Sony Drops Price of N760C by $50

Posted By: Ed Sunday, March 3, 2002 10:40:08 PM

Sony has cut the official price of the PEG-N760C from $450 down to $400. This price is already in effect on the SonyStyle webstore. As always, Sony didn't announce this price cut or give a reason for it. There are a couple of possibilities. There are a lot of models out now, including Sony's own low-end S360, that have 16 MB of memory. The N760C's 8 MB is starting to look a bit cramped and this may be cutting into sales. A price reducton could lead to an increase in sales.

Another possibility is Sony could be getting ready to announce a replacement. The N760C is essentially a N710C with an updated version of the Palm OS and the N710C was announced last May, so this handheld is about 10 months old. That makes it the oldest model in Sony's handheld line. The company could be planning a new version that is a member of the T series with built-in MP3 playback. Or the new version, if there is one, could simply be an update with more RAM, like Sony did with the move from the S320 to the S360.

The N760C includes Palm OS 4.1 and its screen has 16-bit color. It has a built-in audio player so it can play music in both MP3 and ATRAC3 formats. It comes with an external control wand and clip-on headphones to make listening to music easier. Of course it has a Memory Stick slot and comes with an 8 MB Memory Stick.

It was originally released at $500. It dropped to $450 in early December.

Related Information:

Article Comments

 (32 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

what about the t615?

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:11:26 PM #
um...who would buy the t615 now knowing that a pda which can play mp3's and comes bundled with the same amout of RAM (8mb mem stick) costs the same amount??? i think sony is up to something....

the only thing i can predict is that there will be a t715 shortly....

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:30:39 PM #
T715?? No way. The only difference would be the mp3 and the battery life would be horrendous. Not to mention there's probably no way of fitting in the separate audio decoder chip in that slim form factor.

Hopefully, though, something new is in the works. this is the rate Palm should be innovating at. Man, hard to believe that it's already been 10 months since the 710c was released.

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:44:42 PM #
I read someplace that the 615c Motherboard has an area were a DSP would fit perfectly, if true this would explain alot. Anyone got specifics on this?

-Peng Lord

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:51:10 PM #
"T715?? No way. The only difference would be the mp3 and the battery life would be horrendous. Not to mention there's probably no way of fitting in the separate audio decoder chip in that slim form factor."

______________________________________________
its obvious sony is up to something...whether its a t series mp3 pda, or a new n series mp3 pda, having two equally priced PDA's creates competition, which i dont think sony wants to do between its own PDA's...

i think a t series mp3 pda is possible...its just that the "t" wont stand for thin...it would mean thick. :D


RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:53:11 PM #
I don't understand the original post. The T615C STILL has a slimmer form factor (to some this is way more important than MP3 capabilities) and 16MB INTERNAL memory (can't always rely on the MS slot, especially if Sony starts rolling out MS devices).

Having both at the same price point just gives people more choice at that price point.

And honestly, if I were buying today, I would STILL choose the T615C over the N760C. It was the 16MB RAM issue that won me over (the form factor was a plus).

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:11:53 AM #
Why delete my post ? What's wrong when I said "Miserable M515 ?? "

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 3:12:51 AM #
Hm, maybe because it is completely off-topic to mention the M515 here since all we are talking about is a price reduction on the Sony.

We all know what the M515 is like. Take a rest from bashing.

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 10:16:16 AM #
Yes, this is the first move toward the T715C.

Check it out. The S320 gets a price drop and then Ta Da the T415 is out in 60 days. The 610C gets a free case and card and price drop, and the T615C is out in 60 days.
Now, the N760C gets a price drop and Ta Da, 60 days from now we will see the T715C with:

Bigger battery for full 14 days intermitent or 12 hours of continuous use.

The T615C is .1 inches thicker than T415, the T715C will be .6 inches thick. Not exactly a brick.

16 meg standard.

Dual slots, one full-sized memory Stick one new Duo small sized.

New sound features to at least match everything the T615C AND the T615C have.

A 66 MZ processor, which is why we don't have the T715C now. The 66 MZ Dragonball is so close to ready to go. I expect the Motherboard will be very similar to the T615C and that *is* why the spot is open on the T615C MB.

I am also hoping for:

Full sound with a stereo speaker/microphone built-in.

