Palm Computing, Sony style

Finally, some real competition for the Palm V range.

The Sony Clié PEG-S300 is SONY’s first Palm device. Clié is pronounced klee-ay, and it is fine to consider it a name, but it is actually an acronym. CLIE is an acronym of Communication Link Information Entertainment, so Sony says. And the PEG in its model designation means Personal Electronic orGaniser.

Sony introduced the PEG-S300, the monochrome model discussed here, and the PEG-S500C, the colour model, at the same time. Only the monochrome model was immediately available as an English instead of a Japanese model.

looks
The Sony Clié looks fine. It certainly looks better than the Palm III or the HandSpring Visor range. It even tries to compete with the most stylish range of all, the Palm V range. There is no choice of colours like there is for the HandSpring Visor Deluxe, and no replaceable faceplates as the Palm m100 offers. It is available in one finish only.

basic features
The Sony Clié is a monochrome Palm OS device, with 8 MB of RAM and 2 MB of flash ROM. It draws its power from the internal Li-Ion rechargeable batteries and comes with an USB cradle. The Clié features a 20 MHz DragonBall EZ processor, just like the Palm Vx. Benchmarks indicate that it is, unsurprisingly, just about as fast as a Palm Vx. The difference is too small to report.

At a mere 120 g (4.27 oz), and 70.9 mm x 114.7 mm x 15.2 mm (2.79" x 4.52" x 0.6"), the Clié is about as small and light as the Palm Vx. It is somewhat narrower, but thicker.

It has all the standard buttons in all the standard places and they do all the standard things. The speaker is a bit louder than those on Palm brand devices.

These basic specs do not tell you what’s so interesting about the Clié. There are two features that no other brand offers. It is a Sony handheld, so it features a Sony Jog Dial. And it is digital device, so it features a Sony MemoryStick slot. The MemoryStick slot is its most interesting feature.

Among the basic features is a protective vinyl casing, which folds around the Clié. It is a smart design that can be unfolded to serve as a stand, holding the Clié at just about the same angle as the cradle.

There is one stylus silo, on the right hand side of the device, and slightly to the back of the device.

The infrared port is located on the front of the device, as it should be for easy aiming, but has been moved towards the left side, to make room for the MemoryStick slot somewhat to the right of the centre.

screen
The screen is a monochrome LCD display, capable of displaying 16 different shades of grey. The display area is 160 by 160 pixels, like other Palms. It is worth noting that the Clié display features true backlighting, not reverse backlighting like many other recent Palm device models.
The Cliíe screen is just a bit smaller than the Palm V screen. It is clearly larger than the Palm m100 screen. The Palm V’s screen has slightly better contrast, but the Clié screen is fine.

power
The Clié features a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, just like the Palm V range, and a single charge lasts just as long; about a month of normal use (defined as half an hour a day) on a single charge. The Clié recharges in its cradle, just like the Palm V. And the cradle looks good, its design matching that of the Clié itself
A nice feature is that the cradle’s power adapter doubles as a travel charger. You can detach the cable from the cradle, and attach it directly to the Clié. It supports both 110 V and 220 V, making it a great travel charger.

slow USB
The Clié includes an USB cradle, but do not expect higher syncing speeds. The only benefit of USB over serial you get with this device is that the number of USB connections your computer has can be expanded through an USB hub. The HotSync speed of Clié isn’t noticeable better than that of the Palm V (serial cradle). Do not expect faster HotSync like the HandSpring Visors range offers.
Keep in mind that USB requires not only a computer, but also an operating system that supports it. Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 do not, Windows 98 and Windows 2000 do.

HotSync
There is another problem with the HotSync. The Visor and Clié range both required adaptations to Palm’s HotSync software to make the synchronisation work. If you have a Visor, and then install the Clié software, the Visor HotSync will no longer work. I’ve done a little digging, and haven’t found out the full story, but enough to give you an idea of what’s going on. Both Sony and HandSpring made modifications to the HotSync software to make it work with USB. They did this in different ways. It seems that Sony changed the minimum necessary to make things work, and HandSpring changed as much as needed to take advantage of the higher data transfers rate possible with USB.
This is almost a theoretical problem, as not many people will choose to use both a Visor and Clié. It makes much more sense too choose either one and buy two of the same. I also expect this to be a temporary problem. I’ll explain why further on.

