Sony CLIÉ PEG-TH55

The Sony Clie PEG-TH55 Palm Powered mobile computer. Let's start with the specifications:


• (WxDxH): 7.6 cm x 1.6 cm x 12.4 cm
• Weight: 184 g
• Sony Handheld Engine 2230GA 123MHz
• ROM: 32 MB
• RAM: 32 MB
• TFT active matrix 16-bit (65k colours)
• Speaker(s)
• Microphone
• IrDA, WiFi IEEE 802.11b
...you can also slide a Sony Memory Stick into it too. These can come in a variety of sizes, from 16Mb up to 1Gb. If you plan to use your PDA to listen to music on the move or watch last night's episode of Eastenders that you recorded on your computer, then you really must get an extra Memory Stick. 512Mb is a good size for most applications, and stops you being frustrated at constantly having to delete something just to get your latest music track ... more

The Sony Clie PEG-TH55 Palm Powered mobile computer. Let's start with the specifications:

• (WxDxH): 7.6 cm x 1.6 cm x 12.4 cm
• Weight: 184 g
• Sony Handheld Engine 2230GA 123MHz
• ROM: 32 MB
• RAM: 32 MB
• TFT active matrix 16-bit (65k colours)
• Speaker(s)
• Microphone
• IrDA, WiFi IEEE 802.11b
• Touch-screen, Jog Dial, stylus
• AC 110/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
• Lithium polymer Battery
• Average Run Time: 15 day(s)
• Operating System: Palm OS 5.2
• System Requirements for PC Connection: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP

The TH55 has all of the ease of use you would expect from a high end mobile computing device from Sony. However, the operating system it employs can be a little bit contrived, and I have managed to get lost in it on a few occasions! The active matrix TFT (Thin Film Transistor (in case you ever wondered)) screen with its 65,000+ colour display is a joy to look at! It is bright enough that most light conditions will not hinder your viewing.

I bought this machine because primarily I wanted a unit that would have WiFi (wireless LAN (Local Area Network)) built into it. Since my home already has a wireless router connected to broadband, it was a simple case of open the box, turn the TH55 on, and connect to the Internet! It really was that simple! Since my network is not at present encrypted, it simply 'sniffed' for any available networks, and once it found mine; it simply went ahead and connected with it. Now should I have had some encryption on the network, it would be able to handle that too. In fact, it can handle up to128bit WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) encryption so that you can use mobile email, and Internet safe in the knowledge that it is only you viewing it! The built in WiFi is of the 802.11b flavour, which means that the maximum amount of data that can be passed between the unit and the router is 11Mbps, however if you use it for Internet, even most fast broadbands run at only 4Mbps, so there is no problem with this. But it's nice to know that should I be in McDonalds, or Starbucks, I get my Big Mac, or Grande Latte, and browse the Internet using my PDA, and connect through their 'hot-spot' wireless Internet zone! How Hollywood is that?! Many other places also have wireless Internet available (usually for a small fee); such places as airports, hotels, and even the London Tube, and other train services.

For connectivity, the TH55 is no slouch; it comes not only with the 802.11b WiFi, but is also equipped with Bluetooth, so you can connect it wherever you are to the Internet via your Bluetooth mobile phone! If that weren't enough, it also has a fast IrDA port (Infrared Data Association), so should your phone or laptop have infrared, you can connect to them that way too!

If you want to use your PDA as a mobile version of your main computer, you can. Once you have spent the day filling it with appointments and meeting schedules, the odd voice memo, and a couple of photos and a few email draughts; you can connect it to your PC or laptop via the supplied USB2.0 connection leads and synchronise your data. All of the software to do this is in the box.

The processor in the TH55 is a Sony's own 123Mhz processor, and is fast enough for the regular mundane tasks that you are likely to throw at it, however I have found that occasionally, when asking it to do several tasks at once, it can get a bit bogged down, and become slow, but if you are patient, it will spring back to life!

It comes with 32Mb of ROM (Read Only Memory) which is just for the operating system (Palm OS 5.2.1), and is plentiful for the task. It also has 32Mb of RAM (Random Access Memory) built into it for the use of the user to store files etc. Now this is a fair bit of space if you are planning on just putting a few Word or Excel files into it, but if you want to dabble with the built in camera and take some snaps, or download some MP3 music files to it, it will soon get full. Good job then that you can also slide a Sony Memory Stick into it too. These can come in a variety of sizes, from 16Mb up to 1Gb. If you plan to use your PDA to listen to music on the move or watch last night's episode of Eastenders that you recorded on your computer, then you really must get an extra Memory Stick. 512Mb is a good size for most applications, and stops you being frustrated at constantly having to delete something just to get your latest music track onto it!

