Manufacturer: Sony Model#: PEG-UX50 Weight: 2lbs Height: 3..5"     Width: 4..1" Length: " Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars	Retail Price: $649.99 Online Sale Price:
Features: A new concept in handhelds: an extremely portable personal entertainment communicator 6 oz. with stylus Integrated wireless LAN (802.11b) and Bluetooth interface Built-in QWERTY-layout wide-pitch keyboard with backlight What's in the box: Clie handheld, Charger Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Retractable Stylus, AC Adapter, Hand Strap, Installation CD-ROM, Instruction manuals

User Submitted Sony Clie PEG-UX50 Handheld Reviews (cont...)

The Sony attracted me by its original design and multimedia features. It certainly is a revelation in terms of connectivity and web browsing. I also like the keyboard. However, let me tell you why I am returning it (despite the 15% open-box return charge) and going for a more traditionally designed HP. It is not a bad unit, I just feel that the high price suggests it is more special than it actually is:

The swivel screen concept should allow for a larger screen but this one is disappointingly about standard size for a PDA. The unit is slightly smaller but somewhat thicker than a standard PDA. Battery life is poor. My main issue, however, is the included software which does not contain the basics I would expect. No word processor, no spreadsheet and no outlook equivalent email program other than something which pops email. All these are available but, at this price, I would expect these included. I liked the sketchpad but, for some reason, it only operates on a reduced screen size. The camera is nice and I liked the zoom feature but it would be better with a higher resolution.

Looking at the prices of comparable units I feel that the $650 tag consumes about $350 for the vogue value of the undeniably neat mini-tablet design. It depends how much this means to you.

Date: 2003-11-08
left hand users
If you want to use the graffiti and are left handed, your hand gets in the way and are unable to see the screen.
With that price it should have "documents to go" all ready installed.

Date: 2003-11-08
nice
Very nice gadget, the only complaints after using it for 2 weeks
are: the screen could be larger, I realize that even though it is also 480x320, its only about 3/4 the size of the NX70's 480x320 screen. hurts the eye when browsing online, it could be brighter too.
but my main dissapointment is: NO PORTRAIT MODE!!!! youre locked into landscape mode, which is a waste. It feels kind of awkward holding it horizontally on tablet mode with the jog dial on the bottomside.

Anyway other than that the WiFi rocks.

Date: 2003-10-28
sony UX50
even though the display size is small, it is very clear and high in resolution.
it need higher memory.
i found the "missing Synch for OSX" which solved my problem with this PDA to synch with MAC, but i was surprised why sony did not make something like this, and save us the trouble paying and searching for it!!
the Wi/Fi and BT were very usefull and pracktical to have.
audio player application is very primative and usless.
even though i didn't use the camera much, but it gives much better results than any cellphone with camera.
in general sony UX50 with its small storng shell is a great Palm machine

Date: 2003-10-25
Many Bells & Whistles in a small pkg, but needs improvments.
I have had an older Sony Clie for a few years. I was thoroughly impressed with that one. It served me well. I then had to replace it, and was solidly leaning toward another Sony product. The features of the UX50 series impressed me very much. But it does have some shortcommings.

Pros:
* Small size. Without a doubt, this is a great unit that fits nicely in my shirt pocket.
* Beautiful screen. It is clear and bright. It is a bit smaller than the older unit, but it is perfectly legible.
* Lots of internal memory. This means I can record a bunch of voice memo's or quick low-res pics from the built in camera w/o using a memory stick.
* Toolbar. There is a little toolbar along the side next to the silk to pull up commonly used features quickly. (like clock, speaker and memory stick media info)
* Built in Keyboard. I love it. It even has a backlight. Not too difficult to use, unlike smaller kbds on other units. The keys are slightly raised.
* Landscape working environment. The "silk" is along the side, and when not being used, the silk can be hidden giving an expanded screen to show text or other items in the silk area. This widescreen mode is a much more efficient use of screen real-estate.
* New handwriting recognition. Decuma is very natural, and has a very good recognition rate. But... see below...
* Rotate/Swivel screen. Use the unit as a micro-laptop, or as a micro-tablet.
* Bluetooth and WiFi. Very easy to setup and use.

Cons:
* This unit only works in landscape mode. I prefer holding the unit in my hand in portrait mode. There doesn't appear to be any setting in software to change this.
* The design favors wireless hotsync, since USB cable is very awkward to plug into side of unit. The cradle should provide the USB connection, and when inserted in the cradle, the USB connection is passed through the cradle (one less wire to insert)
* The battery life is terrible on the UX50 (even compared to the three year old unit I replaced). Perhaps the keyboard light uses up much more energy.
* The memory stick and stylus can come out too easily. I have nearly lost my stylus twice. The end of the memory stick protrudes just a bit too far, and can be easily unlocked.
* New Graffiti is difficult to get used to after a few years of proficiency with the old Graffiti. Some of the strokes are not as easy to use. Perhaps I'll get used to it, but my entry rate is significantly slower.
* Decuma takes up a large amount of screen space when used. There doesn't appear to be any way to shrink it. Also when in wide screen mode, decuma still only uses 2/3 of the screen (the rest of the screen is unusable)
* Decuma should be used in Portrait mode (replacing the Silk). This would free up more screen space, and would still be natural.
* The speaker mute feature should have a timeout, so I can mute for only 1/2 hour or so while in a meeting, but then get my audible alarms afterward.
* Cannot "type" special symbols from the keyboard. I use the bullet symbols all the time, but must enter them using graffiti.

I like the unit. Everybody I show it to is very impressed. The hardware is well designed. If they come out with software that fixes some of my above issues, then I would wholeheartedly recommend this above any thing else presently available.