Market introduction of cheap and very cheap computers Palm (or rather - "palmoobraznyh") may be considered not just good, but very good news. Small computer for the small amount of money will lure not only the nuts on a miniature computing users, like me, but people hitherto on the handheld machines do not look. If no awareness of the urgent need for both fashion, not fashion, so the low price - something still incline of the potential buyer to try Palm, in fact. And by "try" to "get hooked" on Pocket PC (health is perfect, mind you, inoffensive, and even in very useful) one step. And I'm living proof that ... The release of the new Pocket PC budget class Sony PEG-SL10 coincided with a significant event for me - except for time-tested (and what is really there, my own stupidity) Casio BE-300, I won a Palm m125. And, I must admit, it causes a storm not put me on the age of delight. Indeed, the machine excellent, extremely functional. Nothing more, but all you need creative person to work (and for fun too) is present. This fact is of little significance from a private life, I mention only to inform - to compare different model palmoobraznyh "I'm now much easier. Practice is practice - against the backdrop of daily hours of testing m125 (I hope he survives this abuse), theoretical arguments about the unknown models become necessary share specifics. It is hard to describe new machines, not knowing clearly what they have on the screen, right? According to the old "chaynikovskoy" habit will start with what pleases the eye - from the exterior of SL10.
Exterior
Externally, the new Sony PEG-SL10 - it is a miracle. And not "feathered" as many Chinese clones, of which we see only in the foreign press releases (I do not know whether this is good or so-so), and a miracle in the literal sense. Grace on the verge of perfection. Beauty that flatters tired boring technocratic style of soul.
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Those who saw in his hands, or personally owned one of Sony's series of T, are aware that these machines are not only amazingly comfortable, but very beautiful. As thin as foil-chocolate bar, aluminum body, tiny buttons, a deep black (monochrome or color - no difference) Such a computer screen ... pleased to pick up. This prestigious thing. Other "palmovladeltsy" (and those who understand) obzaviduyutsya into the board. Even my Palm m125, to the exterior of which I am still not used to, but because I think very spectacular, "face" is clearly a rustic. Next to my Sony m125 looks like a rustic shepherd near the Princess ... The design resembles the design of computers SL10 T series, but not copy it. True, the body is noticeably thicker - for use as a power source replacement elements AAA rather than a lithium battery (the first computer from Sony, which has no battery), and he himself is not aluminum, and plastics. But the ergonomics have changed for the better. In addition to its navigation wheel on-screen menu (jog dial), the back button (back), located on the left side of the body, except for four call buttons main application, one of the major governing bodies Pocket PC are the scroll button (which is exactly duplicated jog dial 'th). Members typewriters Sony knows how inconvenient thing - these buttons. Tiddly, neuhvatistye (or, more precisely, "nenazhimistye"), although, no doubt, beautiful to an inability to ... But we also do not look at them, pressing need! Here's Sony in their first computers SL series and made the navigation buttons to be normal. Beauty is not affected.
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Plastic casing - does not lack, as it may seem in comparison with, say, Sony T425 (excellent monochrome computer). Indirect evidence of this is the story of a laptop Titanium from Apple, located in the merciless daily operation of my friend. Rugged metal housing of this machine is prone to scratches. Product appearance is lost fairly quickly. And it's Titan - one, and a notebook - two. What to say about the painted aluminum, and PDA, a place near where keys and other small things barbed? A good plastic (and PDAs are not made from some kind of nonsense) is durable and, in principle, a more ergonomic than the metal. Although the species is certainly not a representative ... Pick up a typewriter in the cold (near zero cold "thieves" can not tolerate). The plastic will warm the palm, aluminum - cool. However, this is not an argument, of course. I just want to say that plastic - it's a bad thing, especially for such a cheap machine, as the SL10 ... What else - of the features? Slot Memory Stick (other than the Sony impossible) in the upper part of the body. Near - infrared transceiver box and the power button (backlight).
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"Flaming engine" is the usual 33-MHz processor Dragonball. Memory on board - 8 megabytes. Operating system - Palm OS 4.1. That is all like a normal Palm `s.