As well as being able to plug regular stereo headphones into the unit (not supplied), it comes with a built in speaker. Whilst it isn't that great for your Nirvana tracks, it is good for the mundane bleeps and blips that your PDA will make when you press buttons or use the touch sensitive screen. It also has a built in microphone which is excellent. It gives you the facility of a dictaphone built in. You can record up to 128 minutes on the internal RAM at lowest quality which is more than enough for most applications.

Even though the unit has a touch sensitive screen, there are some buttons located on and around the device. The rear camera shutter is controlled by a sliding switch on the left side, and next to it are the power and voice record buttons. On the bottom of the unit are four shortcut buttons allowing you to access 4 different applications on the unit. On the right side of the unit is the infrared window. The back of the device houses the 0.3 (310,000) pixel colour camera, along with a jog dial, and two action buttons.

The built in camera, though having a fairly low resolution in today's arena is perfectly adequate when using your snaps on the PDA itself. For example, you can put your mates contact details into the address book, and put a little picture of them alongside - very cool! However - should you ever want to print out your pics - you can, but for God sake don't show them to David Bailey - he would have a fit….

There are a number ways that you can enter text into the system. One way is to use the pop-up (on-screen) keyboard, and use the supplied stylus to tap the keyboards characters as you would a real keyboard. Another option is the use the Graffiti 2 software that is supplied, which enables you to actually handwrite on the screen, and the system converts it to text. The Graffiti 2 system can take a while to get used to, but once you have it mastered, you can write at full speed, and the system will keep up and convert your writing to a printed text format automatically. You can also use this system to 'scribble' notes and draw into any application you want; kind of like a real notepad.

The battery life is excellent. Lasting for up to 15 days on standby, and up to 8 hours (in real life!) when the WiFi, and backlight are on constantly - very impressive, not many can do that! It can also be fully charged in around 4 hours.

The unit is very ergonomic; using it is easy, once you get the basics down. Its connectivity is almost unrivalled in its price range, and it's very easy to set up an Internet connection due to the way it electronically 'sniffs' out networks to connect to. The camera is perfect for use internally, though it would have been nice to see a flash built in too and maybe a few more pixels of resolution. The navigation of the built in operating system takes a bit of getting used to; especially if you're used to Windows; but once you get the hang of it, it is actually quite easy. A minor bad point would be the flip up screen protector; it looks like you have the communicator from Star Trek in your hands when the screen is open; and I am scared that I am going to break it! It should have been designed so that it sits flush to the unit when open, as the two hinges feel a little flimsy.

The system does not come with a cradle in the box, so if you thought that you could sit it in the cradle, and put it on your desk to make a feature out of it - think again! A cradle is available for it though, but I am not sure on price or location. Instead of a cradle you get a plug to attach to the bottom of the unit, and then the power, and USB leads (supplied) connect into that.

There is no instruction manual in the conventional sense, it is now all on a CD and viewed from your computer. Personally I like to have the option of flicking through a paper manual, but I suppose we have to save trees and all that...

I also bought the GPS (Global Positioning System) car cradle to go with it. WOW! I can sit the TH55 into the car cradle, and it automatically turns to 'car mode'. It picks up the GPS signal, and can tell you where you are, what speed you are doing, and also at what altitude you are doing it! Along with this is a map of the British Isles (and part of Europe) is included (with the GPS kit sold separately); just punch in a house number and postcode, and it will give you voice prompts when you need to make a turn as you go; as well as display a map of your current location. Should you make a wrong turn, it will automatically re-calculate your route to get you back on track!

Since Sony have pulled out of the PDA market, it can be a little bit difficult to find accessories for any of their PDAs in the mainstream market places - even the Sony Centres. However, a whole bunch of aftermarket parts are available from such places as Ebay. I have purchased a few items from here and found them to be good quality, but as always you take your life into your hands when you purchase from an online auction house. Even though Sony do not make PDA's any more, they do still offer support for the PDA's out there, and this is in the forma of both telephone support, and also a comprehensive website (www.clie-link.com).

In conclusion this unit is definitely recommended! But be patient with it - it may take a while to learn how to use it to its full potential if you aren't already familiar with the Palm operating system. Buy one now though if you want to look flash, and not forget another appointment, or birthday ever again!
 

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