T615C ReviewI have had a Sony Clie T615C for a week now, and here are my impressions and some considerations for potential buyers.
PROS
The T615C has a great screen. Text and other fine details are crisp and easy to see thanks to the 320x320 resolution (four times the pixels of the typical 160x160). Photographs are particularly stunning on this display, and you can fit much more text on the screen (with proper application support). Having experienced the higher resolution, I would never go back to the lower resolution of other PDAs.
The beautiful slim design (only half an inch thick) makes the T615C very easy to fit into pockets and other confined spaces. Also, the unit feels very sturdy and well-built.
The Jog Dial and Back button are great enhancements that all PDAs should have. Once you start using them, they will make navigation through programs much easier. (I believe that these are currently only available on Sony Clie models like the T615C.)
The 16 MB of RAM is much more than enough for most users; I have about a dozen programs installed, plus a full dictionary, and have only used about half the space. Also, inexpensive Memory Sticks can give you even more room.
The included application bundle is quite comprehensive, with a photo viewer, paint program, games, and more. Especially valuable for Microsoft Office users is a full version of Documents To Go 4.0. (Note that some of the included programs are demos only.)
MIDI music clips on the T615C sound great and make for fun alarm sounds.
CONS
Colors on the screen tend to be a bit washed out and muddy (not fully saturated). For example, the red on a T615C screen is not as "vibrant" as the red on a computer monitor. This appears to be a function of using the backlight, since the colors are much better when viewing the T615C screen in direct sunlight (of course, you will almost always be using the backlight). This issue is not important unless you need perfect color reproduction for some reason.
Some T615C units seems to have brighter screens that others, due to manufacturing inconsistencies. Nevertheless, unless you compare the screen side by side with other units, you probably won't notice it.
There is no way to charge the T615 without using the cradle, which is a bit cumbersome to carry around. There is a small AC adapter, which connects to the cradle, and a USB cable to connect the cradle to your computer, which results in a big jumble of wires. If you do a lot of traveling, I recommend investing in a travel charger.
It is unfortunate that Sony is calling the T615C a "personal entertainment organizer" since I find it to be better-suited for everyday business / personal management tasks, not entertainment. This model is not well-suited for playing action games, since the application buttons and the scroll button are somewhat small. Also, it does not play MP3s without a special accessory. If these things are important to you, look elsewhere. Note that *stylus-based* games look great, sound great, and play great on the T615C.
There are not many third-party accessories (e.g. keyboards) for the T615C... yet. This situation will get better over time. Also, though Memory Sticks are great for storage, the MS interface has not been widely adopted for implementing add-on peripherals, like a GPS receiver. If accessories are important to you, you should consider a Palm or Handspring model instead. (Though remember that accessories do detract from the portability of a PDA, particularly a slim model like the T615C.)
ADVICE
Before you buy, visit a local retailer to see the T615C in action, especially its amazing screen.
If you purchase the T615C, I strongly recommend getting a screen protector at the same time. A protector is a thin plastic film that is laid on the screen to protect it from scratches. Though you may be able to keep away bigger scratches by handling the unit carefully, it is possible for dust to get caught under the stylus and scratch the screen slightly during normal use. Check online for PDA screen protector manufacturers.
I also recommend getting a case, though this is not as important as the screen protector. You can get a hard case, pouch, or belt clip case, depending on your needs. There are not a large number of case options for the T615C, but enough to satisfy just about anyone.
If you are on a budget, you can get the T415 for about half the price. It does not have a color screen, and has only 8 MB of RAM, but it is even thinner than the T615C and has all of the other features.
For more buying information and advice for the T615C and other Clie models, I have found the Clie Source web site to be an excellent resource. (Amazon does not want URLs posted in reviews, so check a search engine for the URL.)
In summary, I highly recommend the T615C for anyone who wants a great PDA, but who doesn't need a lot of add-ons or entertainment functions. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Since the Clie is now in a new form factor (the T series versus the N series), this leads to its one failing: lack of accessories. No wireless (or wired!) modem, only one case style available, and the audio adapter and camera. Once more accessories become available, the Clie will be a runaway winner
Buy Sony CLIE PEG-T615C/S Handheld (Silver) Now
If you are even thinking of buying anything else,you should seriously reconsider. The Clie T615 (hereafter known as Clie)has everything anyone would need in a handheld. Extreame resolution and double the colors of even a GBA make viewing photos, playing games, reading e-books, and many other miselanious activities a breeze. The Sound quality is unbelievably amazing so you can listen to all your tunes without an MP3 accessory (which you can also purchace if you want an mp3...). 16 meg of internal memory raises it above most palms and visors (which are 8mb). The Jogdialer and the back button are great so you can select and run applications,scroll down in e books, and view pictures one handedly. One unfortunate problem sony has failed to comprehend is that if you were left handed, you would hold the clie in your right hand while writing with your left but the jogdialer and back button are on the opposite side... If your right handed, dont worry about it. The infared port is mostlikely the best thing on the entire system. You can play games, exchange programs, and even turn your Clie into a remote control for your TV. Battery life seems fair untill you recharge it a few times then it will last for about 10-12 hrs strait. Movies are great on the Clie and if you have a movie file on your PC you want ot watch on your Clie You can format it to be compaable with the added on software. One thing that any owner of any handheld will definately need is a memory stick. If you have games, MP3s, photos, e-books or any other extras you will probly want a memory stick to increase your space. This is a great Item and I suggest it to anyone who is even remotely thinking about purchasing a handheld. Even if you have another handheld you should still get this. PS The Clie also comes with a leather screen cover and it's made of Titanium not plastic like palms and Visors. Comes with a cradle instead of a cable too.Read Best Reviews of Sony CLIE PEG-T615C/S Handheld (Silver) Here
I have used four other Palm OS based systems, the V, Vx, IIIc, and 505. I consider myself a power user I have several megabytes of documents on my palm, as well as some large spreadsheets, an automatic time zone changer for my trips, etc. However, I don't use email, modems, or other accessories (other than a travel kit, which is available) for my palms. So, since the closest comparable model is the 505 (and that's what model my CLIE is replacing) , how do they stack up?1. Memory the 505 comes with 8MB, the CLIE with 16MB. Easy win.
