Customer Reviews

Sony Clie PEG-SJ33 Handheld

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sony doesn't exactly develop the newest technology, but nobody
has better designers and nobody can refine an idea like Sony.

The SJ33 is the case in point today: I'm a former Handspring Visor owner, when it was the first PDA to come in colors and the first to come with 8 Megs and an advanced version of the Palm OS.

It was cutting-edge then... and the SJ33, while not cutting-edge any longer, will fill the bill for former Handspring Visor owners and newcomers alike.

First, the display is color, 65k colors worth and bright as all heck. You want to keep a virtual picture frame on your desk, this is a nifty 320x320 screen for displaying hundreds of wallet-sized photos.

Second, MP3s out of the box. Sure, no Memory Stick is included, and you are limited to 128 Meg Sticks at that (the new 256 Sticks are merely double-sided 128s), but you score a few Sticks, and you've got nearly as much MP3 space as a CD. And because it's solid state memory, no shock, no skip, just pure sound.

Third, it comes with the best software bundle of any PDA today. In fact, all Sony handhelds come with superior bundles: Documents to Go lets you view *and* edit Word and Excel documents; Intellisync is the best sync software for Outlook users, bar none; the games are terrific, but Bejeweled is possibly the most addictive game since Tetris; and the utilities for viewing and managing music, photos, and movies (yep, movies too) are far beyond my expectations.

Fourth, it's a Lithium-Ion battery, so you charge it whenever you're not using it, and just go. It lasts awhile, not nearly 9 hours if you're playing Bejeweled constantly or listening to MP3s, but you can go a whole day easy.

Fifth, those flip cases come in colors. I'm sorry, but a little funk in your PDA is a must. I dig colors, and I'm gonna score me that excellent orange one soon.

Now, the bits that kept a fifth star from alignment in the Clie Constellation:

#1 The SJ33 doesn't support Memory Stick Pro, so if you think you want 256, 512, or even 1 Gb Memory Stick space, you have to go a different route, like the NZ series or T series Clies.

#2: MP3 encoding from bundled software is limited to 128kps, 44Hz encoding. If you like 192 or even 256k encoding, you need 3rd party software. Good news is I can play my 192 or 256-bit MP3s with no problems.

#3: The Jog Dial is very cool, but a bit small and stiff. You need some serious dexterity to properly use it while holding the unit (heh, I said "unit").

#4: Palm OS 4.1. Keeps the costs down, keeps the software in the greatest compatibility, but Sony's lead time could've allowed for Palm 5. And it's not truly upgradable either: you patch it. Ah well.

#5: It doesn't come with a cradle. Yeah, the fifth star is withheld on that alone. Cradles are a necessity, and while I do give Sony credit for the compact travel sync/ charge option, I expect a cradle with any PDA. Period.

Let's sum up. A solid four stars, a really good choice for your 1st PDA (it'll go around two hundred), an outstanding upgrade from older PDAs (especially B&Ws and lo-res color), and an all-around high performer. If you don't need a camera, Memory Stick Pro capacities, or Palm OS 5, this is your best bang for the buck.

I upgraded from a Handspring Visor Deluxe that I have been using for almost 3 years. The Clie's higher resolution screen and text look really nice. Colors are bright indoors (a little washed in sunlight). Battery life is very good although I wished they would have included a cradle for recharging and synching. Sony only included cables that plug directly into a port at the bottom of the pda.

I really enjoy the built-in mp3 player and the jog-dial on the side. The unit fits nicely in my front pocket where it can be quickly accessed. Installation and setup were a snap.

Pros Summary:

- Great screen resolution and colors.
- Small size and convenient flip cover.
- Integrated mp3 player works and sounds great.
- Good battery life
- Reasonably priced

Cons:

- Recessed buttons on front bottom can be kind of hard to press.
- No cradle (just plug-in cables).
- Included datebk does not include the week-at-a-glance that was
included on my old visor.
- No voice recorder.

Pros: Built-in MP3 player; fast processor; high-resolution screen; slick clamshell design; 16MB; excellent screen; hard cover; faster processor; small shape; Thin; light; great color screen; Great battery life.

Cons: Wimpy scroll buttons; includes OS 4.1 rather than OS 5.0; expensive; buttons are small again; Doesn't come with a memory stick

Summary: This is my third handheld, and I'm quite impressed with it. Before this I've used two Palms, the 130 and the 515. I always give my old gadgets away to family because I love keeping up with the latest.

The first thing that should strike you is the great look. This is a handsome PDA; although built with plastic, and not metal, it doesn't take away from the quality feel.

The screen is great. Way better than the Palm 130 and 515, and much better than most Power PC's I've seen. With the backlight on I'm able to utilize it non stop for about 9-10 hours, so this will last you probably about 2 weeks with average use.

The processor speed is lightening quick, I was able to move around while playing MP3's with no lag, also playing MPEG's was a great experience. With the 128 or 256 or bigger meg memory sticks you can fit a huge amount of multimedia in there.