320x400 screen with soft grafitti. The bottom 80 pixels will be used only for entry to keep the standard. You won't be able to put it down and read more text on the screen.

Built-in Bluetooth.

A bunch of new peripherals. 1 megapixel camera card, matching folding keyboard.

RE: what about the t615?
popko @ 3/4/2002 1:08:04 PM #
To beable to buy what you just dream up is nice and new features are always welcome. BUT, I don't think there is any chance of Sony putting all of that into one modle and have it on sale in 60 days(from today).

RE: what about the t615?
sandbuck @ 3/5/2002 5:02:05 AM #
>> Check it out. The S320 gets a price drop and then Ta Da the T415 is out in 60 days. The 610C gets a free case and card and price drop, and the T615C is out in 60 days.
Now, the N760C gets a price drop and Ta Da, 60 days from now we will see the T715C with:

You may be on to something....

RE: what about the t615?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 12:06:05 PM #
<< We all know what the M515 is like. >>
Well, we do but we don't. It just officially came out yesterday.

<< Take a rest from bashing. >>
Agreed. Just because I like the N610C doesn't make me superior to anyone else, nor does it mean that MY PDA or MY brand is superior. I liked it, so I bought it. What is with so many other Sony users?

Now m515 is in BIG TROUBLE

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/3/2002 11:58:57 PM #
N760C become more attractive to customer after price dropped, m515 is under attack even before steps out its door..

I'll be very interested to see what happens later..

RE: Now m515 is in BIG TROUBLE
sandbuck @ 3/5/2002 4:56:58 AM #
Not much will happen later. There are diffrent target audiences for these two models.

RE: Now m515 is in BIG TROUBLE
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 12:08:24 PM #
Great. You gonna tell me about how Palm is doomed now and won't survive to the year's end? That's what people said LAST year after the m505 release debacle, Yankowski's idiocy, and Son't release of the N series. And yet, Palm still remains.

I agree that the m515 is what the m505 SHOULD have been, and I agree that Sony has done a masterful job with the S320, S360, N series, and T615. But please, GET OVER IT with your "Palm is doomed" B.S. Let's talk about the effects of the price reduction ON THE SONY!!!

More Models?

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:10:03 AM #
If sony keeps on rolling out these new models of different form, accessories will never catch up, and the only ones you can really buy is sony's. Altho I do agree that more handhelds = more choice = lower prices = happier consumers.

If they do drop the 'N' series, and bring out the Clie that they showed awhile back at Palmsource with the keyboard, camera, and swivel display, I'll sell my current Clie right now. Don't have to buy extra keyboard, case (since it can close up), and not to mention the bigger screen and possibly a virtual grafitti. Can't wait! Hope something gets announced soon.

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:25:03 AM #
The oncoming new Clies will use the T-series conectors (slim form factor).

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:29:41 AM #
> The oncoming new Clies will use the T-series conectors

You're assuming a new device won't be just like the N760C with 16MB of RAM.

If they drop the N series now, people with N series devices will never get accessories for them.

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:42:03 AM #
Yes, My guess is that the $449 price point will be soon occupied with a N series unit with 16M and everything else pretty much the same. Think - how long does it usually take for a company to come out with the larger memory unit after Tony Rudenko (over on http://www.palmpilotupgrade.com/) figures out how to do it? Besides, with AvantGo, the picture player, and the introduction of memory-stick hardware (like the camera) 8M just isn't enough.

So the question boils down to, "When is the next likely tradeshow that Sony can introduce this device?" Well, isn't Hannover's CeBIT the week of March 11th? Hmmmm....

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 1:26:57 AM #
"Yes, My guess is that the $449 price point will be soon occupied with a N series unit with 16M and everything else pretty much the same."

Its possible that they come out with this, but what will they call it? N770? (if that is not used already) They've used all the names that make sense already. S320 -> S360 (i think i got the numbers right)

If they come up with a T series with color, mp3, and thinness, the n series will be gone for sure. Unless it costs less by $100 or so. Also the way they name the T series opens it so wide for a T715 with Mp3. But best they just skip that and come out with the "flipping" clie.

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 3:02:04 AM #
what about a model with the new 66Mhz chip along with the 16 Megs....

RE: More Models?
huggy @ 3/4/2002 4:00:56 AM #
N770 IS the european version of the N760.

