We take a first look at the new Sony CLIE PEG-SJ20, a Palm-based handheld with an attractive price.
With some of the latest handhelds costing as much as desktop PCs, it's nice to see Sony developing more affordable models such as the CLIE PEG-SJ20. The latest addition to this line is an AU$549 Palm OS PDA with a high-resolution monochrome screen and 16MB of RAM. We just received our review unit and are still testing it, but here are a few initial impressions.
The SJ20 has squarer edges compared to other Palm-based handhelds such as the Handspring Treo 90 and the Palm m125. Measuring 10x7.3x1.7 centimeters and tipping the scales at 128 grams, the CLIE has an exterior that's adorned with typical Sony features, including a jog dial and a Memory Stick slot. The scroll button below the screen is larger than that of the T-series CLIEs, a definite improvement that gamers will appreciate.
The most striking feature of this handheld is the 7.3cm screen, which is black rather than gray when the CLIE is turned off. Power it on, and you'll notice that the text and icons look smoother in comparison to other Palm handhelds, thanks to the screen's increased resolution (320x320 pixels vs. 160x160). Additionally, the SJ20 has a better backlight than previous monochrome CLIEs such as the PEG-T415. Unfortunately, you'll find that it's difficult to read anything on the dark display when the backlight is turned off (to conserve battery power).
The SJ20 gets its juice from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Unless you take the CLIE on an extended trip and want to leave the cable at home, you shouldn't need to worry about saving power. As for the cable, it's the only way to power the device since Sony doesn't include a cradle. You also get a USB cable to sync with your PC. (There's still no Mac support out of the box.)
The SJ20 is yet another Palm OS-based handheld for the budget-conscious shopper to consider. Check back soon for our full review.
Sony CLIE PEG-SJ20
Company: Sony Australia
Price: AU$549
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 13 7669
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