Pooh

I bought an NWA-1000 but gave it up as a bad job in nothing flat. It wasn't just the abysmal Connect software that got to me but also a whole host of other issues, including: totally inadequate playlist creation, no real bookmarks, lousy Sony support, little on the accessories front. I bought an iPod nano to replace it (I had already bought an iPod 5G). I am totally satisfied with both iPods, but, in the event you do buy an iPod, I would advise you to buy a good case because both the nano and the 5G are very easily scratched. I have an iSkin Duo for the nano, and have just managed to get hold of an iSkin evo3 for the 5G. In answer to C_player's complaints about the iPod: "I can only use one PC with it using iTunes" This is simply not so. From iPod FAQ: "When you first connect iPod to your computer, iPod recognizes that computer as its 'home' computer. Each time you connect, iPod automatically downloads the music library stored on it. When you connect iPod to a different computer [using the same operating system], iPod asks for permission before synchronizing with this music library. If you choose Auto-sync, iPod recognizes the second computer as its home computer and breaks the link with the original computer. If you do not choose Auto-sync, iPod switches to manual update mode, allowing you to selectively drag songs, albums, or playlists from the second computer to your iPod." http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60920#faq5 "no way to listen to music directly from the iPod on a PC" Yes you can if you manually manage your iPod (I use the excellent Anapod Explorer software which achieves the same thing via "TrueStream" and also allows you to pick your own player). "poor quality audio playback from the iPod, etc." Sound quality is of course very subjective. The simple fact is that the new iPod 5G has achieved excellent reviews for its sound quality (the former problems with distortion have been eliminated) as has the nano. To confirm this, check out popular audiophile websites like Head-Fi: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/forumdispla...p?s=&forumid=22

When I returned my NW-A1000, I picked up a nano 4Gb to replace it, even though at the time (Amazon UK had the NW-A1000 on sale) the Sony player was much cheaper. The reason I chose the nano was twofold: firstly, I had just bought a 60 GB iPod 5G and was very pleased with it; secondly, there was nothing else on the market that suited my requirements in terms of size, features and reputation. Some time ago, I posted an article here which gave a blow-by-blow account of what had gone wrong at Sony. One of the very senior Sony executives was quoted as saying that he really didn't realise how low Sony's reputation had sunk in much of the DAP market until it was brought to his attention by an underling. If the Connect software is anything to go by, it seems that the knowledge he gained has not as yet been translated by Sony into any kind of really effective action. As an aside, I just bought my girlfriend an Archos AV560 (a 60GB version of the AV500 which only seems to be on sale in the UK) for Christmas. It's selling for £299 here which I think is a real bargain. I've been checking it out today to make sure it's OK and have been utterly blown away by it. Had I seen this before I'd bought the 5G iPod, I definitely would have bought this instead. I realise though it will be seen as far too large for most people's needs. For those who are interested, here's the recent CNET review of this model (I hope no-one minds me posting this here, but it's hardly competition for the Sony players): http://reviews.cnet.com/Archos_AV500_Mobil...7-31517717.html

Verdict Despite the software, this Sony player is still an excellent piece of equipment. Sound quality, gorgeous design, superb battery life and ease of use make it the best high-capacity digital music player from the big S yet. But is this 6GB device better than a 4GB nano? The answer, unfortunately for Sony, is a resounding no, notwithstanding the advantages I've just mentioned. The nano not only looks as good, it also beats the Sony in virtually every other category. It's smaller and has a colour screen, it has iTunes, it has Apple's unbeatably easy-to-use click-wheel interface, and though it is 2GB lighter than the NW-A1000 and a tad more expensive, the fact that it is a flash memory device makes it a more attractive option, especially in the gym. For full review, please follow this link: http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?head=39&page=5180

