Two Samurai: Sony Clie PEG NX73V and the NX80V

A long time ago in galaxy, far, far away ... Oh, that's me ... In fact, not in any distant galaxy, but on our sinful earth, the land of the rising sun, the industrious and ingenious Japanese with enviable speed continue to produce miniature works of hi-tech art. For example, I'm used to the "fertility" of engineers and Sony each time looking forward to the appearance of regular cars. In this review we will focus on the last two updates - "Samurai" CLIE PEG NX73V and the NX80V.

Design, or seven reasons "for"

There is such a thing - tyunning. For those who do not know, I will explain the example of the car. Undertakes regular production model, and with minor alterations being sent "to the mind." The changes generally apply only to the appearance and interior car. This procedure is very popular among our motorists: buy yourself an iron horse of domestic production, and then equip it with a central lock, alloy wheels, sport steering wheel and a host of other "necessities." So, NX73V and the NX80V against the previous model line look like the past tyunning PDA. The company Sony, like zapravskaya automotive shop, earn sensational design once NX70, erecting in its database more accurate and easy to use handhelds. From basic handheld news inherited the concept of housing - a clamshell with a rotating top, on which the screen. Under it, the bottom sash is placed Hardware mini-keyboard. What changed? Let's order ...

The first

Improved rotary module with a built-in it lenses: it cleared of all buttons (except for the switch to filter NX80V). Press the power migrated to end the case and has teamed up with the lever "hold". In general, all buttons (except the gate) is now performed in small levers - switches, in the same style with the VAIO notebooks. This is certainly commendable, but at first all these "zatvorchiki" slightly violate the spent motor function.

Sony PEG-NX73V

Sony PEG-NX80V

On the rotary unit is no longer any indicator, since LEDs are "Power" and "Rec" moved to the end hinged lids: they are now clearly visible as in the open and closed lid. Additive power saving mode - auto shut-off display when you close the lid (again, like a laptop).

The second

Display at the NX73 has a much brighter - at least twice. By this characterization it quite a bit inferior to the famous "flashlight» HP iPAQ H5450. A contrast of all displays SONY never had any problems. For this part of the Japanese PDA, perhaps, be called confident leaders.

Third

Famously made a slot for expansion cards, CompactFlash: it no longer sticks out as a hump, like the NX70, and not hidden in the bottom of the case, as in NZ90, and cleverly built into the top of the back of the computer. Yes, so that once and it did not detect. Find "CF-taynichok" managed only with a special lever on the back of the PDA, on which was written "open" (pull, little girl, the rope - and the door opens:). And it really is just pull the lever opening the compartment for memory cards (such as bays for video cameras in the same Sony). Very elegant and ingenious solution.

Expansion connector format CF

True, snap the lid back on the already inserted CF card does not fail. With this will have to accept.

Sony NX c CF-card

CF slot also has a number of functional limitations: conventional maps of this standard is not supported by most proprietary applications SONY. Among them, for example, CLIE cameras, CLIE Movie Recorder and CLIE Audio Player. However, the internet can find enough programs from third-party manufacturers who will be working CF-cards on the Clie.

Fourth

New items include a slot for a new formation Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro). These carriers could potentially hold up to 30 GB of data (scary to think that when something so much can really be necessary)! However, while the samples are available in 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB. According to representatives of Sony, the data rate of new items ranging from 15 MB / sec to 20 MB / sec, which znachitelng exceeds that of common MS. These cards are also well protected from unauthorized dissemination of valuable data that provides technology Access Control Function (data protection in case of lost or stolen card) and MagicGate (protection of data during transmission or reproduction of different content).

Fifth

The hardware keyboard is, as usual, for two thumbs. In principle, you can print, although I personally prefer the slightly slanted button Tungsten C. Small distance between the keys, and additional characters placed between them, leaving not much space for the application of Russian layout. And, indeed, what we waiting for? Sony officially PDA in Russia does not deliver, so think about the location of foreign characters is not required. The keyboard is equipped with a rather dull yellow-orange backlighting.

