Sony Clie PEG-NX73V Handheld

Running Palm OS 5, on an Intel PXA263 processor running at 200MHz, the NX73V has 16MB or RAM and a 300K pixel camera that supports up to 640 x 480 resolution. However, it is the screen that is the biggest attention-grabber as its capable of 320 pixels of width and 480 of length if you shrink the Graffiti area. Viewing diary dates, or reading files using the supplied Picsel Viewer, which can cope with document types including HTML, PDF and Microsoft Word, is a positive experience because the display format is closer to the `portrait' orientation of standard paper, and therefore somehow feels better than more usual squarer Palm PDA screens.

There is plenty of other software provided by Sony, pre-installed so you don't need to take up any of the RAM to use it. The range runs from an MP3 and ATRAC3 player to an infra red remote control, world alarm clock, handwriting recognition software, digital video and stills viewers, email and SMS applications, and software for taking still and moving images with the built-in camera. There is no flash, but you can make settings for indoor and outdoor shots which should help you get the most out of your images.

There are both Compact Flash and Memory Stick card slots, and as is usual with this range from Sony, there is a tiny thumb-tappable keyboard which, if your fingers are small enough, you can use pretty effectively.

This is an expensive, top of the range Clié, which has plenty of multimedia capability but could also be used to good effect at work.--Sandra Vogel

I've found myself taking it wherever I'm going (which is the point of a PDA!!!). This never happened before with my older PDA's because they were simply calendars and phonebooks... I enjoy having the camera on me at random times. Taking a little picture of my favorite dish at a restaurant or capturing a great picture of my dog at the park. Those are times you always wished you had brought your digicam but never had it on you!

The DECUMA input sucks... you need to write really neatly and separate e a c h l e t t e r so that it knows what you're talking about. I much prefer Graffiti 2. Graffiti 2 is soooo much cooler than Graffiti 1 that I have been using previously. BUT best of all, this thing has a QWERTY keyboard. I cannot stress how much nicer it is to use the QWERTY. I haven't used the stylus much at all. Most of my inputs are now a process of using my fingertip and then using the keyboard. It REALLY is much faster.

I also enjoy the fact that the thing doesn't have to boot up to get to the digicam or the voice recorder. One click of either button and the unit automatically snaps to the application you are requesting. I am enjoying taking oral notes with the voice record feature when I'm on the go and don't have time to type.

Overall, I'd suggest that you also check out the NX80 due to the better camera. I think I'll buy an NX80 eventually, but right now, for the price, the 73V does exactly what I need without costing TOO much.


Glad I Upgraded   October 19, 2003
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

Previous happy owner of a Clie NR60 but had to upgrade when I dropped it and broke the screen. The NX73 has everything I liked about my previous machine and in addition is Faster, has better screen resolution, and the Upgraded Palm OS. The Decuma handwriting recognition is great. The more I use it the more I like the ablity to take notes in my writing. The camara is lame and not a reason to buy this machine. The option for using CF cards is great plus in flexibility and cost. If you like to type your notes into your PDA, then this machine is not for you. The touch of the keyboard gives barely enough feedback. The Tungsten C has much better keyboard feel if you feel this is important. Bottom Line, if you like the big screen of the CLIE clamshell models (which to me makes a big difference), this is definitely the machine to buy.


NX73v is a slight upgrade from the previous nx series   July 22, 2003
H. Lim (Redlands, CA United States)
15 out of 18 found this review helpful

The only thing that made me upgrade to this nx73v from my nx60 was the Decuma handwriting input. It is by far the best input software and I have been a graffiti user for 5 years. I thought I was fast on graffiti, but with decuma, I can write more naturally and much more quickly. Sony does it again.