Jog Dial
Sony brings its Jog Dial to the Palm OS. I am not excited. I never liked the Jog Dial. It is always positioned for ease of use by right-handed persons only. Nokia’s NaviRoller doesn’t have that problem. But are essentially superfluous, but if software starts relying on Jog Dial, it becomes unusable to all except right-handed Clié device owners. So I don’t see the point.
The position of the Jog Dial is ideal for access with your left-hand thumb while holding it… it is a asymmetrical design that favours right-handed users.
Sony wants you to be excited about their Jog Dial. I believe the introduction of the Jog Dial on Sony mobile phones to be one of Sony’s biggest usability mistakes ever. Don’t bother with it.

MemoryStick
The big news is the MemoryStick slot. Sony has been using MemorySticks for some time now, but this is Sony’s first Palm device, and the first Palm device to feature a MemoryStick slot.
The MemoryStick slot is springloaded, You can have some launching it, but you might loose your MemoryStick, and they still don’t come cheap. Insertion and removal are confirmed by a beep.

When it comes to data transfer speed, the Memory Stick wins from the HandSpring Visor memory module. However, a MemoryStick cannot be addressed as additional memory. Programs and data must be transfered to the 8 MB main memory. Although Sony includes the MemoryStick, but it is still an 8 MB Palm device, not a 16 MB device. And the MSGate software included with this first Sony Palm device software does not offer simple backup and restore features.
The software support will probably improve. The hardware side is already looking good. Sony is selling 64 MB MemorySticks and a 256 MB model is under development.
Making the MemoryStick slot extra attractive is that SONY intends to release add-ons that will fit in the MemoryStick slot. The name may suggest it is just for memory, but expect to see some interesting add-ons.

Yet Another Cradle Adapter
I am tracking this issue, and with the Clié Sony has introduced Yet Another Cradle Adapter.
I could tell you how interesting it is that this adapter design has more contacts than either the Visor or Palm V range, but I guess you don’t really care until I can tell you what they are for. A first guess would be “room to grow”, and that would be smart move, enabling Sony to continue to use the same connector design while adding new features and capabilities.
But the one thing I know for sure is that it means that anything that connects to your Palm device via the cradle adapter, will need to be the Clié connector variant of that device.

Palm OS
The Clié comes with Palm OS 3.5 in ROM. Because the Clié features flash ROM, the OS is updateable simply by downloading and installing the upgrade when it appears.
You will have to get the upgrade from Sony, as Sony made some changes to the Palm OS to support its unique features. The Clié comes with all the standard Palm OS software, and includes some extras in support of these features, like software to copy files from and to the MemoryStick. And applications have been modified to support the Jog Dial.

AvantGo has become a standard part of the Palm OS distribution and is included. Sony includes Starfish TrueSync software (do not confuse with HotSync) to allow synchronisation of data with PIMs like Outlook, instead of the Chapura PocketMirror software that Palm and HandSpring include.
An interesting change is what seems like support for photographs in the address book. Sony added this feature to show off the capabilities of the colour model, but 16 shades of grey is enough for a reasonable picture. This actually works by associating a PictureGear Pocket Image Viewer with an address book entry.

The PictureGear Pocket Image Viewer, which allows you store and view images on your Palm device. It is complemented by PictureGear 4.2 Lite that will convert and compress images for use with the viewer. Sony also includes the gMedia video clip viewer, which does a good job, even with the limits of the greyscale, but video clips take up so much memory that I doubt it usefulness.

Sony includes desktop software for Windows 98 and Windows 2000, but not for MacOS. As far as Sony is concerned, MacOS isn’t supported. Palm has always supported MacOS, and has recently been improving the out-of-the box support for MacOS users, and now Sony is taking a step backwards.

Clié versus Palm Vx
The Clié just begs for a comparison with the Palm Vx. They feature the same CPU and offer the same amount of RAM. Both feature flash ROM and come with Palm OS 3.5. Both feature 16 grey levels monochrome and a Li-Ion battery. Both are small, light and stylish.
As Palm sells an PalmConnect USB Kit, and the Clié doesn’t use USB to full advantage, there is hardly a serial versus USB issue, except when your desktop OS doesn’t support USB.
If you desire MacOS support, comparison of other issues holds no interest for you. The Palm Vx supports MacOS, the SONY Clié does not.

The existence of colour Clié in Japan need not influence you either, as Palm has announced a colour Palm V.

So, let’s make up the rest of the score:

* Palm Vx wins on weight (4.4 oz versus 4.5 oz).
* Palm Vx wins on style (and is available in severalbe colours).
* Palm Vx wins on size
* Palm Vx screen is a bit better
* Palm Vx wins on usability by having stylo silos on either side
* Palm Vx wins on availability of accessories.

* Sony Clié cradle wins on style
* The standard carrying case can function as a stand
* the power adapter is a travel charger
* Sony Clié wins on overall system speed.
* Sony looses on usability with a righ-handed Jog-Dial.
* Sony Clié wins on expandability.

