Sony doesn't exactly develop the newest technology, but nobody
has better designers and nobody can refine an idea like Sony.
The SJ33 is the case in point today: I'm a former Handspring Visor owner, when it was the first PDA to come in colors and the first to come with 8 Megs and an advanced version of the Palm OS.
It was cutting-edge then... and the SJ33, while not cutting-edge any longer, will fill the bill for former Handspring Visor owners and newcomers alike.
First, the display is color, 65k colors worth and bright as all heck. You want to keep a virtual picture frame on your desk, this is a nifty 320x320 screen for displaying hundreds of wallet-sized photos.
Second, MP3s out of the box. Sure, no Memory Stick is included, and you are limited to 128 Meg Sticks at that (the new 256 Sticks are merely double-sided 128s), but you score a few Sticks, and you've got nearly as much MP3 space as a CD. And because it's solid state memory, no shock, no skip, just pure sound.
Third, it comes with the best software bundle of any PDA today. In fact, all Sony handhelds come with superior bundles: Documents to Go lets you view *and* edit Word and Excel documents; Intellisync is the best sync software for Outlook users, bar none; the games are terrific, but Bejeweled is possibly the most addictive game since Tetris; and the utilities for viewing and managing music, photos, and movies (yep, movies too) are far beyond my expectations.
Fourth, it's a Lithium-Ion battery, so you charge it whenever you're not using it, and just go. It lasts awhile, not nearly 9 hours if you're playing Bejeweled constantly or listening to MP3s, but you can go a whole day easy.
Fifth, those flip cases come in colors. I'm sorry, but a little funk in your PDA is a must. I dig colors, and I'm gonna score me that excellent orange one soon.
Now, the bits that kept a fifth star from alignment in the Clie Constellation:
#1 The SJ33 doesn't support Memory Stick Pro, so if you think you want 256, 512, or even 1 Gb Memory Stick space, you have to go a different route, like the NZ series or T series Clies.
#2: MP3 encoding from bundled software is limited to 128kps, 44Hz encoding. If you like 192 or even 256k encoding, you need 3rd party software. Good news is I can play my 192 or 256-bit MP3s with no problems.
#3: The Jog Dial is very cool, but a bit small and stiff. You need some serious dexterity to properly use it while holding the unit (heh, I said "unit").
#4: Palm OS 4.1. Keeps the costs down, keeps the software in the greatest compatibility, but Sony's lead time could've allowed for Palm 5. And it's not truly upgradable either: you patch it. Ah well.
#5: It doesn't come with a cradle. Yeah, the fifth star is withheld on that alone. Cradles are a necessity, and while I do give Sony credit for the compact travel sync/ charge option, I expect a cradle with any PDA. Period.
Let's sum up. A solid four stars, a really good choice for your 1st PDA (it'll go around two hundred), an outstanding upgrade from older PDAs (especially B&Ws and lo-res color), and an all-around high performer. If you don't need a camera, Memory Stick Pro capacities, or Palm OS 5, this is your best bang for the buck.
I upgraded from a Handspring Visor Deluxe that I have been using for almost 3 years. The Clie's higher resolution screen and text look really nice. Colors are bright indoors (a little washed in sunlight). Battery life is very good although I wished they would have included a cradle for recharging and synching. Sony only included cables that plug directly into a port at the bottom of the pda.
I really enjoy the built-in mp3 player and the jog-dial on the side. The unit fits nicely in my front pocket where it can be quickly accessed. Installation and setup were a snap.
Pros Summary:
Great screen resolution and colors.
Small size and convenient flip cover.
Integrated mp3 player works and sounds great.
Good battery life
Reasonably priced
Cons:
Recessed buttons on front bottom can be kind of hard to press.
No cradle (just plug-in cables).
Included datebk does not include the week-at-a-glance that was
included on my old visor.
No voice recorder.
Buy Sony Clie PEG-SJ33 Handheld Now
Pros: Built-in MP3 player; fast processor; high-resolution screen; slick clamshell design; 16MB; excellent screen; hard cover; faster processor; small shape; Thin; light; great color screen; Great battery life.
Cons: Wimpy scroll buttons; includes OS 4.1 rather than OS 5.0; expensive; buttons are small again; Doesn't come with a memory stick
Summary: This is my third handheld, and I'm quite impressed with it. Before this I've used two Palms, the 130 and the 515. I always give my old gadgets away to family because I love keeping up with the latest.
The first thing that should strike you is the great look. This is a handsome PDA; although built with plastic, and not metal, it doesn't take away from the quality feel.
The screen is great. Way better than the Palm 130 and 515, and much better than most Power PC's I've seen. With the backlight on I'm able to utilize it non stop for about 9-10 hours, so this will last you probably about 2 weeks with average use.
