Sony Clie PEG-UX50

The Palm OS (operating system) was originally designed for handwriting input, but there's nothing to stop it from working with a keyboard. Sony has been selling Palm-based handheld computers with keyboards for some time and the latest is the PEG-UX50.

The UX50 looks a bit like a midget notebook. It's no bigger than the palm of your hand, but its tough clamshell case has the screen and keyboard tucked inside each half. The screen is small, even for a handheld - just 70 x 47 mm - but it's bright and clear, and the 480 x 320 resolution can cram in an awful lot, even if you can't always read it. The keyboard is just as minuscule and while there's no problem picking at the circular keys with two fingers, they're not particularly responsive and need more force than most to press.

Sony is well known for its gadgetry prowess and it certainly doesn't disappoint with the UX50. The 29Mb of available memory is a little stingy but there's a Memory Stick Pro slot for adding more. There's also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless synchronisation and web surfing, a digital camera and a headphone socket.

On the face of it, the UX50 would seem to be a compelling little device and one that's almost capable of taking on a notebook PC. Sadly, it's not all sweet music with the UX50 - there are a few bum notes.

First, while the screen can be rotated and folded back for use in the traditional handheld-style, the landscape image doesn't switch to portrait. That means you have to hold the device width-ways in one hand while you write with the other, which is awkward. Worse still, Sony hasn't fully integrated the keyboard with the Palm OS and rather than use the Enter key to confirm an OK button, for example, you need to press it with the tiny stylus. Equally silly is the supplied recharging cradle - rather than doubling as a synchronisation cradle too, you must plug a USB lead in to the side of the UX50. These niggles spoil a decent package and for a £599 handheld computer, we expected more.

Contact: Sony 0870 542 4424
www.sony.co.uk