My favorite thing about this as opposed to the Power PC is the speed with which I can just open up and use it. This is a great OS first and foremost, and doesn't have TSR's and other BS piggybacking it like the Power PC OS.

I am a first time Palm OS PDA buyer. I have owned other PDAs before, but never a "Palm". So I did a little research and was ready to purchase a Sony Clie SJ-30. I happened to notice the SJ-33 on display in the store and sat and compared the two for a while. I went with the SJ-33, and WOW, am I impressed.

The Sony Clie SJ-33 is easy to setup, easy to use, and quite asthetically (sorry, if I misspelled that) pleasing. The cover fits nicely and securely over the face and the buttons so I can carry my PDA in my pocket without accidentally starting something. The screen is clear and easy to read. And synching your information is a snap (or should I say a tap...okay, bad joke).

The only drawbacks I see are the lack of a cradle for synching and charging. The SJ-33 uses one adaptor that fits into two cables (one for synching, the other for charging). A bit cumbersome, but I can deal with it. I have to agree with the other reviewers who say that the battery drains a bit quickly.

Other than those two drawbacks, I have absolutely no complaints about the Sont Clie SJ-33. I have only had it for about a week but am VERY pleased. I can't wait for my memory sticks to arrive from Amazon so I can try out the built-in MP3 player.

I've been a Palm and Pocket PC user for about 3 1/2 years now, and I've had a number of models, and I'm a big believer in PDAs as a powerful and handy personal organizing tool. Also they double as Gameboys and eBook readers, so you'll never be bored waiting in the doctor's office or standing in the checkout line ever again. Or I just think up more useful ways to use my Palm, which isn't hard.

This is another very nice PDA from Sony. Not all users will need these features, however. If you don't need the MP3 player, which will reduce battery life, you might want to just get the Sony SJ22 instead, which is 35% cheaper, and has an even slimmer profile. It also has an audio recording function, which not all users may need, but the speaker actually doesn't sound too bad considering it's probably about the size of a postage stamp. Headphones are included, though, if you want to listen to music.

One nice thing is the size and profile. This unit is also about half an inch shorter than the PEG T655 and T615 models, similar to the Palm Tungsten, and along with it and the SJ22, are the first color models to really fit in your front pocket, where I like to carry mine. The integral plastic flip-up cover looks better than the leather flaps on the SJ22 and T655 and T665 models too, and the case has nicely rounded contours that fit better in your hand compared to the latter models, which are more rectangular.

With a 66-MHz processor, twice the speed of the recent PEG T665 and T655, units, there is almost no time lag between pressing a function button and having the application pop up, although they all have the same amount of memory--16 megs. I like to store a lot of ebooks on my Palm, and that's enough for at about 50 typical length novels or other books in Palm format, which run about 200k to 400k per book. If you add on a 128-meg memory stick, which you can get pretty cheap these days, that means you could store 400 books on your Palm Pilot--a virtual library in the palm of your hand. Pretty cool.

I compared the brightness of the screen with the Handspring Prizm, which has a very bright screen, and also the Palm Tungsten, the Sony PEG T665, and the Palm Zire, and they're all comparably bright. The screen is partially back-reflective TFT technology which is solidly established as the display of choice for these devices now, and it works very well, being visible both outiside and inside. That fixed the problem with early color units like the original Palm IIIc and the HP Jornada which could only be read indoors or at least not in bright daylight. However, you'll notice one characteristic of these screens, ever since their advent on the Compaq iPAQ 3650 Pocket PC, is the slightly milky appearance of the screen. It's not that annoying, however, and is a small price to pay for outdoor visibility.

Lastly, the Sony models all have the jog-wheel and the back-button, which makes them almost completely capable of one-handed operation, and is much more convenient that the Palm models. I hope the American Association of Disabled Persons is taking note, here, and will make this their officially approved PDA.

For my money this unit is a better buy than the Tungsten at almost a 40% cheaper price, since I don't care about the built-in Bluetooth technology in the Palm, although don't get me wrong, the Tungsten is a great unit. But the lack of software fully supporting OS 5.0 in the Tungsten means you're better off with OS 4.1 in the Sonys.

My only gripe is that the back button, compared to the SJ22, is hard to access, being just below the jog-wheel and not as prominent as on the SJ22. You almost have to hit it with the edge of your fingernail.

Overall, however, another great PDA from Sony at a competitive price.

I first got an sj22. I had it for 2 weeks and discovered it had a manufacturers defect. So I returned it and got this one...it's great. I'd like to add that it comes with everything i needed, except memory stick. I had one 32 mb one already, and my mom bought me a 256 mb one. I have found that the mp3 player is much easier to use than my old Rio 800. I use MS Import to put the music on it. And I even have my own custom alarms, Flintstones, and The Pink Panther. I wish it came with a cradle though.

