Sony Clie PDA (PEG-S320)

• 160 by 160 dpi monochrome display
• 8 MB built-in memory
• Expansion slot
• On-screen keyboard data entry, optional portable keyboard available
• What's in the box: Clie Handheld, USB HotSync Cable, AC Adapter, Stylus, Installation CD-ROM, Applications Manual, Graffiti Sticker, Protective Cover

I held out from buying a PDA for a while I didn't want to give up the farm for one but I also wanted one that would do a little more than be an electronic datebook. I did a fair amount of research and decided on the CLIE S320. (BTW, I recommend pdabuzz.com) Now that I have had it for a month, I feel even more convinced that I bought the best PDA in the under $200 catagory.

In general, the unit offers all of the features I was looking for at this relatively basic level: address book, date book, memo pad, beam function, expense report, and helpful/fun software like zagat's restaurant guide. The CLIE functions well/as expected in all of these catagories.

Here's what sets it apart as far as the under $200 goes:

-the backlighting is terrific; they basically use indiglo. I don't know of any others at this price range that have such effective backlighting.

-memory stick function makes it VERY easy to add an incredible amount of additional memory (right now, up to 128mb)

-comes with a very sturdy cover that protects it very well; it works like a flip cover, which took a little getting used to, but the hard cover protects the screen well.

-jog dial makes it very easy to access information with one hand

-best of all, the CLIE is RECHARGEABLE. All other under-$200 require batteries. Sure, you can buy rechargeable batteries, but I love the fact that I can plug it into the wall and in about an hour have it fully charged up.

I do not have big demands for my PDA I am using it for fairly straightforward functions. In this light, I am EXTREMELY happy with what I've gotten and the features on the CLIE surpassed any other under-$200 model I could find. Especially for someone looking for their first PDA, this one comes HIGHLY recommended.

Buy Sony Clie PDA (PEG-S320) Now

I originally ordered a Palm m105, but after I read the reviews on this little jem, I sent the Palm right back to Amazon!

Let me tell you, this PDA is incredible. The best one you can buy for the $150 $300 price range, and I have seen almost every Palm based PDA and this is tops. Amazing reliability and battery life. I constantly use the backlight for various things when I am in low light areas, and it is a very cool, indigo type color that is extremely easy to look at. The screen is sharpest I have seen for 160x160, and the screen size itself is larger then the m105 and m125, both palm products.

Another thing which makes this a top PDA is its expandability. Sony has jumped on the market with better planning then any other company, releasing addons, upgrades, and peripherals at a steadier pace then any other company selling Palm powered devices.

Slot for memory stick gives this virtually unlimited memory if you buy the sticks, which are not too pricey.

Reliability has been great, with no problems at all. Had to do two hard resets because of bad software, but it was not the fault of the Clie.

Recommendations could not be stronger, everything about this PDA is outstanding. And for the people who need to get second glances, the looks of this are tops for any handheld device using the Palm OS.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Clie PDA (PEG-S320) Here

Because of a fried hard drive on my laptop (courtesy of the Newark airport security check), I used this PDA as my main computer for a month, several hours every day. Here's what I found:

Pros:

* Rechargeable. Sony Clie is rechargeable, which means less weight and no hassle with changing batteries. In addition, the PDA has easily clocked 50-60 hours of work without the need to recharge it. After those 50 hours, the batteries were still half full, but I did not dare to go beyond that. Lastly, the power cord supports a power range that enabled me to recharge Clie in both the US and in Europe.

* Expandable. Sony Clie is by far the cheapest PDA around with an expandable slot for memory stick cards. This makes it a particularly good e-book reader as well, with lots of extra space.

* Durable. I have tested Sony Clie in temperatures from 0F to 85F; always worked perfectly. I dropped it numerous times, and there is still no problem.

* Ergonomic. I never had the same problem as with my palm accidentally turning the unit on. This is a huge battery saver.

* Wheel. The unit has a small wheel, which enables you to navigate without touching the screen. This is excellent for reading e-books, as well as handling other functions with only one hand.

Cons:

* Manual. The bulk of the manual comes only in electronic form, which may inconvenience some of the users.

* Screen. After about 250 hours of usage, the screen is starting to show some scratches. A protective layer is advised.

Overall, Sony Clie is so cheap that even without its movie player and picture viewer it remains the best buy among Palm-based PDAs.

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As entry level PDA's go, you will be hard pressed to find a unit better then this one. Compared to the m105 and visor deluxe, all those units pale in comparison. For its price there is no pda that can buy what this clie gives you. Its the only entry level PALM unit that gives you expandability through the memory stick but it is also battery rechargeable. Although the screen is still monochrome and not hi-res like higher end siblings, its screen is still one of the brightest and clearest around. Using SONY's "STAMINA" lithium batteries, this unit just goes on and on.

If you're thinking about buying a PDA for the first time but don't want to spend too much money, forget the m100 series. Go with this unit. You wont regret it.

The CLIE S320 was my third PDA in the sub $... price range and in terms of features and performance, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.

The main thing that makes the S320 such an attractive buy is that it is one of the few (if not the only) PDA in this price range to feature a rechargeable lithium battery. Second, although the display appears to be slightly smaller than on a 100 series Palm, it is easier to read and features a much more usable backlight. Third, it is expandable. The lowest priced expandable PDA made by Palm is the M125, which typically sells for about $... more and does not have rechargeable batteres. Fourth, the jog dial makes it much easier to navigate through the desktop than using the stylus, although it admittedly takes some getting used to.

The only negatives about the S320 is that it does not come with a hotsync cradle, although it does come with a separate sync cable and battery charger. I don't find this to be much more than a minor inconvenience. The display to me appears to be slightly smaller than that of a Palm, but the fact that it is much easier to read and features a better backlight than the Palm more than makes up for it.

I have had only a brief opportunity to compare the S320 to the Handspring Visor series, which I also think is a good buy for the money. To me, the CLIE has a more contemporary look than the Visor's cheap "plastic calculator" look, although they are similar in performance, depending on the Visor model (I'm speaking about the Neo series here).

Overall, Sony has managed to provide a number of good and useful features in the S320 for its price. It can be bought almost anywhere for approximately $.... This one is well worth a look. Unfortunately, I'm selling mine because my wife bought me a Palm M500 for Christmas, a PDA which is only slightly better than the CLIE but costs twice as much.