bland10000

hey Dave Like you I'm in Japan, also so we can both chuckle at I still can't believe you paid $250 for non-hi-MD. I got the NH900 for like $230, and there's even the entry-level hi-MD for like $160. But hey, if you're happy, you're happy. You gotta live here to understand the prices. 300 yen for a cup of coffee...s*&t... Your issue regarded as "first" is because you are connected to the internet via Japan's Yahoo BB or Dion (which still uses Yahoo BB) and the Sony connect sight can read that via your ip address. Send 'em an e-mail because they do have a way for us to download over here. I did it last year, just didn't need to so I stopped using it and have forgotten how. Your issue regarding "second" With your unit came a copy of sonicstage 2.0. It probably has Japanese language prompts but it will load on computers that aren't Japanese. To do this, always hit the "y" or "tsugi" when prompted. If you hit the wrong button the player will quick installing, but don't worry...start over and remember to hit the other button. After the program is installed, open it. Assuming that the program asks you in English, the first pop-up will be a window asking if you want to convert your wav. / wma / mp3 files to .omg. Let it convert the files for you then you are ready to download to the computer. Also, if the s.s. interface is in Japanese, you can avoid that hassle by downloading Sony realplayer in English from real.com. When you use r.p. , sonicstage is still the manager but you never have to open the s.s. interface. Your issue called "third" Your computer may have an optical in but your md player doesn't have an optical out. There is no uploading to your computer with this player, to upload you need a hi-md unit. You can control the unit via the computer such as "play" and "stop" but the music will not play through your computer; only on the md unit. If you are a musician wanting to record yourself and make cd's then a hi-md unit would be good for you. If you want to use the player primarily as a player, occasionally using it to record a nihongo lecture / conversation or music gig to listen to later, stick with the 920.

pardon my afterthoughts... I've borrowed an ipod and an iriver from friends for about a week each. I think MD has a better sound quality. I don't care what a math formula tells me about how something should sound, I trust my ears...and MD is my way.

and I want to also say I like the battery life and the battery. The battery life of my 920 gives me a few days of play time, I've never timed it out. Also md players use one battery not two or three so it is easy to carry around a spare.

1. I gotta admit I was first attracted to md in 2001 when I saw the pretty lights on the Sharp mt877. After I bought it, I realized how convenient it was to have a palm-sized digital player / recorder at my disposal that didn't skip while I walked or rode my bike. 2. I live and work in Japan but am not as fluent in Japanese as I could be, so I often record lectures to listen again at another time. 3. Netmd saved my sanity. I could transfer my cd collection, now stored in a friends house, to an external hard disk and download whatever I wanted to my player in a matter of minutes. If you have ever lived away from your music collection...you know what I mean when I say "saved my sanity". 4. I can trade discks with friends or make copies of songs for co-workers. If I had an ipod I couldn't do this unless I was willing to give up the hard drive. 5. I'm a fan of Sony products, not their support or software but of the products. 6. md is cool.

Hyeana, funniest post I've read. Though you may have to fight over the children with a dingo...

would there be a problem transfering music files to hi-md that are recorded and stored via realplayer?

aye I'm a net md user who uses realplayer for recording cds to music library and downloading that library to md. I would like to upgrade to hi-md...but the complaints I read in the hi-md forum are always in regard to sonicstage. Is this because realplayer does not work with hi-md?

About a year is a good estimate. The first rule of thumb for g.s.b. with a recorder/player is to avoid variation of the discharge of the battery. Do your computer to unit (and vice-verse for you lucky bucks with hi-md) transfers utilizing the charge stand. Think of it like a new set of tires; if you peel out every time you pass an ex-girlfriends house you are wearing down the tire quicker than when you drive responsibly. Worse yet, the external power casing has a little screw that can get caught up in your pocket lining. I recommend buying a 2nd or even 3rd g.s.b. It fits easily in your pocket with no unsightly bulges and when your primary g.s.b. goes empty, you would probably be willing to shell out 3.00 dollars for the electron fairy to recharge you then and there. After 5 or 6 times wishing there were an electron fairy, you will have reached the price of a new g.s.b..

I had to reload real player and was in the process of downloading when I realized I hadn't re-installed the device driver. I installed the device driver but forgot to unplug my usb cord to the netmd unit. Now when I try and download, the download stops at 50% and tells me to check disc for available disc space or check to make sure drivers are installed. I've had this happen before and had to reload my computer to get past the bug. Is there a way to beat this bug without having to reload computer? p.s. I am assuming it has to do with the md unit being plugged into computer while I download rp-driver since the same thing has happened before under same circumstances.

Sold to BJ 5/10/04

forgot to mention it includes the spare battery pack and a miniplug to rca stereo cord.

Got it in Japan last year and works fine...but Japanese software conflicts when I'm networking at office; hence I now own an American version. It comes with mz-n10 netmd recorder with usb cord charge stand and plug in - you need a down converter from 110v to 100v. silly arm pouch Instruction book in Japanese Sonicstage 1.5 (Japanese version) Doesn't come with remote. It broke, so when I started shopping for one I decided to start over with an American unit. 60.00 us and 7.50 shipping