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Brimming over with features

May 24, 2003

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Price: $1699

Rating: ****


Weighing in at almost 300 grams, the latest CLIE certainly isn't a featherweight among handhelds. There are several reasons for this, the most obvious being its 320 x 480 screen resolution and clearest displays yet seen on a handheld. Then there's the 2.1 megapixel digital camera, which takes photos of which a dedicated camera would be proud.

This camera can be rotated so the CLIE can be held like a normal camera, or you can flip it 180 degrees, aiming the lens at the user of the PDA. This can also act as a digital video camera. Unfortunately, the quality of the captured video isn't as high as the photographs but it's good enough to be used online.

A comfortable keyboard is tucked away on the other half of the clamshell design, while Bluetooth connectivity helps to make up for the lack of wi-fi. Music playback and voice recording are also included, and with Sony's audio pedigree it's no surprise that these features sound as good as many of today's better MP3 players and voice recorders.

There's a catch, however. You're not going to fit much of anything on its measly 16MB of built-in memory, so you'll need the largest Memory Stick you can afford if you want to make the most of the NZ90. Heavy use of the multimedia features also results in a reduced battery life.

If you want a PDA that will nestle comfortably into your pocket among your keys, coins and other trouser trash, the PEG-NZ90 is not for you due to its bulk and weight. But if you need a PDA that is packed to the brim with multimedia features, as well as all you'd expect from a high-end Palm OS hand-held, this PDA might be just what you've been looking for. - Bennett Ring

SDVD X Copy XPress

Price: $US70 ($108)

Rating: *****


If DVDs were truly indestructible, there would not be any need for DVD X Copy XPress. Unfortunately, DVDs are fragile so it only takes some rough handling from the kids and they can become scratched and unplayable.

To safeguard your investment, DVD X Copy XPress allows you to make a copy of the movie component of your DVD. Since commercial DVDs are generally dual layered (effectively two layers of data doubling the capacity of the disk to 9GB), it is not possible to back up a full DVD (with features) onto a single 4.7GB disc.

To squeeze the movie onto a single disc, you need to sacrifice the menu, multiple language support, special features and choice of both wide screen and full screen formats.

Once you choose language and screen format, copying is a one button operation. Using a high-speed DVD burner and appropriate media, we were able to copy a 72-minute movie in less than 30 minutes.

Quality was identical to the original, except for lack of special features and a 15-second warning at the start of the movie advising you that it is a copy.

Whether you are legally allowed to back up your DVDs is still a contentious issue as the Australian Copyright Act does not grant you a specific right to make back-ups (unless the DVD is considered to be a computer program) and explicitly prohibits making copies of films. It is certainly illegal (and morally wrong) to make copies of rented or borrowed DVDs or to make copies of DVDs for your friends.

To help ensure compliance with the law, DVD X Copy XPress includes anti-piracy measures such as placing a watermark on the copy to allow 321 Studios to trace who made the copy, placing an indelible copy warning at the start of the disc and preventing you from duplicating the copies. - David Neiger


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