Palm has more plusses its favour, but almost all issues are small ones. For both the Palm Vx and the Clié, the last issue mentioned is the big one: the Palm Vx has more accessories available for it, and the Clié features an expansion slot, whereas the Palm Vx has only the cradle connector.

If you are new to PDAs, you may not care about accessories yet, but if you had anything like it, you’ll appreciate the wealth of cases, keyboards, wireless modems, travel rechargers, and even GPS devices available for a handheld. Therefore, if you just want the smallest, lightest, and most stylish Palm, the Palm Vx is the clear winner, especially because of the all the accessories available for it.

If you fancy the MemoryStick slot, the Sony Clié is your only choice. As Sony is putting the MemoryStick to work in a wide range of devices, the Clié may be appealing to those who already own other Sony products, especially if that happens to be a MemoryStick-equipped VAIO laptop. The Clié is the first Palm device to combine a Palm V like size, style and weight with a dedicated expansion slot. If you want your Palm device to be small and have expansion capabilities, or just a quick and easy way to back your handheld on the go, the Clié is again your only choice.

Sony versus HandSpring
HandSpring doesn’t have a device that compares well with the Palm V, and it doesn’t have one that compares with the Sony Clié either. Visors are all much larger and heavier, much more like the Palm III range.
But when in comes to comparing Sony and HandSpring, it isn’t about Clié versus Visor, it is about SpringBoard versus MemoryStick.

When it comes to first impressions, Sony wins round one, simply by including a single 8 MB MemoryStick as part of the basic package. When you buy a Visor, you get nothing but an empty slot. HandSpring would have to add the memory module to equal Sony’s out-of-box experience.
When it comes to size and convenience, Sony wins again. MemorySticks are a lot smaller than SpringBoards.
HandSpring wins on module availability. Sony isn’t a start-up that needs to enlist third parties to develop modules for it. Sony does have a developer program, and welcomes third party module development. It is an multinational company with the resources to develop all these things on their own, and may be prove to be very tough competition HandSpring. Because every time two modules match others on features, the MemoryStick module will probably win on size, style and weight.

Other contenders for Palm device expansion standard of the future are Secure Digital (SD) cards and CompactFlash (CF). SD and CF are industry standards, whereas SpringBoard and MemoryStick are proprietary standards. There is no way to announce a winner yet, nor is it sure that there will ever be one. The best advice I can give is to consider the peripherals you already have before buying a new Palm, and to choose the system that appeals most.

future
What to choose? Which hardware expansion architecture is going to win? The simple truth is that no one knows, and that Palm has made things easier on consumers by publicly announcing that a future version of Palm OS will support all the various options. Palm has no intention of having its licensees have all the hardware extension slot fun, but it will provide a level playing field.

The foreseeable future promises new Palm brand devices that will feature a Secure Digital (SD) slot, Visor devices that continue feature a SpringBoard slot, continue support for CompactFlash from TRG, and a big push for MemoryStick from Sony.

A future version of Palm OS will support all these options. Palm will have to work with the other vendors to make this happen. Palm will move towards USB, just like other vendors, and want to provide the same or better USB HotSync speeds as HandSpring does. It therefore seems to be a safe bet to predict that future versions of the HotSync software will support all makes and models, serial and USB. The improved HotSync may even be based on HandSpring’s changes.

And I will not be surprised if Sony will support MacOS after all.

conclusion
The Sony Clié compares to the Palm Vx as the HandSpring Visor compares to the Palm IIIe.
The Clié all the features that the make the Palm Vx so great: small, light, good looks, rechargeable battery, flash ROM, 8 MB of RAM, the latest Palm OS. It has the one feature that makes the Visor range more attractive than the Palm III range: an expansion slot.

Choosing a Palm device is a personal matter. I like to keep things simple. I do not see a personal need for a expansion slot on my Palm, so I am not upset that the Palm Vx doesn’t have it. But I can imagine some good, some interesting and some plain fun uses for it, so I wouldn’t mind having one, but without giving up those features that make the Palm Vx so great.
The Sony Clié offers just that. The Clié is the first Palm device to combine the excellent portability of the Palm Vx with an expansion slot. That’s exciting. The denial of left-handed users and MacOS desktops is disappointing.

links

SONY Clié
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/clie/

SONY MemoryStick
http://www.world.sony.com/Electronics/MS/

Palm
http://www.palm.com/
All the official information, updates and patches

A Quick Overview of Palm devices
http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-70B6-BFB1866-39861BB8-prod1
A overview of all Palm devices on the market.