Sony CLIE PEG-T615C/S Handheld (Silver)

Product Description

The new PEG-T615C with high-resolution color display is the world's thinnest Palm-Powered color handheld, providing everything you need to stay organized and entertained. Super-slim aluminum body has been designed to fit your hand just as comfortably as it does your life. The Memory Stick media expansion slot provides unlimited storage space for all your favorite applications. The unique Jog Dial navigator provides easy access to most of your stored information. Plus, you can remotely control your audio and video products using its enhanced IR port!

Amazon.com Review

Having already dipped its toe in the ocean that is the PDA market with the Clié PEG-SN760C and the PEG-S300 models, Sony has now jumped in with a second-generation color model--the PEG-T615C. Featuring the same 33 MHz DragonBall processor, high-resolution 320 x 320 color screen, and jog wheel functionality, it also boasts 16 MB of internal RAM, the latest version of the Palm OS (v. 4.1), and a superslim aluminum body.

Very similar in design to Sony's previous color model, the Clié PEG-T615C features the same Jog Dial button, allowing for easy, one-handed navigation around applications. The scroll buttons have been replaced with a tiny rocker switch, which doesn't function as easily as the original buttons. Also, the included flipover screen protector does have a tendency to detach from the unit a bit too easily.

The Memory Stick slot has been retained, allowing for increased expandability. Battery life runs at about 15 days before a recharge is required, though this does depend entirely on how much you use the PDA.

The PEG-T615C has lots of little pluses that make it stand out from the rest. It sits in the cradle nicely and it doesn't make a horrible crunching sound when it's removed, unlike some PDAs. Clié-specific applications such as the AV Remote Commander, World Alarm (which allows you to use your own sound files), Sound Utility, and Clié Paint are fun to play around with. Those of you wanting to do some serious work will be pleased with Documents To Go and Intellisync Lite. The latest version of the Palm OS includes easier data entry and enhanced security and mobile connectivity.

However, the standout feature on the PEG-T615C has to be the high-resolution screen--the images are sharp and detailed, while the text is supersmooth. It makes other PDA displays look positively archaic.

With its bright color screen, superior sound quality, and supersleek body, the PEG-T615C is probably the best (and sexiest) Palm OS-based PDA on the market at the moment and well worth your consideration. --Martin Snelling

Pros: <ul>

Bright, high-resolution color screen

16 MB of memory that's expandable with Memory Sticks

Superslim

Fun Sony add-on programs </ul> Cons: <ul>

New rocker switch replacing scroll buttons not as functional

Flip screen protector detaches too easily </ul>

Amazon.com Product Description

Powerful productivity wrapped in an attractive body, the Sony Clié handheld will appeal to both your practical and aesthetic sensibilities. The Palm-powered Sony PEG-T615CS offers great organization tools in a slim PDA (just a half-inch thick) with a crisp color screen. And exclusive Sony features like the Jog Dial navigator and Memory Stick media expansion slot make the Clié the smart and stylish way to keep yourself organized.

The Sony Clié PEG-T615CS features 16 MB of RAM and a high-resolution TFT color display that's great for showing off your pictures to friends and coworkers. Use the PEG-T615CS as a remote control for audio and video components using its enhanced infrared port and Clié Remote Commander software.

The Sony Clié handheld runs on the proven, reliable Palm operating system, which means it comes complete with all the standard Palm OS applications you need for organizing your life. It comes with Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Mail, and Expense tools, and the Sony-enhanced Address Book that enables you to add photos to your contacts.

It also features a wide range of fun and productivity applications, including StreetFinder Express from Rand McNally for interactive maps, Vindigo city guides, Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard and Pocket Gourmet, and games such as Zap!2016, Acid Solitaire, and Race Fever. Plus, the Clié is fully compatible with thousands of Palm OS add-on applications available for download.

Connect to your PC and synchronize your contacts and date book using the included USB cradle. You can also beam information to other Palm OS handheld owners using the IrDA infrared port.

The Sony Clié PEG-T615 comes with a number of exclusive Sony features. The Jog Dial navigator allows you to access images, phone numbers, notes, even video clips, while keeping your other hand free. And you get virtually unlimited data storage with Sony's Memory Stick removable media. Transfer digital content between your Clié handheld and other Memory Stick-compatible products, including digital cameras, digital camcorders, and PCs. The PEG-T615 can also be used to remotely control audio and video products up to 15 feet away using its enhanced infrared port and Remote Commander software.

