Sony Clie PEG T625C

Handheld computers from most of the big manufacturers tend to use Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system. Sony's new Clie immediately stands out thanks to its decision to use the Palm operating system.

The advantages are that Palm OS isn't demanding on the hardware, has an uncluttered appearance and the standard software suite provides pretty much everything you need to keep your life in order.

As with its desktop computers, however, Sony has augmented this with a set of extra applications. Sony's penchant for digital image manipulation extends to the Clie and it provides tools for viewing, editing and drawing images.

There is also a tool to let you transform your handheld PC into a desktop picture frame.

A movie viewer and a rather snazzy remote control function, which can handle any infrared device in your home, such as a TV, video or DVD player, is also supplied.

Sony has made stylish-looking equipment a speciality and the Clie is no exception. It looks superb. The silver casing is very smart, the application shortcut buttons are discreet and the Jog Dial button and Back button on the left side of the case are superb.

The display has a resolution of 320 x 320 in 65,536 colours which is useful if you want to play with digital images. Battery life is listed at around 12 days before each recharge, although we suspect that this has been achieved with minimal use.

There is 16Mb of memory for data storage, more than almost every other Palm PC, and a Memory Stick slot means you can add more. You can also use this slot for peripherals; Sony showed us a digital camera, which costs £120.

Sony has managed to bring the Clie PEG T625C to the market at a very competitive price but, if money is tight, consider the 8Mb mono screen alternative, the PEG-T425, which costs £199.

Posher models in the range feature MP3 decoding and headphones but, if you can live without them, this is definitely the top Palm-based device.

Price: £299 (inc. VAT)

Contact: Sony 0870 542 4424
www.sony-europe.com/clieplaza

Also consider: Toshiba E570
A great all-round Pocket PC. £463 *****.