Sixth

Application buttons have decreased in size and for convenience have been duplicated. Now they are located directly above the keyboard (for use with a palm on a gross basis) and directly under the display (for use in the folded position when the keyboard is covered by a screen).

Seventh

The stylus is moved from the bottom of the top, closer to the steering module, so get a pen now you can even touch. It's unclear, however, why the developers made his telescope, to work with a folding stylus is not very convenient.

Completion

The set includes: the computer itself, headset with remote control, stylus, CD with software, an adapter (for direct connection to computer and network adapter), AC adapter and cradle. By the way, the developers change the cradle they had all remained the same, that was and the founder of lineup NX. Yes, and why ... The only thing that seemed odd - it's the color of NX73V. The fact that the machine itself - a black, a "cradle" at her for some reason the silver.

Little about iron

Processor

CCP have provided a new processor, or rather improved version of the same series of XScale PXA from Intel - PXA263 200 MHz. Nothing special about this pebble can not tell, but the Pocket PC this processor yet.

Memory

NX73V has on-board 16 MB RAM (of which 11 MB user available) and 32MB of ROM. For the classical Palm-and quite enough. The older model NX80V is equipped with 32 MB of RAM (of which the user is available, exactly half - 16 MB) and the same 32 MB ROM. Given that the latest handheld is equipped with a good camera with a resolution of 1.3 million pixels, the memory limit of 16-th MB is not entirely correct, however, will likely have to fork out for expensive card or MS MS PRO.

Sony PEG-NX73V

Sony PEG-NX80V

Display

Permission from the screen, a traditional series NX (NR and NZ too) - 480h320 points, supported by the 65536 colors. Its size - 3.8''- one of the largest PDA. Contrast and brightness of the Japanese display - simply extraordinary. Read the article on this can be in any light, even at a minimal level of illumination. This is perhaps the best currently available on the market for handheld devices with screens trancflektivnoy illumination. So, Sony once again ahead of the rest, and we can only envy the happy owners of that computer.

Communication capabilities

To my great regret, none NX73, NX80 neither integrated Bluetooth-module no. Although carefully digging in the manual, have found that constructive computer still provides the opportunity to integrate Bluetooth-adapter. This device is built into a rotating unit, next to the lens cameras, there is and the light of the adapter. What explains the lack of a wireless communication module is unknown. But judging by the rumors, Bluetooth equipped only Japanese models Sony. I also went to American brothers, so that the quality of wireless handhelds on the new test failed. Lack of Bluetooth partially brightened advanced infrared (IR 1.2) with the functions of a consumer IR. That is, if the appropriate software can turn the handheld into a remote control of all home appliances.

Dimensions and weight

Dimensions for both models are absolutely identical - 71.9h131.5h21.8 mm. Weighs NX80V - 235 grams, and NX73V - 230 grams, or about 1,5 times heavier than a typical Pocket PC.

Food

PDAs with built quite capacious Li-Ion Pol battery on 1200mAch.

Runtime

To test battery life when reading books used the program MobiPocket Reader (v4.7) in the automatic shift with an average speed of 25 characters per second. Time was measured before the first warning. After a system warning of low battery computer worked normally for about 15-20 minutes.While reading the battery life varied depending on the illumination of 2 hours and 45 minutes to 9 hours 10 minutes (just below the graph, red). View the video (stream 600Kb / c) with maps of MS in full screen mode using the CLIE Movie Play takes (on the graph in blue) of 2 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours and 20 minutes. When playing audio files (mp3, 128Kb / s) from the memory card using the CLIE Audio Player PDA lasted nearly 12 hours with backlight off (on the chart in green). Compared with the NX70 is playing music from heroes of our review has nearly doubled, and operation mode of reading - almost 1,5 times. Nothing has changed only with scrolling video - all the same more than 2 hours at maximum brightness.