The Sony Clié is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, 2000 Professional, and Me, and connects to your PC using the USB port. It comes with a USB HotSync cradle (which also charges the lithium-polymer battery), detachable AC adapter, stylus, and a protective cover.

What's in the box
<ul>

Clie handheld

USB HotSync cradle

AC adapter

Stylus

Protective cover

Installation CD-ROM

Application manual

Read This First

Registration Notice

Graffiti sticker

End User License Agreement

Limited Warranty Statement </ul>

Customer Reviews:

Going...Going...Gone!.......2004-08-12

I bought my Sony Clié PEG-T615C/U of eBay for $160.00 CAD in December of 2003. It was the best purchase of my life. I used it for taking notes in class and the battery life was good enough for me to use at school and charge every night. I would play games on public transport to school and home and would act as my alarm clock each night. Ultimately, the best thing ever. In mid-June of 2004, all of a sudden, my Clié refused to charge. The green cradle light failed to light, as did the orange unit light. It wouldn't HotSync either. I put it on the shelf and couldn't use it anymore. In August of 2004, I took it to Sony Repair Service. They said that it would cost $175 CAD to repair, but before they could repair it, they would have to look at it which costs $50 CAD. Astonished at the response of Sony Canada, I left. Why has Sony been going downhill? They used to be so much better than they are now. They even discontinued the Clié because it was breaking so much under warranty, that they were losing money. Sony is about money now instead of quality. After my encounter with the Repair Center, I figured that I had nothing to lose, and opened the Clié up. Nothing that I could find. I recommend never to buy this product, unless you know the people that you buy it from very well.

Sorry I bought it........2004-02-09

My first experience with a PDA was with one of the old monochrome Palms. The advantage to that device was that you could use the thing every day and the batteries would last for maybe 6 to 8 weeks.

With the T615 the battery situation is much different. With luck I can get maybe four hours of use out of one charge. I have a cradle at work, but I had to buy an additional cradle for home, which was around $50. I needed that just so I could use the thing on the weekend, otherwise the battery would die. In other words, with the T615 you are almost tethered to the cradle, because the rechargeable battery life is so short.

The other thing is that the battery discharges even when you don't use it. For example, if the battery is about half-charge and you don't use it for a week, the next time you turn it on, the battery will be completely dead. I mean dead to the point that all the information you had on the device is gone. With the older monochrome Palm, I suppose that could happen were you to leave dead batteries in it for months. But I never saw it happen. But with the Clie, I would say that it happens every few months.

But here's where the memory card is useful. I back up everything on the memory card all the time so that when the thing dies I can simply restore from the card.

One the one hand, you don't want to use the thing too much because you run the battery down so fast. But if you don't use it the battery runs down anyway. So you get the worst of both worlds. "Why not just keep it in the charger," you ask? Well, I do, but the care and feeding of my PDA does not form a very large part of my consciousness, and I forget to do that sometimes. Again, with the older Palm, battery life almost didn't matter because the battery life was so good.

I find that the Clie is so unreliable that I mostly use the PC software that comes with it. Any more I just use the Clie as a kind of expensive backup storage device in case something were to happen to the PC -- kind like a jump drive with a screen.

The good thing about the Clie is that it has a very lovely and clear screen -- a beautiful screen that, because of the short battery life, you won't see very often.

So learn from my experience, and understand that if your PDA doesn't have good battery life, the other features don't mean very much.

FAILED AFTER ONE YEAR, so did my brothers!.......2003-12-21

Hi guys,

Me and my brother were both so excited buying this when it came out. It failed for both of us after one year!. Anyhow I will never buy Sony again. However, my brother did and im pretty sure his latest Sony will fail again. Sony has such awesome designs but poor quality in this line of product!

Miss WLC.......2003-04-25

Good Toy! Does everything and some more! It's cute, too - I like that. My co-workers get jealous when I pull it out in meetings to take notes and check my schedule. My friends get jealous when I pull it out to play games and read the newspaper. Hahahahaha! It holds tons of information and I wish I had one years ago!

did I have a lemon?.......2003-04-24

I have been a long time palm user....wanted the color, so went with Sony. Short battery life, power button in a bad place, turned on "by itself", and died frequently, poor instructions, and then the backlite died. Would certainly not buy again.

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