Steve Class Awards: Two for the Road

Contributing Editor Stephen Manes has written about technology for two decades.

I borrow hundreds of new products for testing every year. When I send them back to the manufacturers, I rarely feel a pang of regret. But now and then, something great overwhelms my inner piker, and I go out and buy it myself. In the past year, it's happened with two roadworthy products: Sony's just-over-3-pound VAIO PCG-TR series subnotebook and PalmOne's Treo 600 smart phone--this year's winners of the coveted Steve Class awards.

I love subnotebooks, but until now lightness meant essential features were left out (latest example: Sony's ultrasleek but dongle-and-PC Card-dependent new VAIO X505). The TR series breaks that mold by including every port and slot you need--plus modem, ethernet, and Wi-Fi connectivity--and shoehorning in an optical drive that 3-pound PCs used to offer only as an outboard extra.

Better still, these units come equipped with a bright, wide-format 10.6-inch screen that uses a special antireflective coating more like the ones on camera lenses than the standard diffusing type. The display enhances the readability of text, and its higher contrast restores deep black to DVDs that look washed-out on most LCD screens. Even bystanders who see this screen are dazzled. Bonus: The display's reduced height makes it easy to handle in a cramped airplane seat.

Complaints? A few. The CPU could be faster, the keyboard could be better, and the headphone outputs could be louder. The built-in camera is lousy. And though the battery can last for hours when you're just word processing, you can watch only about one DVD per charge--and a spare battery costs an outrageous $300.

Just a month after I bought my TR1A, Sony upgraded to quicker models that have a DVD writer. But that's okay with me: The screen, the ports, and the DVD/CD-RW combination drive make this the handiest laptop I've ever owned.

Still, my Treo 600 just might supplant it. True, this little wonder could use a higher-res screen, a more modern operating system, and a better browser. But it cleverly mates PDA and phone in one unit with a QWERTY thumb keyboard that you can use even with a single digit when your other hand is busy.

I bought T-Mobile's version of the Treo. The GSM model I got is usable internationally and runs longer than CDMA units. I went with T-Mobile for its cheap unlimited data access plans and its strong coverage in my neighborhood. Your situation may differ, but you can now get a Treo from almost any carrier.

And then you can customize it. PdaNet software can turn it into a wireless modem for your notebook. SnapperMail beats the mail client that PalmOne supplies, and if you use it with the Mailblocks service, you'll avoid most spam.

I do have to reboot the phone every week or so, but this PDA/phone is a joy. On the road I can even get my mail in a cab--no Wi-Fi café required. Instead of paying a buck to get a phone number from directory assistance, I can look it up with the browser. I've even Googled people I've just met, right there on the spot.

I'm hooked. I just bought a folding full-size Treo keyboard, and I'm thinking about getting a big SD card to hold lots of music. On short trips, I may well leave the subnotebook at home. Lucky for Sony that this phone can't play DVDs.