Quantcast
PCWorld.com is upgrading some back-end systems. Some site features, such as user registration, may be temporarily unavailable.
Subscribe to magazine

New Sony Clie Gets Colorful, Musical

Get vivid visuals and great audio from the Sony Clie PEG-N710C handheld.

Yardena Arar

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

Sony Sony CLIE 710c Personal Entertainment Organizer

The new Clié handheld from Sony adds a high-resolution color screen and a built-in MP3 player to an already sleek and storage-rich product.

At first glance, the $500 Clié PEG-N710C could be mistaken for a slimmed-down Compaq IPaq with its silvery case. Even at the brightest setting, however, the Clié's front-lit, reflective active-matrix screen looks dull compared with the brilliant IPaq's color screen.

But the Clié's 320-by-320-pixel resolution looks noticeably finer than the 160-by-160 grid on other handhelds that use the Palm OS--and much nicer for viewing photos and short videos. I also liked the suede-like flip-up lid that protects the screen (and which stays in place with a magnet when it's closed).

The Clié's MP3 player requires inserting a Memory Stick in the slot on top. You need the white version (with copy protection) to use Sony's MG Jukebox software to convert music files to Sony's own high-quality, space-consuming format at 132 bits per second. MG Jukebox does prevent you from transferring copyright-protected songs back to any PC except the one they originally were loaded from. Alternatively, you can transfer MP3 files to a purple Memory Stick. The included clip-on earphones are a bit awkward to wear, but they do deliver good sound quality.

To power all that multimedia, the Clié PEG-N710C uses a lithium ion polymer battery that recharges via the USB-based desktop syncing cradle. In my tests, the Clié ran for several days between charges--longer than I'd expected, considering the heavy play that I gave a color game (Bejeweled) as well as all that Memory Stick music.


SUMMARY
Clié PEG-N710C



VALUE: Fairly priced handheld for those users seeking a Palm-based PDA with a high-resolution color screen and a built-in MP3 player.

$500
Sony
www.sony.com

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No
  • Great year-end deals for small business!

  • Get 24/7 live remote AT&T Tech Support 360* service along with select Lenovo* PCs (with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors and save up to 200!

    Learn more

  • HP EliteBook* 6930p Notebook with Intel® vPro™ technology and a free HP Basic Docking Station - $641 instant savings!

    Learn more

  • *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. ©2009 Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, vPro and Core trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved.

Dell Fast Track

People who read this also read:

  • 15 Minutes to a Secure Business Get the Secure in 15 toolkit starting with the "15 Minutes Month-at-a-Glance" calendar. McAfee will send you additional tools and tricks to stay protected around the clock.
  • A Buyer's Guide to Data Protection Implementing data protection products and processes can be daunting. Make the right decisions by exploring what is available and what makes sense for your organization. Use this simple guide to evaluate different vendor offerings.

Sponsored Links