clie for mac

[stw213]

i'm really interested in getting a clie. i have noticed that there exists somewhere out there hotsync software for clie/mac. could someone recommend a specific model or let me know of any pitfalls to lookout for. i mostly just need to be able to take outlook contacts and emails with me when i leave my office. thanks.

[elbowz]

I've got a T625C which I sync with my PowerBook without the need of any third party software. I just downloaded the latest Palm desktop and chose USB as the connection and bingo, hotsync worked.

I'm running OS X but it also works with OS 9.2.

The things you will miss out on by being a Mac user are the ability to access the Memory Stick as a drive on your desktop (not particularly important as you can install files to the MS with Hotsync) and to treat the MP3 player as an iTunes device.

However I believe that Markspace's Missing Sync will fix both these problems if they are a stumbling point for you.

You'll need Entourage and the Microsoft conduit to transfer your emails and contacts to the Palm, I don't think there's an OS 9 equivalent for Outlook unfortunately. Can't tell you how well it works though...

[Vontinker]

I too was interested in CLIE. What was the marketing people at Sony thinking when they excluded Macintosh owners? Fortunately my other Sony products (3 televisions, DVD player, 2 VHS recorders, Receiver, DVD camera, and Digital camera) do not have compatablity issues.

Why buy third party software to get the same benifits from this handheld that PC users receive out of the box? I'll go with Palm, or Handspring.

[elbowz]

I don't think what you say is truly accurate. The Clie works out of the box with the standard Palm desktop for Mac OS 9 and X. It does this as well as any other Palm based device.

However Palm have never produced a Mail conduit for Mac (nor Expense for that matter) so to sync your email between Mac and Palm you need Entourage and Microsoft's conduit (ironic?)

Some of the additional features for the Clie (Picture Gear Pocket and Memory Stick Import) don't have equivalents supplied. If you need the functionality they provide then you will need Missing Sync and Graphic Convertor software. However as no other Palm device provides these features on the Mac this holds true whether you buy a Sony , Palm or Handspring.


Originally posted by Vontinker
I too was interested in CLIE. What was the marketing people at Sony thinking when they excluded Macintosh owners? Fortunately my other Sony products (3 televisions, DVD player, 2 VHS recorders, Receiver, DVD camera, and Digital camera) do not have compatablity issues.

Why buy third party software to get the same benifits from this handheld that PC users receive out of the box? I'll go with Palm, or Handspring.

[stw213]

ended up with a sj-30. got it a couple of weeks ago. i'm running a G3 with OS 9.2 at work and windows at home. the back and forth syncing hasn't been a problem. plus, found a great chess freeware program that gives me something to play with on the subway.

i appreciate you guys replying. haven't had any problems with my palm desktop and my clie while at work with my mac.

cheers
sterling

[purplespore]

Incoherent rant ahead, watch out.

I'm trying to figure out the Sony Corp. They come out with a brilliant product, and then choose not to 'associate' themselves with probably one of the most innovative companies on the planet...Apple.

It is true that the Clie's work just fine with Mac's, after downloading a free program from the Palm website (missing sync software is NOT required, nor recommended-save your money). I bought a Sony 2.1megapixel digital camera, and guess what it said on the box? -> Windows only! Right out of the packaging, the cam works just as good with a Macintosh, if not better than with Windows! Why does Sony play these types of games? I think it would be in Sony's best interest to appeal to the Macintosh crowd, seeing how most Mac users are die hard loyalists to Macintosh. If Sony included 'us', the mac users, we would support Sony with the same type of loyalty (as long as the product continues to be brilliant). Sony straight up lies about their products, which is not only bewildering to me, but offends me just the same. They are starting to remind me of AT&T, a company I will never do business with again due to the fact that they are not honest with their customers (I know, i worked for them and was trained to how to tell little white lies or completely bogus in your face BS just to make a sale.)

For the record, after 2 hours of pulling teeth with Sony over the phone, I finally got the straight scoop about the MP3 player add-on for the Clie J-30. This is just another example of Sony walking the fine line of customer deception. This add-on will work on the J-20, and even the SL-10! The only reason they have for saying it shouldn't be used with the sl-10 is BATTERY POWER! (But, with the right batteries and/or use with a travel charger or something easily home brewed...this isn't a problem whatsover. Over and over I was told that it was incompatible, that only the more expensive models (of the same series) would work. I asked how that could be when the only difference betwen the three models are a color screen, extra internal memory, and lithium batteries. I asked for a technical reason behind their claim and they wouldn't budge, for 2 hours! Finally the answer came when I starting questioning why Sony would somehow cripple the sl-10, just to make it incompatible with the mp3 player (which they didn't do). All it is is a marketing ploy to get people to buy the upper end models. Why couldn't they just tell me the truth from the begining? They already screwed up by making the sl-10 the most versatile of the three models by sticking a usb port on its side (oops!). Bad move Sony! Should have thought of that before you put these babies out, but now you must live with the fact that the sl-10 is not only cheaper, but can accept all sorts of potential third party gizmos right out of that little built in usb port! I'm dreaming of the possibilities right now! There are so many possible add ons one could produce for the sl-10...

In other words, Sony, if you're listing... :p , just tell the truth! Be honest with your customers! You guys just made an incredible product that may just hand over a majority of the PDA market, and I don't want to see you go down in flames. Sniff, ...wiping tear from my cheek...
I love you man! I love you enough to try to save you from your selves! I love you enough to maybe accept you as a decent brilliant and usually honest company like Apple. :D :rolleyes: Are ya'll sleeping with Bill Gates? If so, that is just plain wrong! Shivers....

Just be straight up, or you will have people like me telling everyone to buy an sl-10 instead (and for cheap!- $125 and below already!) :)

Its so, so far past my bedtime its not even funny. I don't even think any of this makes sense. Oh well:D