SONY CLIÉ PEG-THJ55

IN BRIEF: An attractive device targeting the multimedia-centric business user rather than the must-have consumer

When Sony introduced the Clié PEG-UX50 device in October of 2003, it was seen by many as the first steps of a company taking the PDA into a whole new area of design and marketing. While the clamshell shape wasn’t new, its processor, the Sony Handheld Engine, was and the Clié PEG-TH55 (£330 inc. VAT) is the latest device to use it. The processor has been designed to offer applications the right amount of speed they need to perform tasks.

Therefore, labour intensive applications, such as using the digital camera, receive the full 123MHz processing power that the Handheld Engine can deliver, while opening a contacts list will require a considerably
lower clock speed. In this way, the device is able to sustain a longer battery life than merely offering power on demand. In use, we found that the TH55 was responsive without any obvious forms of lag or delay.

DARK DESIGN

In keeping with the UX50, this latest device is pitched as a high-end device in the Clié range, aimed at business professionals rather than the casual consumer. The sombre black chassis and the plastic protector, which is smoke black, gives the TH55 the appearance of a gadget, but once you begin to use the handheld, it becomes clear why Sony has opted for the look. On the rear of the unit is a 310,000-pixeldigital camera that incorporates a 2x zoom. The camera is activated by a switch on the left-hand side of the case, alongside a hardware capture button.

As the screen is used as the viewfinder, the see-through cover of the TH55allows you to use the PDA as a camera without the need to touch the display or have the screen protector flapping open. Images you have taken can be dropped into applications, such as your date book for example, as a reminder of what you did. Such a function may at first seem to be aimed at the home user, but this could also work to the advantage of the business user who may wish to keep detailed logs, such as the condition of a sales display at a certain time and place. The 3.7-inch diagonal display allows for the full screen viewing of images as the Graffiti area is set in software and can be pulled up as and when required. The screen has a native resolution of 320 x 480 pixels and has a high-degree of brightness.

With 32MB of built-in RAM memory, supported by 32MB of ROM, users may find that they will soon have need of an expansion card. With support for Memory Stick Pro cards, theTH55 can currently support up to 1GB of memory. When it first appeared in the USA in January, Sony opted to fit 802.11b and not Bluetooth into the device, limiting its usability on the move. Fortunately, for the European release this has been rectified and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be found in this model. In this way, users can make the most of a Wi-Fi connection for Internet and email in the office or home, switching over to a Bluetooth connection with your mobile phone when out on the road.

OVERALL

As is common with Sony devices, the interface allows for a great deal more in the way of multimedia than with standard Palm offerings. That said, the latest version on the TH55 is overly complicated and is awkward to navigate. Sony has added the standard array of applications, including Clié Email and Viewer as well as audio and video players.

The Sony Clié PEG-TH55 fits nicely into the range of devices, but it’s hard to see who the target audience is. Although the use of multimedia functionality can be used by either business or home users to great effect, the device has a major stumbling block. While the Clié fulfils all its functions with ease, the interface of the TH55 is too complicated to make the user want to use it on a regular basis.

RATING: 8

PRICE: £281/£330 (EX/INC. VAT)
PROCESSOR: 123MHZ SONY HANDHELD ENGINE
OPERATING SYSTEM: PALM OS 5.2.1
MEMORY: 32MB (32MB ACCESSIBLE)
EXPANSION: MEMORY STICK
SCREEN: 320 X 480 PIXELS, 65,536 COLOURS
BATTERY: LITHIUM-POLYMER
LINK: USB
SIZE: 72 X 120 X 15MM
WEIGHT: 185G
CONTACT: 08705 424424 WWW.SONY.CO.UK