-------------- huggy ---------------
RE: More Models?
Rellik @ 3/4/2002 4:46:57 AM #
Then I doubt there will be a 16mb version of the N series.

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 9:54:49 AM #
I just think it was to compete on price with the new 515. In the stores, people held a 505 and any color Sony next to it and the Sony looked better, even at $50 more.

Now, the price needs to be the same. Memory comes up, but the stores, clerks just explain it away (even some of the adds say that that the N760 has 16 Mbytes).

I think Sony's hoping that the clerks will be telling people that they two are basically the same, but one is thin (M515) and the other plays music.

Most people who buy PalmOS PDAs don't really know what they want or need when they stroll through the store. $50.00 can make or break a sale.

RE: More Models?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 12:57:51 PM #
9:50AM US-Pacific Time.
Sony's www.sony.com/clie site is down for maintenance.
Let's see what changes when they bring it back up.

No More N-Series Accessories

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 7:00:42 AM #
Looks like the n760 is about to be dropped.

Sure, there's a chance that they'll release another n-series, but I doubt it.

get your accessories for the n610 and n760 while you still can.

RE: No More N-Series Accessories
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/4/2002 2:54:41 PM #
For things like cases, sure, but things like the Stowaway work on the S series too so those won't be dropped.

I think we will see a new N760C with more RAM, and vibrating and LED alarms and possibly with the polyphonic speaker of the T615C.

RE: No More N-Series Accessories
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 1:20:10 PM #
I agree - I think they'll release a new N-series Clie with more RAM, and possibly an aluminum case. I would expect that they UI might be improved, as well, since I've heard that it's a bit awkward.

Here's why I think this:
1) It's probably still too tough for even Sony to cram an mp3 player into a T series form factor.
2) Even if they can, they might not want to. The T series has the add-on, and if Sony introduces a T model with built-in mp3, even a $100 price increase over the 615 would render the T-series mp3 add-on unsellable (is that a word?).
3) What's more, I would suggest that most people who favor thin (T series) aren't that focused on mp3. Even if they are, what are their other options? Bulky PPC devices. The N-series packs mp3 in a form factor that's still smaller than ANY Pocket PC. I know people trumpet the Toshiba/Audiovox, but that things is "thin for a Pocket PC," meaning it's roughly the size of the Palm III/Visor family. Don't even get me started on the BS about how the iPaq is considered "thin." To that I say, unless you want to use its "vaunted"(LOL) expansion pack.

Shrewd

sandbuck @ 3/5/2002 4:44:53 AM #
Gone are the days when glacial price drops and model changes between the Palm Pro and Palm III generations! Sony is shrewdly leverging its vast resources to cycle fresh products through the high profit margin price range. This new Palm OS economy is great for those of us on the bleeding edge of technology. It's also great for the "certified pre-owned" crowd that's getting great deals on slightly used N-series and M-series units.

PLease expand on "brighter screen than m505"

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 2:00:02 PM #
Everyone says the m515 screen is brighter. Does it just look the same as if you turned on the backlight on the m505?

Can you read the m515 screen in direct sunlight like you can the m505?


RE: PLease expand on
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 2:26:20 PM #
Did you bother reading any of the articles or posts here or are you just lazy?

The m515 with the backlight on (high) is about 2x brighter than the m505 with the backlight on. It looks great in the sun because it is a reflective display (unlike the IIIc/Prism). Please do your homework next time.

N760C

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/5/2002 7:51:30 PM #
I have the S320 but I really want a color pilot, best buy has it for 379. Do you think I should wait to see if it drops in price?

I'm happy as heck - caught the wave!

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2002 4:27:04 PM #
I caught the wave at exactly the right time... CircuityCity was offering a $25 rebate on the N760C in mid-February,
so I picked up one at $449, and they have the "low price guarantee" that if they drop their prices in 30 days, I get the difference.

So, I get my $25 rebate, and now, with seven days left on my "low price guarantee" I can go back and get another fifty bucks back because of the Sony list price drop!

Net cost of my 760? $374.99. Definitely worth the dollars... I am quite pleased with it and don't feel particularly bummed that I didn't wait for whatever they announce Monday. The Palm Pro I had before this, I used for almost five years.

Turtle

Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: