Of palmOne and Sony - enemies and friends, competitors and partners, finally, Americans and Japanese, respectively. However, despite the inconsistency of their combines large-scale activity on the handheld-computer market. Both manufacturers over the years confirms its leadership. If palmOne known tradeoffs, as well as the broadest coverage of the audience, starting with the most affordable PDA, then the Sony more characteristic of technological innovation and design refinements. However, the two giants are equally remarkable in light of the latest novelties. Thus, the model Sony Clie TJ37, Sony and Palm Zire 72 from palmOne compete with one another almost on an equal footing, having similar functionality and a very similar price. Understandably, in such a situation, the inhabitant is not easy to decide on a specific purchase, the more so because both products have turned out to be extremely worthy. Therefore, we will all find out together and choose the best out of the middle class platform Palm OS, bringing handhelds in real hard duels.
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We begin, as usual, with the packaging. Set both computers do not suffer from an excess of - all in moderation, but nothing extraordinary. The cradle is missing, it replaces the cable, which can often be even more convenient. Especially it will please people who have to often stay away from home - lace smaller and lighter base. Cover is only complete with Zire 72. TJ37 satisfied with hinged protective lid and a "handcuff" to wear on your wrist. In other similar delivery - documentation, software etc.
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Having reviewed the "clothes", get "access to the body" and enjoy the true form of machines. Externally, handhelds are quite different. If the TJ37 is restrained and conservative, the design Zire 72 Crickley and modern. Machine from palmOne combines a light metallic gray with blue insert. Track looks very stylish and cool, even the kind of original. TJ37 in this regard are simpler, but more impressive. With a matte light gray casing as a whole, it dilutes the picture of scarce inserts brilliant controls and region of the chamber. Thus, the product palmOne longer have to afford the young buyer who wants to stand out from the crowd and get into private use an elegant stylish thing, which is envied by friends. But this product from Sony will obviously prefer a more solid customers who value in things to emphasize their status in society.
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In contrast to the exterior of the ergonomics of both computers are fairly similar. Particularly contribute to this subjectively very similar size-weight parameters. Controls to launch the product palmOne forward. In TJ37 they are more likeable, but also less convenient. Particularly upset at all the miniature keyboard accelerator applications. Not better to get the navigation buttons and a very low speed. Zire 72 in this regard as far from ideal - it clearly lacks the scroll wheel or lever bearing on the left side, but it is available it is more convenient than the TJ37.
Exterior Decoration, exterior
"Geography" elements in the CCP test is as follows. At the top end TJ37 has stilusny compartment, "eyes" Wi-Fi-module and an IR port, headphone output and an expansion slot.Do Zire 72 Wi-Fi has changed Bluetooth'om and Memory Stick - SD / MMC, added a button on / off, the rest of the composition remained the same.
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Both handheld expansion slot closes the shutter - the most practical option of protection from dirt and dust. Location headphone jack on the upper side is also true in terms of ergonomics. Finally, the "eyes" of wireless capabilities on top - the perfect solution that will relieve the user from the inconvenience, for example, when using the PDA as a remote control. And here is quite small and almost no acting at the level of housing a button on / off switch for Zire 72 - a controversial move of the manufacturer. The fact is that to use it because of miniature is not too convenient, and high demand for this element is obvious why the declining overall ergonomics. Do not paint the device and right-sided position output for headphones - pivot "geography" TJ37 is more convenient and practical. The left side contains the new items from Sony mount a protective cover, while the Zire 72 is a button to start recording.
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Location on the left side of the case only for fixing the cover - a luxury. This facet is very easy to use, to dispose of it so generously. Better picture of Zire 72, but even here there is only one element, and he is not the first priority. We can only guess why the company decided to withdraw from, say, a scroll wheel, or a hardware button controls the camera, which would have been here at the time. At the bottom of a TJ37 is a connector for synchronization and a slider open / close the camera lens. Charging is performed by the staff of the adapter. Zire 72 deprived of the hardware controls the camera, with only a hole for charging and syncing.
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Such a location of a chamber slide in the product from Sony, though not very comfortable, yet clearly paints a typewriter in the light of the lack of similar opportunities for Zire 72. Incidentally, the last - a big minus an American, because the camera lens in the CCP remains without any protection to the blows of fate. It is strange that palmOne did so recklessly. On the right side of the Sony Clie TJ37 is a button shooting, as well as a slider on / off / lock device. Zire 72 uses this face for the stylus, but because the controls are not in cars.