The processor speed is lightening quick, I was able to move around while playing MP3's with no lag, also playing MPEG's was a great experience. With the 128 or 256 or bigger meg memory sticks you can fit a huge amount of multimedia in there.
My favorite thing about this as opposed to the Power PC is the speed with which I can just open up and use it. This is a great OS first and foremost, and doesn't have TSR's and other BS piggybacking it like the Power PC OS.
Read Best Reviews of Sony Clie PEG-SJ33 Handheld Here
I am a first time Palm OS PDA buyer. I have owned other PDAs before, but never a "Palm". So I did a little research and was ready to purchase a Sony Clie SJ-30. I happened to notice the SJ-33 on display in the store and sat and compared the two for a while. I went with the SJ-33, and WOW, am I impressed.
The Sony Clie SJ-33 is easy to setup, easy to use, and quite asthetically (sorry, if I misspelled that) pleasing. The cover fits nicely and securely over the face and the buttons so I can carry my PDA in my pocket without accidentally starting something. The screen is clear and easy to read. And synching your information is a snap (or should I say a tap...okay, bad joke).
The only drawbacks I see are the lack of a cradle for synching and charging. The SJ-33 uses one adaptor that fits into two cables (one for synching, the other for charging). A bit cumbersome, but I can deal with it. I have to agree with the other reviewers who say that the battery drains a bit quickly.
Other than those two drawbacks, I have absolutely no complaints about the Sont Clie SJ-33. I have only had it for about a week but am VERY pleased. I can't wait for my memory sticks to arrive from Amazon so I can try out the built-in MP3 player.
Want Sony Clie PEG-SJ33 Handheld Discount?
I've been a Palm and Pocket PC user for about 3 1/2 years now, and I've had a number of models, and I'm a big believer in PDAs as a powerful and handy personal organizing tool. Also they double as Gameboys and eBook readers, so you'll never be bored waiting in the doctor's office or standing in the checkout line ever again. Or I just think up more useful ways to use my Palm, which isn't hard.
This is another very nice PDA from Sony. Not all users will need these features, however. If you don't need the MP3 player, which will reduce battery life, you might want to just get the Sony SJ22 instead, which is 35% cheaper, and has an even slimmer profile. It also has an audio recording function, which not all users may need, but the speaker actually doesn't sound too bad considering it's probably about the size of a postage stamp. Headphones are included, though, if you want to listen to music.
One nice thing is the size and profile. This unit is also about half an inch shorter than the PEG T655 and T615 models, similar to the Palm Tungsten, and along with it and the SJ22, are the first color models to really fit in your front pocket, where I like to carry mine. The integral plastic flip-up cover looks better than the leather flaps on the SJ22 and T655 and T665 models too, and the case has nicely rounded contours that fit better in your hand compared to the latter models, which are more rectangular.
With a 66-MHz processor, twice the speed of the recent PEG T665 and T655, units, there is almost no time lag between pressing a function button and having the application pop up, although they all have the same amount of memory--16 megs. I like to store a lot of ebooks on my Palm, and that's enough for at about 50 typical length novels or other books in Palm format, which run about 200k to 400k per book. If you add on a 128-meg memory stick, which you can get pretty cheap these days, that means you could store 400 books on your Palm Pilot--a virtual library in the palm of your hand. Pretty cool.
I compared the brightness of the screen with the Handspring Prizm, which has a very bright screen, and also the Palm Tungsten, the Sony PEG T665, and the Palm Zire, and they're all comparably bright. The screen is partially back-reflective TFT technology which is solidly established as the display of choice for these devices now, and it works very well, being visible both outiside and inside. That fixed the problem with early color units like the original Palm IIIc and the HP Jornada which could only be read indoors or at least not in bright daylight. However, you'll notice one characteristic of these screens, ever since their advent on the Compaq iPAQ 3650 Pocket PC, is the slightly milky appearance of the screen. It's not that annoying, however, and is a small price to pay for outdoor visibility.
Lastly, the Sony models all have the jog-wheel and the back-button, which makes them almost completely capable of one-handed operation, and is much more convenient that the Palm models. I hope the American Association of Disabled Persons is taking note, here, and will make this their officially approved PDA.
For my money this unit is a better buy than the Tungsten at almost a 40% cheaper price, since I don't care about the built-in Bluetooth technology in the Palm, although don't get me wrong, the Tungsten is a great unit. But the lack of software fully supporting OS 5.0 in the Tungsten means you're better off with OS 4.1 in the Sonys.
My only gripe is that the back button, compared to the SJ22, is hard to access, being just below the jog-wheel and not as prominent as on the SJ22. You almost have to hit it with the edge of your fingernail.
Overall, however, another great PDA from Sony at a competitive price.
This card has been rocking out my newest games on the highest settings. It runs very quiet as the fan is often at 29 RPM.
