On Saturday night I decided to go out on a whim and locate a Sony ATRAC HDD player. It has been a long time coming for me to get a high density hard disc drive unit, as Minidisc by no means is an efficient method to play back music. Locating an actual unit was very difficult, as they are seemingly non-existant in the area that I reside - this is not the fault of anyone -- just a byproduct of a commerically strained locale. Why didn't I just wait and purchase it over the Internet? Because when you're me and truly desire something, you get it steadfast before logical reasoning can nullify the craving.
Regardless, the first place I visited was Circuit City; the mecca of electronics in Hagerstown (the city in which I reside). Nothing. Funny, because I specifically recall seeing a NW-HD5 not more than a month ago, but the space in which it resided so clearly in my memory was now nothing more than dust. Of course, Apple, Creative, Samsung and even the extinct Rio Karma were all prominently displayed along with some PMP's. I didn't even bother to inquire as the employees there would've looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili. The iPod Mini was sure tempting, but I considered how I'd have to install brand new music management software and conform to a standard that actually makes sense. Furthermore, such a purchase would completely ruin my image as an ATRAC enthusiast and supporter; how credible is an Administrator of an ATRAC/Minidisc forum when he owns an iPod?
Onward to Wal-Mart -- all flavors of iPod, Creative and some other no-name DAP's that remind me of the random junk that appears from China and gets mentioned on DAPReview on a lazy news day. At this point the iPod was seriously under consideration as it was becoming incessant. In my delusional mysticism, it was almost a sign that I should just follow the path of the 'One Vehicle' and become a Pod-person.
I call Target, the old standby. The conversation was rushed, as the Electronics department attendant was a complete dolt.
"Do you have any Sony hard drive music players in stock?"
"A what? Sony Playstation?", he muttered.
Obviously under the influence of some vice, I play my cards a little easier on the poor fellow.
"You know, Sony's competition to the iPod."
He immediately perks up, and it's as if he's become enlightened. He says enthusiastically, "No man, we stopped carrying those a few weeks ago. We only have got iPods now."
Good show old man, a triple negative. I hang up the phone immediately, not even giving the courtesy to voice my departure.
I retreated back to home base tired and defeated. After some reflection, I decided to research the area frantically over the Internet. I only had a hour before most retail stores closed, so the process was now rushed and becoming increasingly frustrating. My girlfriend, chattering about something insignificant, has come to accept this side of me -- a bloodthirsty technology enthusiast with meaningless and ridiculous crusades to satisfy some internal device that is most likely the byproduct of the slight obsessive-compulsive disorder I wield so elegantly. I search like I've never searched before, with a dozen or two Firefox tabs open and all working strong trying to locate a Sony unit in a close proximity.
Out of all the places, Sears website comes up and says they have the NW-HD3, NW-HD5, and the full Toshiba Gigabeat line. When did Sears get hip with the times? I search locally, and none of it is in stock; I felt something within, however -- a preminition that my predilection would finally be satisfied. I call my local Sears and after ten minutes of holding the bloke in the Electronics department finds a NW-HD3.
It was way above what the price should've been, but I can happily say I own a black NW-HD3; likely the last retail Sony ATRAC HDD unit to be sold in this area for many moons.
Question
Christopher
On Saturday night I decided to go out on a whim and locate a Sony ATRAC HDD player. It has been a long time coming for me to get a high density hard disc drive unit, as Minidisc by no means is an efficient method to play back music. Locating an actual unit was very difficult, as they are seemingly non-existant in the area that I reside - this is not the fault of anyone -- just a byproduct of a commerically strained locale. Why didn't I just wait and purchase it over the Internet? Because when you're me and truly desire something, you get it steadfast before logical reasoning can nullify the craving.
Regardless, the first place I visited was Circuit City; the mecca of electronics in Hagerstown (the city in which I reside). Nothing. Funny, because I specifically recall seeing a NW-HD5 not more than a month ago, but the space in which it resided so clearly in my memory was now nothing more than dust. Of course, Apple, Creative, Samsung and even the extinct Rio Karma were all prominently displayed along with some PMP's. I didn't even bother to inquire as the employees there would've looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili. The iPod Mini was sure tempting, but I considered how I'd have to install brand new music management software and conform to a standard that actually makes sense. Furthermore, such a purchase would completely ruin my image as an ATRAC enthusiast and supporter; how credible is an Administrator of an ATRAC/Minidisc forum when he owns an iPod?
Onward to Wal-Mart -- all flavors of iPod, Creative and some other no-name DAP's that remind me of the random junk that appears from China and gets mentioned on DAPReview on a lazy news day. At this point the iPod was seriously under consideration as it was becoming incessant. In my delusional mysticism, it was almost a sign that I should just follow the path of the 'One Vehicle' and become a Pod-person.
I call Target, the old standby. The conversation was rushed, as the Electronics department attendant was a complete dolt.
"Do you have any Sony hard drive music players in stock?"
"A what? Sony Playstation?", he muttered.
Obviously under the influence of some vice, I play my cards a little easier on the poor fellow.
"You know, Sony's competition to the iPod."
He immediately perks up, and it's as if he's become enlightened. He says enthusiastically, "No man, we stopped carrying those a few weeks ago. We only have got iPods now."
Good show old man, a triple negative. I hang up the phone immediately, not even giving the courtesy to voice my departure.
I retreated back to home base tired and defeated. After some reflection, I decided to research the area frantically over the Internet. I only had a hour before most retail stores closed, so the process was now rushed and becoming increasingly frustrating. My girlfriend, chattering about something insignificant, has come to accept this side of me -- a bloodthirsty technology enthusiast with meaningless and ridiculous crusades to satisfy some internal device that is most likely the byproduct of the slight obsessive-compulsive disorder I wield so elegantly. I search like I've never searched before, with a dozen or two Firefox tabs open and all working strong trying to locate a Sony unit in a close proximity.
Out of all the places, Sears website comes up and says they have the NW-HD3, NW-HD5, and the full Toshiba Gigabeat line. When did Sears get hip with the times? I search locally, and none of it is in stock; I felt something within, however -- a preminition that my predilection would finally be satisfied. I call my local Sears and after ten minutes of holding the bloke in the Electronics department finds a NW-HD3.
It was way above what the price should've been, but I can happily say I own a black NW-HD3; likely the last retail Sony ATRAC HDD unit to be sold in this area for many moons.
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