) colors? I keep hearing both! If the CLIE only has 256 (I doubt it) then you want the M505 for pictures most likely.

The Palm has the thousands of colors. The more light you have, the more you can appreciate them.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 380

Re: Well,

quote:

---

Originally posted by bblue
But I have a small question. Does the CLIE have 256 or 65,256 (?) colors? I keep hearing both! If the CLIE only has 256 (I doubt it) then you want the M505 for pictures most likely.

---

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Prison
Posts: 421

Ah...

Then from my guess, the Photos will look about the same in favor of the CLIE for fewer colors, and the Palm for more diverse colors. Either would be good machines.

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 4

Thanks!

I'm the original poster again...

I've been looking around various PDA forums lately to learn about these things, and this forum is hands-down the nicest bunch of people I've met! All of the replies are courteous, helpful opinions. You've been of great help to me. It makes me want to buy a Handspring for that reason alone! Maybe Handspring people are nicer, huh?

I do own a digital camera, so I wouldn't need the Springboard attachment. I've seen the Prism and think it has a beautiful screen, but it's a little bigger than I would prefer. I haven't seen a Clie yet, but imagine the screen will look great. Perhaps the size of the Clie will be acceptable, since I have no experience carrying one of these guys around.

But, today I'm leaning towards an m505. Maybe it's because they are so established in the Palm OS world. Does anyone carry digital pictures on their 505, and are they (overall) acceptable to look at?

Thanks again for all your help!