The audio player
There are a few things that need to be said about the audio player and how it has functioned for me on a daily basis for the last couple of months. First of all, the audio player only plays standard MP3 files that have been encoded between 32K and 128K. This hasn't been too much a problem for me, since most of the MP3 files I have fall into that category, but those of you who prefer a higher encoding rate should be aware that your tracks won't play as-is on the device. The device currently won't play WMA files either.

I've loaded some tracks onto my Memory Stick that didn't play correctly. If you have the screen on, you'll get an error message saying, "Invalid Track," and it'll give details. If you're using the remote with the hold button on, you'll hear a little beeping sound when a track can't play correctly.

I did have a couple of tracks that started to play and then caused the device to stop responding. I actually had to use the tiny tip in the top of the stylus (just unscrew it) to reset the device. Granted, this was a track that was gathered from, let's just say, less than "official" sources, so it's not like I have a lot to complain about. Just be aware of this if your music collection has been gathered from many sources.

Transferring files to the device is really easy. If you have a Sony desktop/laptop with a Memory Stick slot, you can simply pop in the Memory Stick and transfer the files, which is what I do when I'm at home near my Sony VAIO. If you just have the cradle, though, you can still transfer files to the Memory Stick by putting the device in the cradle, turning on the audio player, tapping the menu button, choosing Options, and then Transfer. The memory card will then appear as a removable drive, and you can transfer MP3s and other files using Windows Explorer.

Sony CLIE versus the Compaq iPaq
When I was deciding whether or not to get the Sony CLIE, the main other device I was considering wasn't a Palm OS device, it was the Compaq iPaq 3670 and similar models. The iPaq has two key features I was looking for in my next device: audio capability and expandability. Here's how the iPaq fell short.

Remote control
The iPaq doesn't have the remote control feature the CLIE has, which means you have to control the audio player using the screen.

Size
In order to expand the memory of the iPaq with a compact flash card, you have to add a compact flash "sleeve" which increases the bulk of the device. The iPaq by itself is already bigger than the CLIE, and with the sleeve attached it's just too much bulk for someone like myself who likes to store his device in his shirt pocket.

Palm OS versus Pocket PC
Since the CLIE is based on the Palm OS, choosing it meant I could continue to use the software I was used to, such as Pylon Pro for synchronizing my Lotus Notes data.

Sony CLIE versus the Palm m500 series
The closest thing that Palm has to the Sony CLIE right now is the Palm m500 series. In Figure C, you can see how they stack up.