Sony PEG-N610C and PEG-S320 Revealed

Posted By: Ed Monday, June 25, 2001 3:48:00 PM

Sony has announced the N610C and S320. Neither one comes with the necessary hardware to play digital audio, though apparently Sony is going to release an audio adapter that can be added later that will give both these models the ability to play music.

The N610C appears to be much the same as the N710C, minus the audio playback, of course. It will cost $400, sports a 16-bit color screen, 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor, 8MB of RAM, and 4MB of flash memory. The big change is it will have Palm OS 4.0. SonyStyle shows it being available in silver and violet.

The S320 will come with a high-contrast, backlit, black-and white display. However, its screen is only 160 x 160, as compared to the 320 x 320 screen of the other model. It will also have OS 4.0, a 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor, 8MB of RAM, and 4MB of flash memory. It will cost $200.

The two new models are not the same size and shape. The N610C is the same as the N710C, 2.9 x 4.75 x .7 inches and 5.65 oz. The S320 is slightly smaller and lighter at 2.9 x 4.62 x .6 inches and weighs 4.27 oz. It is not yet known how this will affect peripherals.

Both models will still come with a Memory Stick expansion slot, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, PictureGear, gMovie player, and all the extra applications that come with the N710C. Both should be available in August.

An employee at a major electronics chain was sent the following information by their central headquarters:

    Last month, Sony introduced the Clié (SON PEGN710C), a Palm-driven handheld with built-in audio and video capabilities. This month, Sony unveils two new versions of this versatile PC companion. Both models feature the Memory Sick expansion slot, PictureGear image viewer, gMovie video player, and extra applications that come standard with the PEGN710C. However, the digital audio option has been removed for customers who don't want to spend extra cash for the embedded MP3 player. It can be added to the new handhelds with the purchase of an audio adapter. The PEGN610C offers the choice of three different color casings. The PEGS320 comes with a high-contrast black-and white display for extra savings.
Thanks to David for some of this information. -Ed

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Sigh...

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 3:56:14 PM #
Looks like Sony is ready to start stomping all over the market. Behold the Beast. Hopefully, they'll keep innovating and keep costs down once they're a monopoly.

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 3:57:52 PM #
I can sense Palm and Handspring sinking lower and lower...

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:00:46 PM #
Is this the end of Palm?

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:07:26 PM #
I hope so. Palm (as a company) sucks and I have lost *all* brand loyalty to them that had developed over the past 4 years. Sony might as will develop their version of the core apps and offer the OS themselves.

Palm offers the market nothing anymore . . .

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:09:58 PM #
Innovate this: Palm OS 4.0, 16-bit Color, and vibrate alarm.

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:13:07 PM #
Hey, Palm did release new models: the Jordan Palms - hahaha

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:15:02 PM #
I can't tell you how tired I am on the endless discussion on whether Palm Inc. is doomed or not. They could be but could we possibly talk about something else for a while? For the past couple of weeks, about 80% of the comments on these boards have been about whether Palm is going to fail. I'm really, really bored with it. No one has really said anything new about it in a long time.

Look, Sony is going to introduce two new models! Can we talk about them for a while? Here's some other topics we could cover:

  • Will you buy one of these?
  • Will the cheap model have a plastic casing?
  • Will Sony discontinue the S300?
  • What will the audio player add-on cost?
Please, I'm begging you here.

RE: Sigh...
Karshikinpa @ 6/25/2001 4:32:13 PM #
The S300 has already been discontinued...

RE: Palm who?
Cheetah @ 6/25/2001 5:06:56 PM #
Yeah, Palm is such a lousy company. All they have done so far is open up a completely new market that many others had attempted to open, but failed.

I guess they also have dominated the new market by making the Palm OS 80% of the total market.

Oh yeah, they also have beaten Microsoft, despite their global monopoly and multi-gazillion dollar R&D and advertising budget.

Ah, one last thing, they have designed the best selling PDA to date in the Palm V/Vx, and then made improvements to add color, a expansion slot, and other enhancements.

Besides that, Palm is a lousy company that can't execute.



RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 5:26:39 PM #
Best Buy took the handhelds out of the case and on display finally. Here's something I don't see reported regarding speed. Pressing the four application buttons in rapid succession I notice the Palm m505 is significantly faster than the New Clie so it seems the extra resolution came at the cost of slowing the thing down.

