Product Reviews

It must be something they put in the Tokyo water. While all its rivals seem more than happy to churn out run-of-the-mill PDAs that do the job but little more, Sony simply won't release a new CLI unless it makes a radical design statement. Not content with boosting the specs of the PEG-NR70V (see issue 96, p116), it nips here, tucks there, and in doing so creates something even more desirable.

And there's no denying that the NX73V has the looks. Its magnesium finish would be quite swish enough without the added wow factor of a swivelling lid. It also possesses one of the best screens we've ever seen on a PDA. Not only are the skin tones realistic and colours vibrant, but it's bright and easy to read whatever the light conditions.

The screen also benefits from a huge 320 x 480 resolution. This can be dedicated to programs, giving some useful extra viewing area, but usually the bottom-third is taken up by the Graffiti input area - and we mean Graffiti, not Graffiti 2 as featured in the Palm Tungsten T2 (see issue 107, p78). This is good news for traditional Palm users, who often struggle to adjust their writing style to Graffiti 2, despite Palm's protestations that it's easier to use.

Sony has also included Decima's natural handwriting-recognition software. It works extremely well, so long as you take a few minutes to understand how it functions. The only downside is that recognition can take a second, which will slow quick writers down (it's worth noting, however, that this is about the only time the CLI feels slow).

The third and final way to input text is using the QWERTY keyboard. It's the easiest method to pick up, but the small buttons make quick typing difficult. Thankfully, Sony has thought it through clearly, with well-positioned keys that even glow in the dark thanks to their groovy orange backlight. It's a great way to dash off an email, but whether it's worth the cost in terms of added weight is another question.

For this is a hefty PDA. It weighs 230g and measures 22mm thick - compare that to the 121g and 13mm of HP's iPAQ H1940 (see p71). The Sony's thicker design does have some pluses, though. For example, you don't need to worry about a protective case, as the lid itself offers protection on the move.

Another plus is the integral Type II CompactFlash slot, which - unlike the PEG-NZ90 (see issue 104, p73) - is not only retractable to make the CLI sleeker when not in use, but also lets you add memory. Not all CF cards are officially supported, though,

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and this includes the Microdrive. The slot also provides a way to add WLAN capabilities using Sony's own CompactFlash Wireless LAN card (approximately £100), complementing the built-in Bluetooth and infrared. This being a Sony product, there's also a Memory Stick slot, which usefully supports Memory Stick Pro media.

And the features don't stop there. You can use the CLI as an MP3 player thanks to the built-in software, and the bundle even includes a high-quality pair of earphones, complete with remote control. What's more, the NX73V is a digital camera, albeit with a lowly 640 x 480 resolution. However, because it's a CMOS camera, and the lens is so small, pictures look a little washed out and lack clarity.

As its pice de resistance, this machine is also capable of shooting movies. Admittedly, low-resolution movies, but they're complete with audio for added impact. The movies do highlight one of the CLI's weaknesses, however, as it's only possible to record to Memory Stick media (not included as standard). This makes sense with just 16MB of RAM to play with, especially as only 11MB is available, but begs the question of why more memory can't be included by default. It's also worth noting that you'll need a Memory Stick if you want to back up data - it won't save to ROM or CompactFlash.

This makes buying a Memory Stick almost obligatory, which you might feel resistant to after paying £332 for the NX73V itself. Then again, if you use all the features, the CLI is arguably worth it. What's more, the bundle boasts a huge number of programs, including several audio- and photo-related apps, plus the NetFront 3 web browser and a world clock.

Unlike the Palm Tungsten T2, though, the CLI doesn't include Documents To Go, and it also falls behind its rival when it comes to ease of use. Although there are occasions when the jog dial comes in handy, such as zooming in on photos, the CLI Launcher is less intuitive than Palm's simple clicking on apps design, as it forces you to cycle through the multitude of programs pre-installed. We found it easier to revert to Palm's system.

Sony hasn't made much of an effort to make Bluetooth setup easy either. For instance, where new Palm devices have an easy Wizard to connect to a mobile phone, most people will need to refer to Sony's guide to set up a partnership. We're not too fond of the blue light that flashes on and off when Bluetooth is activated either - it's too flash in every way.

But at least Bluetooth doesn't have a hugely detrimental effect on battery life: with Bluetooth activated when we needed it and the backlight set to medium, the CLI lasted for five hours over the course of ten days. The only problem is that the battery isn't user-removable.

There's no denying that the NX73V has its faults - we're not the biggest fans of the telescopic stylus, for instance - but if you're a power PDA user who likes to have a digital camera handy at all times you won't regret buying the NX73V. It's undeniably an excellent, well-designed machine that will reward anyone who learns to use it to its full potential.