Palm 515 "dead in water" vs Sony Clie - UK PRICES:

[enfieldspares]

At last PC World has displayed its palm 515 and 130 Models and it prices. For U.S. readers PC World is part of a very large chain, including Curry's and Dixon's that dominates the UK "high street" computer market. Prices are UK ? 229.00 (US $ 325.00) for....the 130! I had to ask the salesman if had made a mistake and that was the 515 price...but no!

For the 515 is a staggering UK 369.00 (US $ 523.00)! My local Sony centre has end-of-line colour 770 Clie for UK ? 248.00 (US $ 352.00) and the 16MbClie 625 for UK ? 348.00 (US $ 494.00). So I think that the prices in the UK leave the palm 515 "dead in the water". The 130 might just stand a chance, however, will it be as good as my trusty IIIc however?

I got talking with a PDA enthusiast in PC World and we both agreed that the 515 seems like a "first quarter year" stop-gap until something that can really take on the Clie is announced. We both decided that we were "upgrading" to Clie 625s.

I have to say, having now tried a Clie 625 that, much as I like the shape of the 515 and the larger (in UK) range of third party and Palm made "add-ons" that the price is the real issue.

It is such a disappointment that one big store groups greed has killed this fine American product here in the UK for a while. None of the big UK Internet direct vendors have yet to list an "on-line" price, but, for comparison the Clie 625 is currently UK ? 315.00 (US $ 447.00) "on-line".

Or, perhaps, on UK specification Palm 130 and 515 Models the contacts are made of solid gold!

[Be3G]

Try (if you haven't already) Jungle . They don't have any of the new palms up for sale yet, but they are fairly often cheaper than PC World.

[mountainbiker]

Are you or one of your mates making a trip over to the US? (Mail order one from online from one State and ship it to your/their hotel, then you can even save the sales tax.) However, hopefully the UK sellers will get their act together and stop giving us the name "Rip Off Britain."

Expansys are listing theirs for ?321.32 (US $455.00) + shipping (unless you are by Manchester)

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=M515

Maybe eBay will have some cheap m505s...

Cheers

[JediLow]

Well, to defend the 515... its listed as $499.99 US at any store. =P

[mountainbiker]

JediLow, the people in Michigan may want to start their price comparison with the Palm site which has the 515 for $399

http://www.palm.com/products/palmm515/

[biglig]

I believe what Dixons et. al. are doing now is selling the 515 at pretty much list price, while the 505 remains at the same price, ?299 ($425) which is discounted from list (505 list = 515 list, remember).

These models are brand new and it is standard economic theory to initially charge a high price so all the "early adopters" who must have a 515 at any cost will buy them, then once that's passed lower the price to get the "normal" people to buy them.

Once all their 505s are gone, I'd expect we'll begin to see discount begin to be applied. I doubt it will be long before this is discouted the extra ?20 to bring it in line with the Clie.

Before ordering from the US, do bear in mind that there may be warranty issues, and that the US PSU does not work in Europe. As the editor of Byte once said, encapsulating perfectly the US attitude: "I went to Germany and they had funny power sockets"

[JediLow]

doh! Its really $399... just had a typo.

[paeuk]

Just a thought but Dixons in Heathrow Airport is selling the Palm M515 for ?314 (i.e. less VAT).

So if you happen to be travelling to Europe at some point it could be an option. You also will get the benefit of easier return (to your local Dixons) if you have problems. I prefer this rather than ordering on-line.

This is the route I probably will take if I get a chance, although I've still mixed feelings about the Sony T625C but finding it hard to locate a UK store which stocks them to have a look at the device.

[enfieldspares]

The Sony Centre, on the High Street, in Leicester just up from the Clock Tower and midway between the Railway and Bus Stations (ten minutes walk at most). Easy parking at The Shires. Tel 0116 262 7487. their price ? 329.99 inc VAT.
Sadly the 625 doesn't come with the earpiece, remote control or MP3 features of it predecessor...but you CAN use it as a remote control to control your Sony television and hi-fi! (Yes..."big deal" too...)
Capacity seems to be 15Mb against the Palm 515 which appears to have 15.7Mb. That .7Mb may not be much...but it could just save the cost of a memory card.
I am sorry that, in the end, the cost a lack of compatible useful features such as 320x320 resolution and the "jog" and "back" facilities decided me against the 515. I also really like the littel security ring on the Clie.
I hope that Sony quality doesn't let me down!