06-29-2004, 09:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Gizmodo Reviews Sony's U50
"It catches eyes, that's for sure. I had forgotten to load the Sony VAIO U50 with any software before our flight home to Kansas City for the weekend, but since an unexpected storm front was blowing in from the north, we had almost two hours to kill while our plane sat, stranded on the tarmac of LaGuardia. Even scrolling through empty file systems was better than the airline magazine. 'Excuse me,' said the man sitting next to me, and I turned too fast to respond, because I knew he had been staring. 'What exactly is that thing, and can you play Spider Solitaire on it?'
Joel over at Gizmodo gives the U50 a pretty thorough review, and comes up with some interesting conclusions. He thinks that it fares poorly for a laptop replacement as it's hard to use the foldable keyboard, etc. However, for him it appears to be "something up to keep next to the bed, with the convenience of a PDA, but none of the limitations", which I find interesting. If you're looking for a bedside wireless surfing device, I'd agree. But if you're looking for a pocketable contact database, I'd still rate a Pocket PC as a more useful unit than this. (Nevertheless, I still wouldn't mind if someone gave me one of these.  )
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06-29-2004, 09:22 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 434
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His POV of the U50 is interesting but opposite most reviews I've seen. He didn't take advantage of the strengths of the device by loading his desktop environment on it (empty filesystem reference). He also admits he's not comfortable with the stylus and is rather keyboard-centric which is not the forte of any mobile device like this- even PPCs.
I have a U70 coming end of this week and intend to do a full review of it. My goal is not to replace the PPC but rather my laptop for daily use and we'll see how it goes. Guess I'll finally have to upgrade my network to 802.11g. 
__________________
James Kendrick* ...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs
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06-29-2004, 10:17 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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That's a SUPER cool looking device. I'll never buy a Sony device though.
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06-29-2004, 10:51 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 137
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:drool: and I don't even know what it does.
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06-29-2004, 10:53 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 119
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Agreed I cannot ever go back to sony, however it is an interesting device to say the least. Is it's pricepoint similar to the oqo?
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06-29-2004, 11:11 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 434
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The OQO doesn't have a price yet but I expect they'll be close.
__________________
James Kendrick* ...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs
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06-30-2004, 12:07 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,479
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jkendrick
His POV of the U50 is interesting but opposite most reviews I've seen. He didn't take advantage of the strengths of the device by loading his desktop environment on it (empty filesystem reference). He also admits he's not comfortable with the stylus and is rather keyboard-centric which is not the forte of any mobile device like this- even PPCs.
I have a U70 coming end of this week and intend to do a full review of it. My goal is not to replace the PPC but rather my laptop for daily use and we'll see how it goes. Guess I'll finally have to upgrade my network to 802.11g. |
He brushed upon it when he said it wasnt useable as such and hey with the keyboard problems he mentioned and using an 800MHz CELERON processor just how much real computing you think you can do with this device?
Seriously, 800MHz Celeron?
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06-30-2004, 12:08 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,479
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Oops its 900MHz Celeron.
Still sucks horribly though.
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06-30-2004, 12:09 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 119
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That said, if I were to choose between the two, I reckon I would have to opt for the oqo based on the number of changes they've made to the device already based on it's test-user feedback. This leads me, the consumer, to believe the oqo would surpass the u50 in functionality. I just hope I'm not being mislead
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06-30-2004, 01:26 AM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by x999x
That said, if I were to choose between the two, I reckon I would have to opt for the oqo based on the number of changes they've made to the device already based on it's test-user feedback. This leads me, the consumer, to believe the oqo would surpass the u50 in functionality. I just hope I'm not being mislead |
Heck, with the amount of time it's taking to release the OQO I'm not surprised. :lol:
I would not go on that a a functionality/usability guide.......
If so, then Duke Nukem Forever would be the best game in the world.... ever! :wink:
Interesting looking device, that U50.
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