Sony Clie PEG-S300
The Clie PEG-S300 is Sony's first attempt at a PDA. It has chosen to use Palm's operating system, rather than Microsoft's Pocket PC, and to launch its first PDA with a monochrome rather than a color screen. While Pocket PC and color screens may be seen by some as the more glamorous end of the PDA market, the PEG-S300 is one example that shows this is not always the case. Sony has, as it always does with its hardware, put design at the forefront, and the silver and blue casing is eye catching while the PDA is small, slim and sleek.
Usability is, of course, just as important as looks when it comes to PDAs. Sony's use of a jog-dial button helps you select applications and data one-handed, reducing the need to reach for the stylus and tap at the screen. When it comes to augmenting the 8 MB of on board RAM, the PEG-S300 has a Memory Stick slot.
Memory Stick is Sony's proprietary data-storage format, and is not as widely supported as the Compact Flash or MultiMedia Card formats. But if you are already a user of other Sony Memory Stick devices then the slot, and the 8 MB Memory Stick, which is thrown in, will be useful.
The Dragonball processor that powers the PEG-S300 runs at 20 MHz--not as fast as some, but fine if all you want to do is use the device for standard PDA-type work. The PEG-S300 runs Palm OS 3.5--not the more up to date Palm OS 4, but the changes in the later version do not add anything too momentous to the Palm applications suite.
A more important issue, perhaps, might be the life expectancy of the internal Lithium Ion battery, which Sony quotes as lasting for just 15 days between recharges. To overcome this rather poor specification, the PEG-S300 comes with both a docking cradle (USB), and separate mains adaptor, the latter providing a charge when you are away from your main PC.
The Clie PEG-S300 is not a state-of-the-art PDA. But it is a stylish one, and the Memory Stick support will appeal to fans of that medium. It is also, it should be noted, reasonably priced. --Sandra Vogel
Features:
Palm OS Software
Unlimited Storage
Easy Organization
Bundled Software
Technical data:
OS: Palm OS version 3.5.1
CPU: Dragonball EZ 20 MHz
Memory: 8 MB (DRAM) / 2 MB (flash memory) / 8 MB (Memory Stick)
Interface: USB cradle, Memory Stick slot, InfraRed PortJog Dial
Display: Backlit monochrome display (160 x 160 resolution)
Lithium-Ion Battery: Up to 15 days (average use 30 minutes per day)
Supplied Accessories: USB cradle, AC adapter, Stylus, 8 MB Memory Stick, Desktop Installation CD, Protective carrying case
Size:4.6"x2.9"x0.6" (H x W x D) ( 114.7 x 70.9 x 15.2 mm)
Weight: 4.3 ounces including supplied stylus ( 121 g)
System Requirements:
Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000 Pro
Intel Pentium (or Pentium compatible) 90MHz CPU or higher
32 MB RAM (64MB recommended)
64 MB available hard disk space
USB port
CD-ROM drive
Mouse
Released: September 2000