Little pauses get to you after awhile.



RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 5:51:28 PM #
Little pauses can be eliminated with Afterburner.

RE: Sigh...
Ia3n @ 6/25/2001 6:32:29 PM #
"Innovate this: Palm OS 4.0, 16-bit Color, and vibrate alarm."

16-bit color was developed by Handspring. The vibrating alarm was developed by Handspring. VFS was developed by Sony. Let's see, Palm's part of OS 4..... an updated version of the Security app?

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 6:58:39 PM #
So, the specs finally came out. What are we looking at now? Let's just compare the differences:

Palm m505 vs. Sony Clié N610

Palm m505:
- Vibrates
- Sleek Look
- SD/MMC

Sony Clié N610:
- 320x320 resolution
- $50 cheaper
- Memory Stick
- Jog Dial
- Comes in silver and violet


Palm m105 vs. Sony Clié N320

Palm m105:
- Hard Casing
- Snap-on Faces

Sony Clié N320:
- Palm OS 4.0
- Memory Stick Expansion

Is it a clear win?

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 7:23:03 PM #
Got my m505 for $370... Can't beat the slim form factor as well...

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 9:32:44 PM #
After playing with my Clie N710C, the m505 felt fat in my palm!!

Clie is small and very comfortable to hold....

Palm never saw it coming. What will happen to them now?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 1:30:43 AM #
>Innovate this: Palm OS 4.0, 16-bit Color, and vibrate alarm.

Actually, Palm "borrowed" the main advances in Palm OS 4 from Sony (VFS file system) and Handspring (color support). But yes, it looks like Palm managed to "innovate" the vibrating alarm all by themselves. Wow.


>Best Buy took the handhelds out of the case and on display finally. Here's something I don't see reported regarding speed. Pressing the four application
buttons in rapid succession I notice the Palm m505 is significantly faster than the New Clie so it seems the extra resolution came at the cost of slowing the thing down.

Odds are the Best Buy staff never bothered to install the CLIE's update that was designed to fix its initial speed issue.


>Little pauses can be eliminated with Afterburner.

Good one. (Wait state joke?)



RE: Sigh...
Ed @ 6/26/2001 9:42:07 AM #
> The S300 has already been discontinued...

The PEG-S300 has not been discontinued. It is still available for sale on the SonyStyle site. Frankly, I expect this to happen soon after the S320 hits the shelves, though. I also expect some serious discounts on the S300 because Sony can't hope to sell many of them for $300 when the improved replacement is $100 less. While it is true that the S300 comes with a MemStick and the S320 doesn't, I don't think that's worth the extra cost.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

Gonna sell my Prism, buy a 610!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 4:54:08 PM #
Anybody wanna buy a used Prism?

RE: Sigh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 8:11:12 PM #
how much

Any info on the price?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 3:56:34 PM #
... and when it will be released to the market?

RE: Any info on the price?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:14:01 PM #
I've heard late July/early August so expect around then. CDW was selling the S320 for around $190 and the 610C for around $390 so look for those two to compete with the lower-end and higher end Palms.

From where I see it, at around $390, the Clie effectively kills off all competition by the m50x series. It's priced exactly the same as a 500 and $50 cheaper than a 505 so why the hell would anyone in their right mind ever get the 500 or the 505?? Form factor may be the ONLY reason and not a good one as the Clie is a very small device.

On the bottom end, the Clie offers Memory Stick expansion whereas the m105 does not. It also offers a better and bigger screen, I'd assume, if it is around the same dimensions as its higher-priced siblings. Again, why on earth would anyone go for the Palm models at this price range?? If they release something at around the $299 range, it's goodbye all Palm OS devices. This is too good of a deal to even purchase any of the other devices. If I was Palm or Handspring, I'd be REAL worried right about now.

I guess if you're a worldwide billion-dollar corporation, you're gonna be able to take over some markets. Man, Sony came outta nowhere and dominated the gaming console market and now it looks like it's going to get a big piece of the PDA pie. I'm sure this translates eventually into more third-party accessories for my 710c!

RE: Any info on the price?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 11:12:25 PM #
Sony is smelling blood and is going in for the kill with their new Clie line. Palm is a fat, wounded walrus...

