A quick look at the specs should tell you that Sony didn't cut many corners while designing the 320. The unit has a 33MHz Dragonball VZ and runs the Palm OS version 4.0. This processor is tried and true, and found on plenty of more expensive PDAs. It is also zippy enough for anyone using the 320. By that I mean that you don't buy this model if you're in the market for a multimedia handheld. (Though you can play movies and view images, albeit in four shades of gray.) You buy the 320 if you're in the market for a relatively powerful and cost-effective organizer.
Version 4.0 of the Palm OS runs all of the familiar PDA functions: Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, email, calculator, etc. As it is a Sony, there are a few Memory Stick management features as well.
The 320 packs 8MB of RAM and 4MB of ROM. The ROM allows future upgrades to the firmware and software. 8MB is a nice amount of RAM, and, once again, plenty for the casual user. Hell, I have loads of contacts and appointments and I always had plenty of space on the 320. Granted, that 8MB will evaporate if you cram loads of short movies and images onto the 320, but that's not what it's for. <img src="https://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/sonyCLIE320frontsmall.jpg" width="160" height="247" align="right" border="0" alt="Click image to enlarge." />Click image to enlarge.
One of the most useful features of the 320 is the scroll wheel, which is found on every Clie. This wheel is located on the left side near the top. It is situated perfectly, falling under the thumb of righties and under the index finger of southpaws. The wheel has two functions. Firstly, it is used to navigate menus and data by scrolling. (It normally moves upward and downward, but when there are no such options it moves side to side through screens.) Secondly, you can depress the wheel and it acts as an enter button to make a selection. The wheel works extremely well, and once you get used to it, it's difficult to live without it.
Another Sony trademark is the Memory Stick slot. The slot is on the top of the 320, between the power button and IR port. In order to keep costs down, Sony doesn't bundle a Memory Stick with the 320. However, you might not need one right off the bat. Unlike a Springboard slot, which can be used for anything from an MP3 player to a GPS, the Memory Stick slot is mostly for adding memory to a Clie. And unless you have a lot of personal information to manage, you won't need any more than the 8MB for starters.
Unlike most PDAs, which come with some sort of charging/syncing cradle, the 320 comes with two cables that link directly to the bottom of the unit. One cable charges the unit's internal battery; the other is a USB cable for connecting the 320 to a computer. At first I found this annoying, but it's not such an inconvenience. Obviously, you cannot charge the unit while it's docked, but it's not such a high price to pay considering how low a price you pay for the 320. (Ha.)
Color lovers will want to look elsewhere for a PDA, as the 320 rocks it in four shades of gray. For general data management, a grayscale LCD is fine, especially when it's as sharp and legible as this one is. Sony also gives you plenty of contrast control. The LCD is also backlit. <img src="https://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/sonyCLIE320sizesmall.jpg" width="160" height="120" align="right" border="0" alt="Click image to enlarge." />Click image to enlarge.
So it's fast, affordable, and slickly designed. What didn't I like about it? For starters, the cover consists of a flap that hinges on top and loosely falls over the screen. It doesn't lock closed at all, so the 320 isn't protected very much at all. It looks nice, and is simple, but it's not much of a cover. Even worse, when this cover is removed there is no covering for the gaping Memory Stick slot. This wouldn't be problematic for some expansion formats, but the Memory Stick slot is pretty big, and it seems that it would be too easy for dirt or crud to clog up the works. Think you can live with that? Then you've found an excellent PDA.
Conclusion
I strongly recommend the Clie for some people and not at all for others. If you're looking for an MP3 playing, internet-ready, color handheld, then you'll have to look elsewhere, as the 320 will in no way cut it. However, if you're working within a budget, but need a powerful PDA, you can't go wrong with the 320. Given the strong set of features, especially the scroll wheel, it's not as if you're sacrificing much. And the thing costs $169.95!