Sony Clié PEG-NR70V

Being the geniuses that they are, Sony has gone back to the drawing board and created the Clié PEG-NR70V, a PDA packed full of high-tech gadgetry including a digital camera, audio player, QWERTY keyboard and a larger high-resolution screen (320x480) that can flip and rotate 180 degrees. You also get Memory Stick media compatibility and great software like the Remote Commander, World Alarm Clock and Clié Paint.

At the heart of the Clié is the Palm OS running all the applications you need to keep your life in check. The PEG-NR70V comes with Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Mail, and Expense tools, and the Sony-enhanced Address Book that enables you to add photos to your contacts listings. On top of that you also get Clié specific applications such as Remote Commander--for controlling home entertainment devices, Audio Player, PictureGear and Clié Camera.

The digital camera is very easy to use, simply point the swivel lens at your subject and press the capture button on the side of the screen. This is great if you need to take pictures quickly. The camera is a bit limited as it can only take images at a maximum resolution of 320x240. But it can produce some nice images--even if they are a bit on the small side. The audio player allows you to playback audio files transferred from your PC and it supports both MP3 and WMA audio formats and standard CD audio. To really get the most from the digital camera and audio player functionality, it is advisable to invest in a Memory Stick as the PEG-NR70V only has 16MB of internal memory--not much room for music or loads of images. The Memory Stick can also be used to transfer data between the Clié and your PC or other Sony products such as their laptops or digital cameras.

Powering the PEG-NR70V is a fast 66MHz DragonBall processor and 16MB of memory. The high-resolution flip and rotate TFT colour display will support over 65,000 colours. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, 2000 Professional, Me, and XP, and connects to your PC using the USB port. The PEG-NR70V comes with a USB HotSync cradle (which also charges the battery), digital audio remote control and in-ear earphones, a detachable AC adapter, and a stylus.

As a first PDA or an upgrade from an older model, for the money, you'd be hard pushed to find something better than the Sony Clié PEG-NR70V. The Palm OS is simple to use yet powerful, and the high-resolution screen puts other non-Sony PDAs to shame. The digital camera may be a bit gimmicky to some people, but it is very handy for taking snapshots quickly and easily. Whip it out at meetings and heads will turn--in your direction.--Martin Snelling

The CLIE PEG-NR70V handheld is the ultimate in handheld convergence. Take pictures with the built-in digital camera (100, 000 effective pixels), listen to MP3 files (headphones and remote controller supplied), display videos and images, plus keep your date book and contact list organized - all in one stylish unit.The unique swivel LCD design lets you choose your preferred method of text entry - use the stylus to enter data directly on the screen, or flip and rotate the screen (180 degrees) for access to the built-in QWERTY keyboard.

• Sony Clié PEG-NR70V
• Headphones
• Audio remote controller;
• USB HotSync cradle
• AC adapter
• Stylus
• Installation CD-ROM
• User guide
• Warranty information