I more or less agree about iTunes which is why I now use Anapod Explorer, a great piece of software that has been produced by Redchair. Lookit, all players have their problems. The Rio Karma, imho, was easily the most brilliant player in terms of usability and audio features ever produced. The problem is that the hardware sucked and the hard-drives were very prone to failure. This in a way I can understand because D&M were stuck with the original design for the player when they bought the company. They were too small a company to develop a new design, but not so small that they didn't produce the most brilliant firmware. The easy scratchability of the iPod is real and its very bad. In my opinion, it's symptomatic of the arrogance of the man at the top, a character trait which nearly destroyed the company once before. The Archos AV 560 (A 60GB version of the AV 500) is the most beautiful player with a fantastic screen and an excellent price (£299), at least in the UK. It does have a number of minor firmware glitches though that may or may not ever be fixed given Archos' track record in this area. In all these cases though the problems are either to some degree understandable and/or don't fundamentally destroy one's enjoyment of the player. This is not true of the players produced by Sony. This is a gigantic company with a long and proud history and the most enormous human and financial resources. Yet, despite all that the firmware features are highly idiosyncratic and dated and Connect is at best extremely difficult and very time-consuming to operate. Yes, the players themselves are beautiful, but what use is beauty in these circumstances? What is truly unforgiveable is that Sony would have such contempt for their customers that they would release the Connect player while it is obviously in an early stage of development. Coming on top of the fiasco of the computer viruses, it's obvious that there needs to be a fundamental reassessment of the company's direction. Before that is undertaken, a lot of people at Sony need to be fired as soon as possible, starting with the man at the top.

I agree. It's symptomatic of the malaise and chaos which has affected the whole Sony empire. If they don't buck their ideas up very soon, it's an empire that's going to be broken up and sold off in chunks.

Overpriced? Given that the Nano contains flash memory, it's actually insanely cheap. Just for example, iRiver and iAudio are introducing 2GB flash players at a retail price of just under £200. Overrated? In what particular way? Under engineered? (sic) In what particular way? Connect needs a lot more than a few tweaks. It's quite the craziest software I've ever encountered. I cannot believe that a major corporation like Sony released it without testing it properly first. And if it takes as long as SonicStage to fix, the job will never be done. I find it most appropriate that you talk about the "nature of the beast" for no piece of software was more entitled to the moniker "beast" than Connect. Sony should be ashamed of themselves. On top of that, you have all sorts of idiosyncratic Sony madness. All this business about 5 playlists with a maximum of 100 tracks each and no ability to add more than one track at a time is something out of the DAP dark ages. And then we have no proper bookmarks. And then there's no clock or wake-up feature. And then there's... and on and on and on.

While my NW-A1000 is not a brick, I'm beyond disappointed with the player for all kinds of reasons and will probably be returning it (the gapless facility in no way makes up for all the problems and deficits, not in my opinion anyhow). A few days ago I also picked up a 60GB 5G iPod and despite one or two niggles (it does scratch very, very easily - you must put a case and/or skin on immediately), it really is the cat's pyjamas. There's a lot of stuff I miss from my 2 Rio Karmas (both gone t**'s up with hard-drive issues), but the iPod's ease-of-use, great support, zillion-and-one accessories, good looks (to my eye, in any event), excellent forums, Redchair's Anapod, sound quality (all the audio problems of the 4G appear to have been cleared up) more than make up for this. If Sony want to catch up with Apple, they're going to have to start listening to their customers and giving them the respect which is not only their due but also essential if they want to recapture their lost market share. In the likely event I do return the Sony, I'll probably replace it with a 4GB Nano (I do prefer the Sony's looks). Sony ain't what it used to be.

Re my question above (asked twice), I'll just take it that despite the larger screen Sony have not managed to fit more characters on the 20GB version.

In terms of title information, do many more characters fit because of the increased size of the screen?

Are there a lot more characters on the screen as a result?

I don't believe anyone at Sony cares, or, if he or she does care, that they are in a position to do anything. My own belief is that Sony management is in chaos. What else could explain the lunacy over CD viruses and now the almost complete joke that is the Connect Player?

I'm not convinced that Sony can recover from what is fast turning about to be a debacle, at least in the UK. The "Gen Kanai" weblog linked to a post at this website about the Connect Player and received a veritable torrent of complaints about the same. This can't be doing Sony's image much good. Sony is selling a large number of the new players, in large part as a result of the TV ad campaign they are currently running in the UK. God alone knows what many (most?) of those people are going to think. Sony Connect Player 1.0 review http://www.kanai.net/weblog/archive/2005/11/10/06h20m47s

There was a period when virtually everything I bought from mainstream retailers in the UK (Dixons, Comet, John Lewis (yes, even them) etc. etc.) had obviously been used before, so I can understand your concerns.

Ah, you did get your money back, that's excellent.

I'm not convinced that if you're in the UK and you only just bought your player that your remedy isn't against the retailer, at least at first instance. Remember it is the retailer with whom you have a contract and not the manufacturer. Yes, you have a warranty from the manufacturer, but that is something that exists over and above your rights as regards the retailer.