Multimedia

Photograph

The main difference from the NX73V NX80V - a type of digital camera. In younger NX73V built a cheap 300-kilopikselnaya CMOS (or - CMOS) matrix with the highest possible resolution images of 640x480 pixels, and the NX80V is equipped with more serious - 1.3-megapixel CCD. As you know, different from CCD CMOS less noise. If the first camera it is rather a toy, after all pictures 640x480 suit except for Internet pages, the second is quite suitable for the standard photographs 10x15 cm In addition, the lens at the NX80V - more telephoto. No optical zoom and digital - only twice. For obtaining photographic images with the integrated digital camera using a program CLIE camera, which you can specify the type of media to be zapisyvatcya photos (CF not supported), frame size, the method of numbering picture, sound, setting the shutter, brightness, white balance, self-timer settings, produce select the shooting mode (only for NX80V) and ask one of the four effects (black & white, sepia, negative, or the sun). Application is invoked either through the menu or pressing the shutter button. Rent is quite convenient, as the viewfinder, use the display device. The only downside is the fact that the shutter button is pressed half-heartedly, as in digital cameras.

CLIE PEG-NX80V

Summarizing, we can say that the NX80V has almost the same set of settings that inexpensive digital camera. For a complete happiness NX80V is equipped with more focus and lighting (for use in low light conditions) and neutral filters.

Video recording

To record video using the application CLIE Movie Recorder, which can run as from the main menu and press the shutter button. The program is compatible with the CLIE Picture (there is a special button to switch between the two applications). In its preferences you can set the speed of video and audio streams (192/32Kb/s), the duration of the recorded video (60 minutes), file numbering method, brightness, white balance, the volume of recorded sound and special effects. Video is recorded in a format Movie Player (MQV) with a resolution 160h112. Unfortunately, the record on the CF again not provided.

Play video

Play video possible in principle to both the internal memory, and with any of the external media (CF or MS PRO). Here's the manifest advantages of cards CF - the most inexpensive, popular and high-capacity modules. Good, now quite possible to afford this card standard 256 or 512 MB. Such a solution would cost much cheaper than Memory Stick. However, there are some pitfalls. Movie Player The program can not work with memory cards CF. As we have said, this application only supports a proprietary card sonievskie MS and MS PRO. So if you want to play video cards CF (quite reasonable and fair desire:), something about the program Movie Player will have to forget. To help you come free utility Kinoma Player, which is still how to play videos - with CF, MS, or from the memory of your Pocket PC. True, the files will convert in advance using Kinoma Producer. To check out the "videocposobnosti KPC, used five specially prepared clips streaming from 480 to 1000Kb / s. Productivity was determined by the playback speed" movies "with the test, the built-in Kinoma Player. Both computers have shown very similar results. If these figures compared with the results flagship of the Palm, PDA Tungsten C, it is obvious that the 400 MHz processor and 50 MB of memory is preferable for video playback than 16 MB of memory and 200 MHz processor:) Therefore it is not surprising that the results of two-NX73V times worse. However, compared with a recent novelty Tungsten T2 from the same manufacturer, Sony demonstrates a good performance in ocherdnoy again proving a distinct advantage for Intel over Texas Instruments.

Handwriting recognition

In addition to the standard for Palm OS 5.2.1 software Graffiti 2, the package also includes one more application to handwritten character recognition - Decuma. This tool allows you to enter words letter by letter in a special area on the screen, and using multiple options strokes. Undoubted advantage of the program is the ability to create their own alphabet. To do this in the settings menu of the program must specify each letter of his own convenient time for you to write. It will then be able to recognize even the most exotic options flourishes (the main thing that you have written the same way every time the same character). Experiment a bit with the program, I discovered that its recognition engine operates at very high level. At least, no worse than Graffiti 2.Apparently, Sony has ordered the program to third-party developers as an alternative to Graffiti 2 (when it was not clear what the outcome of litigation with the company Xerox, contesting several years now authorship palmovoy entry system). Decuma not russified and yet it is not clear whether all will be the Russian version of the system. As for the traditional Graffiti 2 handwriting, with the help of the national containment MacCentre PaPiRus 2003 it is possible to work on a "great and mighty."

