replacement USB cable

[dan_galpin]

Hi,

having invested in a Sony NW A3000, i promptly managed to lose the USB cable. i rang up sony customer support and they quoted me 60 quid for a replacement! once i had recovered from the shock i spent a massive amount of time trying to locate a cheaper alternative with no joy (why do sony insist on proprietary USB cables??)

Any ideas?? i think i'd rather never import any more music onto my player than give away 60quid for a usb cable...

Dan

[mercury_in_flames]

i think its a standard usb port. Any camera shop should sell them. Ask for a mini usb to standard usb cable.

[nuld]

its not a standard usb cable, but u r in luck. theres one on ebay for 20 quid.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-USB-Power-Trans...1QQcmdZViewItem

hope this is what u r lookin 4

[dan_galpin]

unfortunately the USB cable isn't standard at all.. it's actually bigger than a standard USB connector

cheers nuld, that's the puppy.. i did find one on ebay a few days back but got outbid - it went for 45 quid! still, i'll give it a go

just can't believe they can get away with charging so much for a simple usb cable

[nuld]

my reply was to mercury in flames.

what u r lookin 4 is on the link i provided

sorrt dan, i didn't read all your message.

disregard my last post

glad to help

[Richard_p]

I see it's no longer a standard mini usb connection, it's a shames as they easy to come by,plus i think i have at least 5 of them.

[Guest Stuge]

i think i have at least 5 of them.

USB cable that you have will not work with A3000.The USb cable of A3000 is different from HD5,HD3,E505,Cybershot cameraetc uSB cable ...

[mercury_in_flames]

glad ive got an hd5, ive also got about 3 of those standard cables.

[bogon07]

Anybody have any idea why they decided to use this sort of USB connector for the A1000/A3000 rather than the regular one that comes with the E400/E500 and most Minidisc units ?

Luckily the recharger has standard USB connection which allows you to plug in the other units and charge them too using the regular Sony USB cable.

[mgillespie]

Anybody have any idea why they decided to use this sort of USB connector for the A1000/A3000 rather than the regular one that comes with the E400/E500 and most Minidisc units ?

Luckily the recharger has standard USB connection which allows you to plug in the other units and charge them too using the regular Sony USB cable.

I know why, so they can sell extra leads, and make more cash out of us... Scumsuckers..

[bogon07]

I know why, so they can sell extra leads, and make more cash out of us... Scumsuckers..

Strangely enough that aspect came to mind too.

I also wonder how long it will take before those little prongs on the cable malfunction in some way. They just seem to be there to secure the connection.

I've never previously had problems with the regular Sony USB cable coming out of a unit.

[nw_lover]

the reason is very simple ; because of the accessories (like the cradle) it was the better/cheeper solution to use a multi connector.

if sony would use the "normal" usb connector it's necessary to have an audio processor for the line out for example in the cradle (means close to a second mp3 player in the cradle) and the cost for the accessories would increase drastic.

the multi connector for a1000/3000 has a lineout and therefore sony has the possibility to produce cheeper accessories. it makes no sense to use the same audio processor twice. (once in the cradle and once in the a1000/3000)

i agree, it would be more handy to have a normal usb connector but checkout all staff with a cradle/docking station were you have an audio or video output like your mobile phone(hand free kit) and you will find out it's almost standart to use a special connector.

nw_lover

[bogon07]

If only Sony had been concerned enough to include the cradle/dock with the player.

Have Sony sold many of these docks ?

I'd prefer they used their regular type of USB connection and a lineout socket on the player (there didn't seem to being any problem with Minidisc players until quite recently).

Edited January 13, 2006 by bogon07