In this case, the Zire 72 looks again to the feast of ascetic elements in TJ37. If the function of capturing a frame from a computer running joystick navigation, the hardware lock, available from the competitors, 72 of the models available - a big minus for music lovers.
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On the back of the TJ37 are the speaker, camera, and the hole soft rezet. Absolutely identical situation with the Zire 72. True, the "geography" of these elements in different machines, but an equal.The lower part of the front panel of the Japanese computer looks more stylish and compact. It contains four hardware application buttons, two navigation keys left and right, as well as the scroll wheel. Despite their cute, as noted above, it is also less ergonomic analogue of the palmOne Zire 72. American track occupies almost the entire sub-screen area and is clearly inferior to the Japanese rival in elegance. However, it is surprisingly comfortable, although innovative in comparison to its predecessor, Zire 71 - the joystick is now replaced by an ordinary Five-way button. Incidentally, the latter is very ergonomic and certainly lovers of toys.
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Such a seemingly simple and nothing unremarkable element, such as a stylus, in test models differ markedly. If he TJ37 telescopic metal-plastic, cute, but pretty thin and lightweight, making average of ergonomics, the copy available to the Zire 72, was pleased with the convenience, the same design refinements were "overboard." In the latter case we have a whole plastic pen in black - far from the ideal of beauty instance. We summarize the exterior impression. Each of the duelists has its pros and cons of each have positive and negative sides, each suitable for different users. If you are a little concerned about ergonomics PDA, but it would be nice to show off to friends, acquaintances, colleagues, Sweet Home Alabama, Sony Clie TJ37 would be at the time. Handheld, though, and has a rich set of controls, and an enviable compact, and quite moderate weight, it is unlikely the buyer will appreciate the convenience of work. palmOne Zire 72, with quite a nice "up" as a whole, is inferior in elegance parts Japanese competitors. But the machine is easy to operate, unless, of course, a close eye on its management of asceticism. Furthermore, in terms of exterior paint is not explicitly Zire 72 and the lack of protection for the chamber of the lens that has a TJ37, and even managed in hardware. This drop of tar fixes regular cover of the American product, which looks much more attractive and more practical to use than a flip lid TJ37. In general, both models showed a roughly equal contenders - the same way and at the same time in different strengths, and therefore to make possible an objective verdict to the internal machines.
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Comparison of hardware
Hardware palmOne Zire 72 is based on Intel processor with a clock frequency of 312 MHz, while the TJ37 has a 200 MHz-m "stones" produced by Motorola. Let us not make hasty conclusions, and provide a benchmark, in which dwell a little lower, the more so subjective in their daily work pretty hard to notice the difference, especially if you do not execute on the PDA "heavy" tasks like video playback. On the part of RAM handhelds are almost identical - 32 total and 24/23 MB user accessible from Zire 72, and Clie TJ37, respectively. But on the expansion slot situation is quite different. So, the TJ37 has a proprietary Memory Stick - not very common and quite expensive format, of which Sony is simply a pity to abandon in the light of the considerable sums invested in it. At the same time, the Zire 72 has a democratic and SD / MMC, which, of course, has not yet CompactFlash, but not Memory Stick, in general, the best option for a compact device. Particularly pleased with standard support SDIO, which means that the opportunity to equip handheld card peripherals, significantly expanding thereby functional machine. Both experimental modules have built-in wireless, however, different standards.If the Zire 72 is a ubiquitous and therefore demanded Bluetooth, then the TJ37 has a not too popular, but is rapidly growing in its usefulness ordinary user Wi-Fi. We are convinced that many of the latter can be useful especially in light of its active promotion, but the Bluetooth we still seem more attractive, but because Zire 72 gets another point in your cart.
Comparison of the cameras
Photo opportunities are actively included in the latest mobile devices are constantly being improved and new functions. That's our "rabbits" have a similar bonus.