Pros
1.Good screen, but backlight needs to be on most of the time.
2.Nice hard Flip-top cover, no wierd leather like thing anymore!
3.Nice resolution, especially when reading eBokks with Palm Reader Pro!
4.Fast processor.
5.Good software. Explore the "Sony Handheld" directory on your pc to find some really nifty apps!
6.Has hold function.
7.Good Price.
Cons
1.No cradle. To buy cradle separate costs another 50 Bucks...:(

For the past six months I've been looking for a replacement for my Visor Edge, but none of the PDAs on the market seemed to provide exactly what I wanted. When I found Sony's SJ33, however, I suspected that it was the ideal device for me, and a month of use has only confirmed my satisfaction with it.

I could go on and on about all the features that I like on the SJ33. I'd never been very impressed with the color screens that I'd seen on Palm and Handspring products, but the Sony high resolution display is crisp and bright. The hard flip cover makes a separate case unnecessary; I just slip the Clié in my pants pocket and go. The integrated MP3 player is perfect for taking a mix of favorite tunes on a walk or a commute. Plus, the Clié just looks so darned sleek and sophisticated and cool.

I'm a Mac user, so I had to buy a copy of The Missing Sync to sync the Sony with my iBook. (It would have been nice if Sony had included a rebate so that Mac users could get the software for free. Gestures such as that would go a long way towards winning over the Mac portion of the PDA market.) With the software installed, though, the Clié syncs without a hitch to Address Book and iCal, and it's a simple matter to copy photos from iPhoto and MP3s from iTunes.

What don't I like? Well, nothing really. As others have said, the application and scroll buttons are smaller than on most PDAs, but once I got used to that it hasn't been a problem using them, even for games. And it would be nice if the Audio Player could handle the Apple Music Store's AAC format instead of requiring a workaround to get downloaded tunes into MP3 format.

But I'm just nitpicking. All in all, the SJ33 does exactly what I need it to do. It looks good, it works without a hitch, and it has the feel of a well-made, quality product. I prefer it hands down over any of Handspring or Palm's current offerings, including the much-ballyhooed new Zire 71!

If creating and playing MP3's is one of your big things with this, it may pay to go to the Sony web site and download the detailed product manual or "troubleshooting manual."

A few things to know:

1. The included "ripping" and "transfer" software, "Sonic Stage" only creates ATRAC3 format, not MP3 format. You'll need another piece of software to convert your favorite CD's into MP3 files.

2. If you do use the "Sonic Stage" software to create ATRAC3
files, you cannot use regular Sony Memory Sticks, you have to use "MAGIC GATE" Memory Sticks, which have built in digital rights management. You can put MP3's on a Magic Gate stick, but you
cannot put ATRAC3's on a regular Memory Stick.

"Magic Gate" is a special version of a Memory Stick, same size and footprint, but has digital rights stuff built in. Sort of like how a "Secure Digital" card is the same footprint as
a MMC (MultiMediaCard), but has digital rights built in.

The PEG-SJ33 will accept __both__ regular Memory Sticks and
Magic Gate sticks.

3. More restrictions on MP3 format:

a) The slowest MP3 bit-rate that the PEG-SJ33 will play is 32k bits/sec (32 kbps). That's fine because recorded music is usually encoded at 128 kbps into MP3 files. However, if you listen to __spoken word__ MP3 files encoded at 24 kbps (or slower), the Clie's built-in player will just tell you that
the file is "corrupted". It's not "corrupted", it just
can't interpret anything slower than 32 kbps.

b) The "sampling rate" needs to be 44 K Hz, for the Clie. Spoken word MP3 files are often encoded at 22 K Hz.

We bought several units for office staff. Liked the unit's functionality, but several units had re-charging issues. Could not get satisfactory help from Sony, wanted nearly $500 to "fix" one unit, claiming that it had evidence of moisture damage to the mother board. At that time, it was less than two weeks out of the box, and never exposed to moisture. There was no one from Sony to talk to, despite their fancy voice interactive service line. Called numerous times. Best I got was a commitment that the service team that dealt with it would call me back within 24 hours.... nothing doing. Eventually returned the unit to me - without repair done.

Clie SJ33 had very good form factor and design. There's no need to spend extra $$ on case or hardcase. The built in flip protects the screen and looks cool. Hold/power switch is also very nice for mp3 playback.

The major pro's are,
1. Good build quality and stylish casing.
2. Jog dial, hold switch and memory stick expansion slot.
3. HiRes color display and good backlight.
4. About 7-8 hrs of battery life with mp3 playback.
5. Runs Palm OS 4 which has zillion free apps available. Very easy, reliable and not bloatware unlike Windoze on PocketPC.

Con's,
1. Only 128kbps or low bitrate mp3 can be played.
2. Uses a Lithium Ion battery...
3. To be discontinued and replaced by a newer model by Sony very soon.
4. Memory stick is expensive compared to CF cards. Plus this model won't support new MS Pro sticks.

If you can wait for till Sept/Oct new Sony PDA's should come out with Palm OS 5 and better features at same price point.