Sony CLIE PEG-UX40/U Handheld

This material did not come with the installation CD so I had to go online to download one. It was not easy as Sony no longer supports it

When I received my Sony Clie, it was broken. When I power it up, the power light comes on but the screen does not light up. It has also rattled (something loose on the inside) since I received it.

This Clie exemplifies the love-hate relationship I've had with Sony.(these comments pertain also to the near-identical UX50, which has WiFi)First the things to love. The keyboard: best on any PDA. Large, well-spaced, backlit keys. Just the right size to use one-handed or two-handed. Special characters and shifted characters available via consecutive (not simultaneous) key presses. Shift, then alpha instead of shift-alpha.The one other thing to love is the built-in memory, over 100 MB in several forms. The most important of which is the Media Flash RAM, works like a built-in Memory Stick. If you put this handheld on a shelf for a couple of months and let the RAM die, everything you have is safe in this memory region. When you next powerup, you are prompted to restore your old data. Sure, you can save your stuff permanently on Memory Stick -- HOWEVER, you have to manually save everything. And you have to remember to save everything! Not so with the built-in Media Flash RAM: backup is automatic and worry-free. Convenience is why you use a PDA in the first place, isn't it?The recharging cradle is also nicely done, it adds only a quarter-inch or so to the handheld's thickness. Very comfortable to hold and use the PDA while it's sitting in the cradle. Which is also a practical necessity since the battery life is pathetic. While the UX40/UX50 uses the same thrifty Sony ARM chip the TH55 has, the built-in battery is so wimpy it lasts only an hour or so, and a couple days when turned off. They made a clip-on extended battery pack, but it costs $$$, if you can find one.Then there's the screen. First, it's small. If you juxtapose the UX40 screen with that of the TH55, you will see it has the same 480 x 320 resolution, but physically it's about 1/4 inch shorter. Then the color depth -- the colors are washed out on the UX40. I mean, it seems okay just looking at it, but when you hold up the UX40 screen to the TH55, you can see immediately that colors aren't nearly so rich as they might be. This makes pictures on the UX40 look even fuzzier...Which brings me to the camera. Point three megapixels. Fuzzy pictures. Why bother with the camera if you can't put in a decent one? To be fair, the TH55 also has this lousy camera. And I don't hear so much about the UX40/UX50 cameras breaking down as much as the other Clies. One small advantage on this Clie is you don't need a Memory Stick to use Movie Recorder, because of the built-in Flash RAM.(This has been mentioned elsewhere, but it bears repetition: There is a way around the crummy-camera problem. Get a used Sony Cybershot digital camera (available here at Amazon). Put your photos on the Memory Stick, then plug the MS into the Clie. The Clie Camera app should be able to grab your pics off the MS (so I'm told, I haven't actually done this myself). Just make sure your Cybershot uses Memory Stick Pro -- different from Memory Stick. You can use the Pro Duo MS with an adapter.)And the bluetooth is nothing to get excited about. IT's BT 1.0. Transferring a memo takes about 8 times longer than using the infrared. And the user interface is horrid, you have to tap about six times to complete a BT transaction. Even if you have only one trusted device in the BT registry, the software still prompts you to tap your selection for the target BT device. C'mon guys!Lastly, there are the built-in applications. This Clie runs Palm OS5, but you get the same old OS4 applications. Think 4K memos. Non-hierarchical Todo lists. The lackluster Clie Memo drawing program. (see my review of the TH55).Summary: superb keyboard and memory. Mediocre in all other respects. Even so, I have to admit that I use my UX40 quite alot because the keyboard is so nice, but only for inputting data. Then I beam it over to the TH55 for the serious work.

I've owned way too many PDAs, and have come to several conclusions:1 Palm OS excells,2. HP iPaqs are a disaster,and3. SONY exceeded my expectations.Unless you need Wi-Fi, it's not worth it.This is by far the most feature filled unit that is on the market. It's size and features will address just about any need you may have.Keyboard is comfortable, and bundled software is great to show off the features. You'll be hard pressed to get over the novelty of this wonderful machine. You won't be sorry.

I have had several PDAs, and this is by far the best. I got it mainly for the built-in keyboard and high-res screen, but it is the total package. I sold my Dell Axim which was quite good to get the UX40 and I don't miss it at all.Pros:- Super compact- Loaded with features- Bluetooth built-in- Great screen- Keyboard is very convenient- Multimedia- Fast- Super cool and well madeCons:- Battery life not great, but OK- Kind of pricey- Camera good only for low res pics- Landscape screen only (not a big deal to me)Buy it - you know you want it.

I love it the first time I saw it, using the excelent services of Amazon.com I have it in my hands in couple of days.I changed from a nice Hp 1945 Pocket PC to Sony UX-40, but I'm not sure if was a wise idea:1. The screen is too small to have a comfortable sight2. Keyboard is nice in size but I don't like the feeling of the keys.3. It's not cheap, and the software provided is very limited, if you want to use the other software provided, you have to pay.4. Quality of photos is low5. You have to carry the cradle if you want to charge it in your car with the proper adapter.Very nice looking device but maybe is oriented to a younger market (but the price is not oriented to it)I will give it a couple of weeks, if not convinced, maybe my wife can give me back the Ipaq 1945