2. Speed while I don't know the chips inside them, the time they take to recalculate a given spreadsheet of mine is the same. Tie.
3. Bat Life The 505 seems to have a slight edge in this regard, if only because it is almost mandatory to use the backlight on the CLIE... which brings me to 4,
4. Display The CLIE has double the resolution, an adjustable backlight that even on the dimmest setting puts the 505 to shame. Hands down the CLIE's display is the best I have seen, and finally makes it worthwhile to put photos on your handheld! With the backlight off, the 505 has a slight edge, but both are pretty terrible with the backlight off.
5. Size This is the reason I picked up the CLIE 615. It is the same thickness, slightly lighter, a bit taller but a bit narrower than the 505 (heck, read the dimensions). For those of you who like to keep their handheld as light and small as possible, the CLIE 615 will not dissapoint.
6. Extras The CLIE has the jog dial and back button, trying to make it as one handed as possible, with no comparible feature on the 505. While sometimes it is useful, it is not all that important. The CLIE comes with a good bundle of software, and seems to be built quite solidly.
In sum, the CLIE 615 is great. It does just about everything you would want a handheld to do execpt for built in internet access, which is what the Palm 705 seems to be designed for. I highly recommend it!
Want Sony CLIE PEG-T615C/S Handheld (Silver) Discount?
I received the T615C as a birthday gift last month, to replace my aging Palm ... I've been using Palm devices for about five years now, and so I've come to store my entire life on them...The new T615C has 16MB of internal memory -huge considering the small size of Palm OS applications and records -and I picked up a 64MB Memory Stick...Even after putting things like Avantgo on there, it will be hard to fill 80MB in the absence of MP3 playback. One nifty thing: I was able to take a stick full of pictures from my friend's Sony Mavica camera, and view them immediately on the Clié. Sony is the master of centralization, having put Memory Stick slots in all of their major electronics products except the PlayStation 2. Using MS Import, the Clié in its cradle appears like a hard drive in Windows XP, letting me transfer files to and from the Memory Stick very quickly and easily.The unit is about as large as my old Palm III, and feels about as heavy. The aluminum casing is very stylish and rugged; while the small labels on the back suffer a bit from traveling around in my pocket unprotected, the unit itself feels very solid. It comes with a simple flip cover that flops around a bit, but can be unlatched from the back. I think I'll get a hard case for it, when one comes out. The whole thing weighs about five ounces, and I carry it around in my hip pocket with my wallet, or my jacket pocket easily.
The screen is a transflective color LCD similar to that used in the Game Boy Advance. The screen is impossible to read indoors without using the backlight, but with the backlight it is gorgeous. The colors skew blue a little bit, but aside from that it is excellent for viewing photographs. Sony has once again stressed multimedia for their organizers: the Address book lets you put a small Print Club-sized thumbnail image beside the name, which links to a full-screen image. The included PictureGear Lite software is a bit clunky, but it gets the job done in converting images to fit on the device. Images are stored with very little compression, but you can use third-party apps like AcidImage and FireViewer to view larger JPEG files. I have several subway maps on my Memory Stick, for example. One other nifty trick: you can "retouch" photos by loading them in "CLIE Paint" on the handheld, adding thought bubbles and drawing fake beards on them. Nice touch.
Three weaknesses exist for me with the PEG-T615C. First of all, since the T-series (along with the PEG-T415) is so new, there are very few accessories for it. My old Palm...assories, such as my GoType! Keyboard, are useless with it. This isn't a big problem, since I didn't use the keyboard quite that often. Second, the battery life is limited. The Memory Stick drains the battery particularly quickly, as does the backlight. While I haven't ridden the battery down to zero, I find it necessary to drop it in the cradle for a full charge every day. I've traveled with it for weekends without a problem, using it lightly as with any Palm OS device. Lastly, most people have a beef with the buttons on the front. While the application buttons (Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad) have a nice solid feel to them, the up/down rocker switch is damn near impossible to press. Fortunately, Sony included a jog dial and a Back button on the side, which can be used in lieu of the up/down rocker and Applications silkscreen button in most applications.
A small sun icon in the corner of the silkscreen can be used to adjust brightness of the backlight, a nice touch. Finally, in another traditionally Japanese way, a small hook on the side lets you attach a little lanyard to the side as you would with a mobile phone. Unfortunately, such lanyards are hard to come by in the U.S.
I received the Clié as a gift, so I can't comment on whether it's worth the money... Or, if you're feeling like a new color PDA, splurge. The high-res display is breathtaking, and if you already own a Mavica you can shuttle the Memory Stick back and forth between the camera and PDA. All in all, a very cool PDA.
