Hypachris

From PC Magazine's review of TJ37:

"We did find its inconsistent wireless capability troublesome, however. We ran into some problems when testing wireless capabilities.
.
.
We used two 802.11g wireless access points by Linksys and SMC set in 802.11b mode. Unfortunately, the PEG-TJ37 couldn't connect to the Linksys AP and achieved only an intermittent connection to the SMC AP, mainly when we stood in front of (but not behind) the AP.

The Sony CLIÉ PEG-TJ37 is a good PDA. It lets you listen to your favorite MP3s and take pictures, and it comes loaded with cool apps. But if you're looking for good wireless performance, it may be best to look elsewhere." --- http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1560553,00.asp

What do you guys think of this opinion? Is it just overly negative, or something true about TJ37? I need a wireless device, but this review is one thing holding me back at the moment, especially since PC Magazine is a reputable source of tech information in the industry, and not just someone's Uncle Bob who lives in a shack playing with pigs all day.

Unregistered

1. It's not necessarily the TJ37 that is the problem. Sony Clies don't support certain types of 802.11 encryption, I believe, which could probably be got around with a properly configured router.

2. Signal strength is again, not necessarily the fault of the TJ37. I've used it fine in airports where I can't even SEE the hotspot, let alone stand in front of it.

Connecting to APs is a two device job. Saying it's the Clie's fault seems fairly one-sided. So far I've had relatively little trouble with my TJ37, connecting to a number of different WiFi connections.

Derek_Derek

Well, I have to agree that wi-fi on TJ37 is not optimal. I have Tj37/E1 that works with D-Link APs pretty well, but looses the connection instantly when I enable PowerSaveMode or 64bit WEP. On the other hand, settings are easy to make and wi-fi connection is conveniently integrated into the applications like NetFront and Clie Mail. Overall it's a good package.

Hopefully Sony would release a update to fix some of the bugs, although I haven't heard even rumours of one.

__________________
Cheers,
Derek

gheitman

PC Magazine may have written their review without installing the wireless update that Sony released on April 6th. This fixed wireless issues for most people including problems when using Power Save Mode. It made a big difference for me. Anyone who uses wireless and hasn't installed the update should do so right away. You can find it, as well as other updates, at the address below.

http://ciscdb.sel.sony.com/perl/select-clie.pl

__________________
Gene Heitman
PEG-TJ37 with Agendus Pro, AvantGo, BackupBuddy, FilePoint, HanDBase Plus, Mapopolis Platinum, Pocket Tunes Deluxe, WorldMate Standard Edition

snoslicer8

I think this review is an absolute piece of crap. I have a Linksys 802.11g router (probably the one they are using), and I have had no problems whatsoever connecting via WiFi throughout my entire house (over 2,500 sq. feet of it). I don't know where they get this stuff, but I think they just have a problem with Sony coming up with some great ideas.

Cheers,
Brady

__________________
Proud user of the awesome TJ37/U and a Lexar 256 MB Memory Stick Pro

Check out my WiFi HotSync Thread:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48436

sonar5

They're full of beans.....

The Majority of times anyone has problems with any wi-fi, "IMHO", is because of incorrect settings either with their router or with the Clie settings.

I have a Linksys G router, WRT54G, and throughout my entire house, in the yard or on the front porch, even in my car in front of the house, it connects fine. (as well as in the bathroom, if you know what I mean.)

I have had no problems connecting at starbucks either,

Given that magazines are set well before publication, and given that they obviously had an Idiot doing the review that probably had no Idea on how to set up a properly configured wifi connection, it is obviously due to operator error.

!!

RTM, PC mag...

As far as the patch, I had no problems connecting to my Linksys Router, and have been doing wireless hotsynching since day one, and don't even have the cable plugged into the computer anymore.

I also don't put any credance into UNSIGNED articles, where the author hides behind anonymity and says what sells the magazines instead of figuring out what He/She did wrong in order to ot be able to connect.

**/Edit
The full review did not list the reviewer, but another page listed it as Jonathan Roubini
**/End Edit

This BIASED alleged reviewer didn't post one thing he/she liked about the Clie. What a Joke. This is not a review but a pathetic sham.

I'm now going into their discussion groups and tell them the same thing I said here.

BRB with the link.

I encourage everyone that owns a TJ-37 to let them know what you think about theri ALLEGED Review.