Really folks, how the hell are they (Palm) going to compete with that line-up. The 610C and the 710C have got the m505 trapped price wise. The 610C offers everything the m505 offers (Palm 4.0, 16-bit color) plus high res. at a cheaper price!! The 710C is the ultimate Palm and will compete with the m505 as well as the iPAQ.

Sony has quietly and strategically cover all of the handheld bases.

610C to compete with the m505, 710C competes with m505 and iPAQ, the S320 to compete with the m100's. Notice that Sony has made a handheld to compete with the most popular sellers.

Like Sony or not, you have to admire them for the innovations, their consumer awareness, and their boldness. It hard to imagine that this is only Sony's 2nd generation of Palm OS handhelds, and already they have establish themselves as a leader.

Palm WAS banking on their m50x series to save them finacially. Now with the Clie 610C and 710C along with the rumors of the new Visors...Palm's m50x's is quickly becoming.... obsolete.

RE: Any info on the price?
EdwardGreen @ 6/26/2001 4:27:01 AM #
I dont think so.

I think Sony an Palm are working rather closely at the moment...

-
kHiTeDev

RE: Any info on the price?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 11:06:07 AM #
Sony is working closely with Palm like a cat works closely with a mouse. Palm is screwed and I think everyone realizes it now. In a few hours you will hear just how bad the sales from the m50x series have been. Palm will announce MAJOR price cuts and will be cutting hundreds of staff in the next few weeks.

RE: Any info on the price?
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/1/2001 6:12:09 PM #
ecost.com has the 610 for $337.

S320 screen resolution?

ardiri @ 6/25/2001 3:58:58 PM #
160x160 or 320x320? :) not much said in this area.

// az
aaron@ardiri.com
http://www.ardiri.com/
RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:16:24 PM #
I'm suppose it's 320x320 hence the model number. :)

RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:20:44 PM #
Good point. Wow, the Palm m105 or Visor Deluxe priced at the same point can't even compare if the Sony really offers 320x320 on a monochrome.

RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 4:37:47 PM #
Yeah, 320x320 with memory expansion at $190! Oh boy..

RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 6:37:29 PM #
Here's a colored pic:

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-6374072.html?tag=mn_hd

RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 6:52:29 PM #
The PEG-S320's resolution is 160x160 according to sony's website.

http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/clie/index.html

RE: S320 screen resolution?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 9:36:59 PM #
320*320 resolution at $190? Looks like Palm is in deep trouble!

battery
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 2:57:38 PM #
Sony sure is going to beat the crap out of palm. The S320 also has a rechargeable battery according to their website!!!

Nearing perfection

David Arnstein @ 6/25/2001 4:47:45 PM #
If accessories such as a Startac cable become available, then the N610 will be nearly perfect!

One other feature I'd like in my next PDA: 16 MB of memory. I don't like putzing around with slow, inconvenient secondary memory. I find this totally inconsistent with the Palm "simplicity" concept. But ever since I hooked my Palm Vx to the 'net, I've been short on memory.

RE: Nearing perfection
EdwardGreen @ 6/25/2001 4:52:54 PM #
I agree. My Blazer Cache fills up faster than a thing that fills up quite fast.

And running at 320x320 with PalmScape a Cache is going to get swallowed by images.

-
kHiTeDev

RE: Nearing perfection
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 9:43:07 PM #
The Startac cable is on the way:

http://www.thesupplynet.com/searchresults.cfm?mySearch=product&prodName=143

Don

What if it is THINNER

Islander @ 6/25/2001 5:35:40 PM #
Not exactly an impossibility. What if it is that 2nd chip is what requires the 710 to be thicker than the original peg 300? The picture still does not reveal the thickness of these newer models.

RE: What if it is THINNER
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 8:16:29 PM #
Well duhhh the article here which you are posting on lists the 320 as .1 inches thinner than the color versions. The thing I want to know is why it says the 320 will have a black and white display while the picture clearly shows it is the old green and black.

RE: What if it is THINNER
Ed @ 6/25/2001 8:29:09 PM #
Sorry, you need to cut some of the early posters some slack. I've been updating this one article with additional info as it became available.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter
RE: What if it is THINNER
Ed @ 6/25/2001 8:43:56 PM #
> The thing I want to know is why it says the 320 will have a
> black and white display while the picture clearly shows it is the old green and black.

We've always referred to the green and black screens as being black and white or occasionally monochrome.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

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