Software

Despite the presence of Graffiti 2 handwriting on PDAs, according to documentation, operating system version 5.0. Why does Sony have left the version number "5.0"? Probably just because of the lack of software Wright Anywhere, which comes with OS 5.2.1 and allows you to write the entire surface of the screen. A set of software is virtually the same as in the previous Pocket PC line - SONY PEG-NX70V. All software is divided into several groups. The list can be seen below (marked with bold application, which gets an additional CD-ROM).

Organizer

- Address 4.52S


- Date Book 4.52S


- To Do List 4.52S


Memo Pad 4.52S


CLIE memo 1.2 - software for handwritten notes


Calc 4.5


Graffiti 2

Productivity

- CLIE Word Alarm Clock 1.12


- Picsel Viewer - Viewer for documents in various formats


- CLIE Demo - description of the computer


- CLIE Remote Commander 1.31 - the remote control home appliances

Data Control

- MS Backup 1.01 - Program to backup data on the map MS and recovery from it


- CLIE Files 1.1.1 - File Manager


- Data Import 1.0 - a program to transfer data from PC to map MS

Settings

- Preferences


- Security 4.5


- Decuma 3.0 - Handwriting recognition software


- Card Info 4.5S


- HotSync 5.0


- Welcome

General

CLIE viewer 1.1 - software for viewing images, videos and music

Picture

- CLIE camera 2.1-management program camera


- CLIE album 1.1 - software for creating and viewing photo albums


- PhotoStand 1.4 - software for viewing photos in a slideshow


- PhotoEditor 1.0 - image editing program

Movie

- Movie Record 1.2 - Program Management camcorder


- Movie Player 1.0 - a program for viewing video


- Macromedia Flash Player 5 (5.0.89.0) - a program for viewing Flash movies

Music / Sound

- Audio Player 3.03 - the program for listening to music


- Voice Recoder 1.1 - digital voice recorder


- Sound Utility 1.22 - Program management and playback system audio alerts

Internet

- NetFront 3.0 - Web browser


- CLIE mail 2.1 - Email Client

Unfiled

- CLIE FAQ 1.1


- PowerOne Personal calculator 2.0.9


- Margi Mirror 1.63


- Margi Presenter 1.63


- Agendus 6.2


- Contacts Pro 2.4.2


- MobiPocket Reader 4.5


- PowerOne Finance calculator 4.1.1


- Visto MessageXpress (requires Internet connection)


- Street Finder 1.05.16 - a program to navigate with GPS


- Vidigo (requires Internet connection)


- WorldMate 9.1.2HD - a program of world time world map


- Acid Freecell 2.8j - card game


- Breakout 1.1 - a popular arcade game Breakout


- GTS Racing Challenge 01.01.14 - 3D racing cars


- TakTik 1.2 - Board Game


- Zap2016! 1.61 - 3D shooter
In addition, some software is only installed on your PC:

- PictureGear Studio 1.0


- CLIE Album Plagin - Transfer of albums between handheld and desktop computers


- Image Station 3 library


- Image Converter 1.0 - software for converting video and audio format PDA


- Giga Pocket Plugin


- Quick Timer 5.0


- Sonic Stage


- CLIE Mail Conduit - Sync Mail Program


- Data Export - Program to transfer data from your desktop computer to a memory card (CF / MS)


- Sound Converter 2 - program that allows you to use MIDI and WAV files as the system sounds


- Mobile Connection Wizard


- Margi Presenter To Go 2.43.1615

Price

Buy NX73 and NX80 can be in multiples of "Computer on your palm" for $ 539 and $ 639 respectively.

Conclusion

We can say that tyunning success. CCP, although in practice and did not change the substantive point of view, but it is much "prettier", with an improved design, more ergonomic control, handwriting recognition and Graffiti2 Decuma, gorgeous display, the card support the new standard MS PRO, video recording capabilities, appearance 1.3-megapixel digital camera (for NX80V), supported by maps CF (albeit limited), decent battery life and so on ... What else should the user Sony full of happiness! That's right - hard-working CF-clot ...:) And the prices would be this Japanese samurai were not. The authors, translation:

Dr. Pocket