Unfortunately, none of the existing cameras are not supplemented with standard flash, and therefore have to care about proper lighting. On paper, the question of leadership does not even arise - Zire 72 has four times more powerful matrix that can take pictures in a totally "adult" 1280 x 960 pixels - unattainable strap for most modern phones and PDAs. With regard to Japanese rivals, its maximum image mode is only in the mobile standard 640 x 480 pixels. At the same time Zire 72 has the ability to shoot not only the highest quality mode, but some of the following options: 640 x 480 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels. TJ37 available for 320 x 240, 320 x 480 160 x 120 pixels. By increasing the frame of the computers are identical - both phones are equipped with doubly digital zoom.
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| An example of digital zoom for palmOne Zire 72 |
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| An example of digital zoom for Sony Clie TJ37 |
Practical testing has revealed a very bleak picture - none of the cameras are not capable of making a truly high-quality images that can be printed out and hung on the wall of pillows, enjoying every evening to his skill. Yes, of course, the Zire 72 features a surprisingly good and could be more than sufficient for printing, but the novelty is unsatisfactory works even when the average luminance, not to mention the twilight or even night. Not better things in the handheld with similar objects, and even more close-up. In general, the true quality of shots is not much better, and sometimes even worse than the TJ37. From losing model saves a high-resolution imagery and blurred at the edges of the photographs made Sony Clie TJ37. The latter, by the way, perhaps the only serious drawback Japanese PDA. In other machine has proved to be a good idea - you can take pictures even in rooms not the best light, and close objects clearly distinguishable. Established shade for a chamber of the lens and the call does TJ37 with high-technology sibling.
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| An example of the camera palmOne Zire 72 |
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| An example of the camera Sony Clie TJ37 |
Screens and nutrition
One of the most important elements of any PDA is the screen, and therefore to him should be treated with the utmost care when choosing a machine. And we will treat ... Displays considered handhelds on paper are identical - 320 x 320 pixels, 16 bit, 65000 colors displayed. However, in practice, the instance is available for palmOne Zire 72, was pleased to higher brightness and richness of colors. However, this does not mean that the TJ37 bad screen does - he is one of the best, but the Zire 72 is even better :-). They feed on handhelds in the budget "lean" batteries fixed restorations. If the capacity of "stomach" Zire 72 is 950 mAh, then the TJ37's is only 800 mAh. In both cases, the functionality is quite high, and similar savings in size and weight characteristics of the device and the price seems too reasonable. But let's not just predict the death, such as patients breathe a little bit ... The tests were carried out in as close to real conditions. Thus, we used not something one application or task, and the average download - reading, games, audio, video, work with the camera module and wireless Internet browsing via the infrared port on a phone Philips 530. In the end we got the following figures: a little over two hours (2:08) at the TJ37 and nearly four hours (3:49) at the Zire 72. As they say, the result is obvious - Zire 72 out of reach.
Hardware results
Summing up the hardware, we can safely conclude advantage Zire 72. Machine, though not significantly, but still closer to its rival for leadership. This computer has the more relevant for most users of wireless module is equipped with a nimble processor and high-quality screen and an expansion slot for a common standard. Finally, Zire 72 has, albeit not the best in most cases, but certainly much more attractive on paper camera. Colors apparatus and more battery life. Thus, the hardware innards derive Zire 72 forward, but look what they managed, because the hardware without software is like a rider without a horse.
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And Sony, and palmOne are known for their generosity on the part of the software, but from the very beginning Zire 72 become leaders because of the newer operating system version - 5.2.8 vs. 5.2.1 in TJ37. Changes, of course, are small, but morally such a trifle puts American product is slightly higher. Additional staff and suites are pleased with both machines - it has everything you need to meet the initial requirements have just bought the machine user.
Performance tests Zire 72 and Clie TJ37
Testing the performance of new products was carried out using the benchmark Speedy 3.1:
As can be seen, the speed of Zire 72 is clearly higher than the performance Clie TJ37. And, interestingly, the cause is not only smart, "stone" - tests show excellent performance and memory, and a graphic part.
Summary
Well, it's time to draw conclusions from the above. As already mentioned, both products are made at a very high level and not disappoint their respective owners. However, in many ways the Zire 72 still goes around the opponent. Of course, Clie TJ37 also not born shit, there he has a competitive advantage, but they do not allow the model to get ahead is really more successful than the Americans, who simply destined to become the spring-summer hit sales. The authors, translation:
