Sony Electronics Inc. is hoping to land a one-two punch on the PDA (personal digital assistant) market by offering two new Clié models with double the RAM of its existing models, aimed at both entry-level and tech-savvy users.
Sony on Tuesday began taking preorders for the color Clié PEG-T615C and monochrome PEG-S360, with the T615C expected to ship beginning next month and the S360 from the end of this month, the company said in a statement. Both models are based on Motorola Inc.'s 33MHz Dragonball VZ processor, the same one used in current Clié models.
Sony claims the T615C, with its 320-by-320-pixel resolution screen, is the thinnest color device running Palm Inc.'s operating system. The handheld also functions as a universal remote control, so tech-savvy users can control their home stereo and television from up to 15 feet away using the Clié's infrared port, Sony said.
The T615C includes 16M bytes of internal memory, which is double the RAM of previous models. The device is one-half-inch (1.27 cm) thick and weighs 4.9 ounces (137.2 grams). It uses Sony's memory stick media and comes bundled with Documents to Go software, which lets users edit Microsoft Corp. Word documents on the device. The T615C is expected to ship in late January, with an estimated street price of about $400, Sony said in the statement.
Sony's monochrome S360, which also features 16M bytes of RAM and a memory stick slot, includes a rechargeable battery, the company said. It also comes bundled with digital image viewing software. The S360 is expected to ship beginning next month, priced at about $200, Sony said.
News source: IDG - Sony unveils new color, monochrome Cliés
