[Fineus]

Sandwich: Apparently the transfer software (called Connect) has been reported having issues transfering files... it hangs with large operation s and can take its time. I don't know if that's a consistent problem or a handful of people having a hard time though.

Rictor: It's certainly out in the UK as I handled one today (at least Currys and Sony Centres stock them) but I can't say anything about the rest of the world. I'm sure Japan has them but I don't think America does yet.

Maeg: I have heard the problems about ATRAC but to be honest I've no intention of converting my MP3s to ATRAC. From what I gather the Walkman can play MP3s just fine. I see no reason to convert anything to anything else and - if I can find a plugin for Explorer that allows me to simply dump my MP3s onto a Sony Walkman and play them then that's fine. I don't require anything more at that level.

[Nuke]

What about the software is bad?

well it only supports sonys own format, so if youre swaping tracks all the time you have to keep a copy of all your songs in sony's format, else have to wait for conversion and transfer each time. its medial library sucks. you have to run 3 different programs on startup, which parasite away at your system resources, need i continue? your beter off to get something with simple drive letter access. ipods dont have it but there is a nifty winamp plugin.

[Fineus]

Are you sure Nuke? Everywhere I've looked and everyone I've spoken to seems to think that the Walkman supports MP3 right out of the box... no mention of conversion at all.

[Nuke]

ive used there software and it sucks, id buy another ipod, i wouldnt buy another sony. thats all i need to know.

[vyper]

http://bripod.ytmnd.com/

[KappaWing]

I use an RCA Lyra with several 512mb flash cards. $50 for the player and $50 for each half-gig flash. Good battery life, I always run with it, it has dropped several times and didnt skip a beat. I would definatley reccomend this if you can handle slow navigation and several flash cards.

[adwight]

Don't get anything from Sony, the software works once, then it doesnt' work again.  I made that mistake when I got an MD player, and I now have an iPod and it's at least 100x better.

[Scuddie]

I use an RCA Lyra with several 512mb flash cards. $50 for the player and $50 for each half-gig flash. Good battery life, I always run with it, it has dropped several times and didnt skip a beat. I would definatley reccomend this if you can handle slow navigation and several flash cards.

That was it!  It's a crying shame I cant find it anywhere, online or otherwise.  And no, I aint gonna use eBay.

[IceFire]

Are you sure Nuke? Everywhere I've looked and everyone I've spoken to seems to think that the Walkman supports MP3 right out of the box... no mention of conversion at all.

There's of "MP3" stuff in quotes about the various forums and whatnot on the Sony products. They all use proprietary ATRAC format...its crap.  I'd recommend an iPod over the Sony...iPod is a good product I just don't buy into the hype that it has around it.  If its the best product for you then by all means!

[WMCoolmon]

Where's Sandwich with his iRiver hype?

[karajorma]

There's of "MP3" stuff in quotes about the various forums and whatnot on the Sony products. They all use proprietary ATRAC format...its crap.

Most Sony products I've seen support MP3 and their own crappier ATRAC format.

[Nix]

I'd stay away from apple and go Creative in my opinion.  I am very dissatisfied with the shuffle I own.  I should have gotten the Creative Nano instead.  At least the Creative nano has a display on it!  Nothing is more frustrating than listening to 3  hours of a 5 hour audiobook, then accidentally hitting the back button, and having to start all over again from the start of the file!  You CAN set it up in IckTunes to start again from where you left off, but that's hard to do when you're at work and the only machine it will sync to is your home machine.  Really really annoying, so annoying I'd chuck the damn thing.  Apple's cutesey products skimp on the functionality, unless that's what you actually WANT.  About the only good thing about apples products is they support Audible Audiobooks files natively, without conversion.  (you can probably guess where I got mine from right about now....)

[Deepblue]

Where's Sandwich with his iRiver hype?

I'm filling in.

Get... A... iRiver...