Food
Application in the SL10 replacement elements instead of the internal battery has as its cause - the maximum possible reduction in the cost of the computer and its consequences. For a start try to evaluate - do not move it back and whether their computer is on battery, though not too big, money. In everyday practice, when the PDA is used on the way to and from work, built-in battery thing is very convenient and profitable. Battery life for 9-10 (the monochrome models, T Series) or 7-8 hours (colored computers Sony) will suffice for the whole day. Are not going well on the handheld machine prodelyvat serious work? But for "killing" time, or use a small computer as an electronic book (handbook, cribs, handheld game console - whatever) battery charge is enough. Another thing - a long trip or a clear lack of access to the electrical outlet. Here's the situation - you go on holiday abroad. Palm (or Sony) course with itself. And to him - a set of "Travel Kit", consisting of a heap (okay, let a handful) of electrical adapters. There's also another outlet, not our standard. Moreover, in each region - their own. And the computer from this "Travel" ceases to be a pocket, turning into a "suitcase" ... And of plug everything easier. Batteries are sold even in the dense pampas. This is the same seller as well as chewing gum ... So nobody knows what is ultimately better - built-in battery (limiting the life of your computer a couple of years), or removable elements (which can be regarded as the power source of unlimited capacity). Another plus is revealed upon closer study of the target niche, for which the new model. Its the cheapest PDA Sony addresses the youth. And in a nice young age, people generally are not burdened with offices or even desks. Know yourself - a young, green, in the head walking such winds, even jealous ... where to attach the cradle to recharge the battery (while the SL10 and it does not)? But in the pocket "bezofisnogo" owner of the new cars full of every electronic stuff - the same music players that use removable elements of AAA. In a sense, get some kind of universal.Do not have very wise of recharging the empty "cartridge-, right? However, in the two older models of the series - in monochrome and color SJ20 SJ30, which now will soon be submitted after we viewed by the machine - used in lithium batteries. But the price of cars, respectively, above.
Screen
High resolution "palmoobraznyh" computers from Sony has long been talk of the town. " That, they say, how to do handheld computers - to patch on the screen was 320 by 320, but not pathetic 160 to 160 points ... But nevertheless the question arises - but should it really? Use the maximum screen resolution, Sony's latest models (those that support hi-resolution) is usually sporadic. View photos - is yes. Toys? Maybe. Normal working program (reader, pisalki, risovalka, rhymes) - no. When you enable high-resolution, where applicable, the system fonts are thin (even transparent), it is difficult to read. Different file navigator, and the shell can accommodate a much larger number of icons, but what they see on such a small screen? As for viewing photos, then this is an amateur. A scrolling video (without sound!) And does seem to me ... with the current - "Ponte". True, he is not neglected. And I'm worse than others, or what? Whatever it was, but certainly a plus hi-resolution can be considered as additional options that appear in computer owners Sony. You can enjoy high-definition options, but you can not use it. Especially because the cost of machines, according to new models of the series SL, it has no effect. Now about the actual Sony PEG-SL10. With the screen at this girl, alas, not the glory of God. The deep black color - like the T415/425. Image contrast and bright. Illumination level. But drawing the screen very slow. Change the picture is about half a second. For dynamic games (and, note autoscrolling in reader) will not do.
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What is it - the price of high resolution in the budget PC? Or use is clearly unfinished matrix? Most likely, something, and more. Although the inhibition seen and when you run in the normal resolution 160 by 160 pixels. For some people this lack of a new computer (unlikely or unique, but - what!) Will be decisive. We still display "brake" is not enough - all well-known simplification of the operating system Palm OS. Something's wrong here ...
Some speculate
Figure was, unfortunately, not all. Soothes only that a matter of time. Not today - tomorrow will be a new computer in our stores, then all of understatement clearer themselves. Here, for example, the communication connector. In models of senior-level line - SJ20 and SJ30 - used the system connector HotSync from the series T. Respectively, and all the accessories that were released for the PC series of T, will come to SJ20 and SJ30. And what about the youngest SL10? It is said the first review, integrated port USB. And the cradle in the standard package is not for synchronization use the "string" USB mini-connector.
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And then there are a number of issues.For example - whether produced any original accessories for the SL10, or the computer will "Kazan orphan? Suit if the computer does not "pocket" and normal extensions with interface USB - Modem reader for memory cards, external disk drives, keyboards? If possible at least theoretically (for instance, Sony itself is not going to write drivers, but we also fully zlatorukih folk art), why charms USB deprived older series models? And why not talk about this innovation? Personally, I would have raised such an enthusiastic high, ran away to all computer-related brethren. The presence of regular USB port on the Pocket PC entry-level price - it's a real revolution. No problems with the periphery, can you imagine? Or in the SL10 uses some kind of originality raspolovinennaya modification of USB. Again - why? Or in the SL10 uses some kind of originality raspolovinennaya modification of USB. Again - why? Either I do not understand everything, or one of two things.
When the wait?
Terms rollout of new computers (and the SL and SJ will come most likely together) still seem to be announced. But in any case it is the beginning of the school year - that is, not later than the beginning of September. New low-end models have forced rivals Sony (the company itself Palm) to drastically reduce prices on their computers. In the near future, perhaps we should expect further progress and to Sony, because the line SL in one way or another will have to compete with more expensive models from the same manufacturer. I think in the older typewriters series will add some to justify two or even three times the difference in the cost of computers. With regard to exports to Russia, then a long wait we do not have to. Sony is too significant player in the PDA market to remain unnoticed by the Russian sellers of computer technology. And her computers too good to lie around in warehouses. True, I would not count on those $ 150, for which Sony PEG-SL10 will be sold in Western markets. We will ask for this machine is more expensive - as always, of dollars to 50. The authors, translation:
Nicholas Nadezhdin