My Post is here:
http://discuss.pcmag.com/n/mb/messa...mag&msg=38428.1

And you can hit the discuss button near the article, where you can also post there:
http://discuss.pcmag.com/pcmag/start/?msg=37056

I also suggest others post links within their discussion boards showing other OBJECTIVE REVIEWS. I listed the brighthand one.

Regards,
Joe

__________________
*********
"I'm not in anybody else's movies other than my own"(Michael Moore - 2004 Proven LIE)

http://www.michaelmoorehatesamerica.com/trailer_sm.html

TJ37

They are probably using the super Linksys Routers with the Speed Boosters turned on. This has an effect on the TJ37's wireless performance (also if its some special router with higher transfer rates, read news article on cliesource about that). I personally do not have a problem with the TJ's wireless performance. It works perfectly for me, except for some minor problems thats related to my router.

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~ TJ37
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A Dissatisfied Sony Customer

Stratification

The only times I really have problems is when I turn on the "power-save" mode. I'm using mine around campus here at college and as long as it's in normal mode I've got no problems at all. Power save makes it much slower and seems to cut the range significantly, both of which are really not all that surprising.

__________________
I'm just here for the food

sonar5

Now he does his Zire 72 review, almost all positive of course, and says this:

From:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1574096,00.asp

"The Sony CLIÉ PEG-TJ37 ($299) is the Zire 72's main competitor. Both run Palm OS 5.2, offer a bundle of applications and come with the same resolution screen. The CLIÉ does have 802.11b connectivity, though as it wasn't working well when we tested it, it was hardly a selling point. The CLIÉ TJ37's camera is a mere 640-by-480 and doesn't allow video recording. In addition, the Zire 72 comes with the newest Intel processor. So in our book, the Zire 72 is a clear winner over the CLIÉ TJ37."

Yeah it wasn't ALLEGEDLY working because IMHO, this guy doesn't have a clue about how to configure a device, ap, or a router.

Clear Winner, My eye.....

The Zire DOES not have 802.11 connectivity for wirelss, and he says it is a clear winner..

Give me a break.

He's worse than the NY Times, IMHO.

get a clue.

Notice in the Zire 72 review the BIASED reviewer fails to mention whether the Plam comes with a headset for MP3, which he labelled as a negative for the clie since it did not come with one.

Regards,
Joe

__________________
*********
"I'm not in anybody else's movies other than my own"(Michael Moore - 2004 Proven LIE)

http://www.michaelmoorehatesamerica.com/trailer_sm.html

TJ37

Indeed.

Zire - Crappy Camera (issues with camera)/No Cover, No WiFi (only BlueTooth), childish design, bulky, etc.

Clie - WiFi, Professional Design, Pretty Slim and compact considering its packing all this stuff... etc.

PC MAG has to really spend more time reviewing this stuff. They cant just look at something, play around with it in a day and write up a report. I rather go with CNet's reviews.

Probably were paid to support PALM over Sony.

__________________
~ TJ37
<---- Was I helpful? Please click the scale under my name!
<---- Not helpful? Please click the exclaimation point!
A Dissatisfied Sony Customer

Hypachris

Well thanks guys for your input about that PC Magazine review. I was kind of hoping it was biased to some extent since TJ37 is a really fine PDA (except the thin stylus) and I was just hoping the wireless was of acceptable quality.

PalmOne devices do have many overly optimistic reviews for some reason.......what is the conspiracy?

taki1203

BS! I use my TJ on several wirleless networks from my school to my favorite coffee shop. I have never had a problem with the wireless performance or connnectivity (especially after turning off the power saver mode). Where do these people come up with this stuff!? I love my TJ and it does everything I ask of it and then does more.

__________________
Someone who thinks logically is a nice contrast to the real world.

Unregistered

The camera is just as cheap and nasty on the Zire 72 as it is on the Clie TJ37, and no way is the Zire 72's picture quality even close to a 1 megapixel resolution judging by the pictures taken by various online PDA reviewers...

Barring the camera which is no more than a cheap gimmick after all just like mobile phone's that come equipped with similar with similar junk, I opted for the clie instead cos the Zire 72's design looked very cheap.

The bluetooth is pretty useless, FYI any die hard techie could download your full mobile phone listens and text messages without you knowing due to the insure nature of bluetooth tecnology. I've seen someone demonstrate this on TV in a city centre coffe shop where he not only downloaded someones phone listing but also listen into peoples phone calls with his laptop! :shock:

legoladd

My Campus's wireless network is powerful enough for me to run powersave mode and its even faster than my netgear router at home with power save off..... i guess it boils down to the wireless router used