Cingular Go Phone: Sony Clie PEG-NZ90 Handheld Review

Well, let's start by the basics. This machine is HUGE by any means if you compare it to any other PDA. It's like, well, the Darth Vader of all the Palm Powered devices. It's black, it's menacing, it's all-powerful. You can stun an attacker with it if you whirl it over your head and hit him (it includes a convenient hand strap for that purpose).
Jokes aside, it is well built (i used to have a Clie NR70V and it was very fragile), the hinges and swivels are tight, it won't open inside your backpack and get all scratched inside.
It is also a nice PDA, with all the useful stuff that any common handheld has. (Memo, Agenda, Address, To Do, Whatever). But it excels on the add-ons. That's the best part.
The digital camera is awesome (autofocus/manual focus, flash, 2.0 MP) and it can store hundreds of pictures. There are many options and settings to play with.
It also has audio recorder software. The sound is crisp, clear, and you can record many, many, many hours of speech, enviromental audio or anything.
As any other Clie, it has its own mp3 player. There's no need to buy the special SONY smartmedia card to use it: a Lexmark alternative will do the trick.
Of course, if you combine audio + pictures, you'll get a video camera. It works as one. Not great quality, it might be compared with having a webcam with you all the time.
What else ? Integrated keyboard, speaker, remote control, a couple of headphones, infrared port.
I can even speak about Bluetooth. I don't have any bluetooth gear in my house, but i'm leaving the wake-up option enabled and see if i find any BT devices in my office. Besides the blinking blue led looks cool :).
It has many improvementes since the last Clie versions. The memory stick has changed its place, so it doesn't flip out every time you put it in your pocket. The craddle is now foldable and you can take it everywhere to charge and/or connect your clie. You can even attach it to the PDA and carry it around.
Even when it is bulky, it is very well built and with a nice eequilibrium... you can hold it in your hand and it won't fall easily. That happened with the NR70V: the screen was heavier than the body, so it fell backwards always.
The keyboard is a lot better and easier to use by now. Also the back button has been moved a little and it's easier to use than before.
The camera doesn't rotate anymore... but i didn't miss the feature, since you can still use it in the open or closed form, to take pictures of yourself or others.
I would complain only about few things:
- The pen is thin ! It looks thinner compared to the huge agenda. And it has a very weird way to attach to the PDA.
- The picture browsing is waaaay slow. I'll better find a better program to handle the pictures.
- I can't recall anything else, but i'm sure that there were some things that bothered me. Ah ! The memory !!! Yes. That's upsetting: you see, there are 16 Mb of RAM but you can access only 11 of them. Why ? I don't know. However the better use of the memory stick features compensates the lack of actual memory. I would have expected at least 64 Mb RAM for a beast like this. Well, let's say it's 4 and a half stars. Oh, the price !!! Wait a little until it drops. But even now it's worth every cent. For a journalist is the perfect tool. And for a physician (who i am) too.
- And, it might seem crazy, but i find this size more comfortable for me than before. I don't think of it as a PDA, instead i think of it as a pocket sized notebook.

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Product Description:
The new Palm-powered PEG-NZ90 Clie handheld pushes the envelope of handheld computing, featuring the new Palm OS 5.0 as well as an ARM-compliant 200 MHz CPU for enhanced overall performance and exceptional multimedia experience.
The built-in 2-megapixel camera supports UXGA resolution (1,600 x 1,200) for high-quality still photos, and includes several enhancements, such as 2x digital zoom, strobe flash, auto focus, and manual exposure adjustment, to help make your photos look their best. You can also record and play back video (MPEG-4) and store it on Memory Stick media.
Built-in Bluetooth technology allows you to pair your Clie handheld with other Bluetooth-compatible peripheral devices. HotSync your Clie handheld with a Bluetooth-enabled Vaio PC, exchange data or play games between Clie handhelds using Bluetooth, or connect to the Internet via a mobile phone with built-in Bluetooth--all wirelessly (Bluetooth-compatible peripherals sold separately and Internet service provider required).
The PEG-NZ90 is also equipped with a wireless communication slot for adding an optional wireless LAN (802.11b) card. Browse the Web, check e-mail, and synchronize data wirelessly with your PC via wireless local area network (LAN access point sold separately and Internet service provider required).
This new Clie also incorporates a voice recorder feature to record and play back voice memos. A 128 MB Memory Stick can hold approximately 535 minutes of voice recording in LP mode. The PEG-NZ90 also includes a slim and stylish multifunction USB cradle, with folding mechanism for portability. It is USB compatible for HotSync operations and printing JPEG still images directly to a printer. You can also display JPEG pictures on a monitor using the AV output.
Another new feature is the removable lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack. The "Smart" lithium battery pack indicates the remaining battery life in minutes. Additional battery packs (PEGA-BP500) sold separately.
Note: Compatible with Sony's wireless LAN card (PEGA-WL100) only. PEGA-WL100 sold separately.
What's in the box