Connector Chaos

[amboman52]

Don't get me wrong - I love Sony's innovation and style, but why do they have to continually have to handicap their products with silly decisions. In the past I have had two minidisc recorders using their own unique connectors and silly charging stands that weren't compatible. Spare cables cost a fortune - if you could get them. Then I bought a MZRH1 minidisc - and oh joy, it used the ubiquitous mini USB connector. I could have a cable at home, one in the car, one in the office - and if I lost one, I could replace it at almost any store.

Lulled into a false sense of security, I recently bought a Sony MP3 Walkman and now I am back to the unique cable syndrome. A second cable costs $65.00 on special order - and better yet - when I went to look at Sony clock radios and other Sony docking devices THEY ALL HAVE IPOD CONNECTORS ONLY!!!! Ask a Sony sales rep why you cannot connect their expensive MP3 player with their equally expensive docking equipment and he will start whistling and staring at the ceiling! Ask him whether Sony at least makes an adaptor so that they can be connected and he will start walking backwards towards the door!

As in the past, Sony seems intent on crippling their own market by going their own way.

Rant over, I will now go and listen to music - when I can find the charging cable.

[Ascariss]

which walkman did you buy? second which cable are you refering to? if you mean the usb-wm-port cable then no way should it cost 65bucks.

most sony products designed for ipods will not work with walkmans since if it does not say wm-port then it will not support the walkman.

There are new sony products that have the wm-port that will work with the walkman.

[Christopher]

The WM-Port is the closest Sony has ever been to a common connector between its MP3 players. I honestly believe that Sony would have been better off if they had went with the standard Mini-USB connector. They are starting to move back in that direction, I believe.

I have been in the same situation myself in the past where it was troublesome to try and locate the appropriate cable for my NWZ-A808. Just until recently did I find my connector for the NW-HD1, a MP3 player I hadn't used in forever because of the missing cord.

[Ascariss]

well mini-usb were on many of the older network walkmans and i know the US NWZ-E34x uses a mini-usb connection but the same model in europe the NWZ-E44x uses the wm-port.

perhaps once sony moves to androind in their walkmans maybe then they will re-adopt the mini usb plugl

[Stuge]

Very relevant ! I have quite a few walkmans in my collection and many of them has dedicated cable too eg NW-A1000,NW-HD3(Dedicated adpater without which its useless),it is somewhat has the same connections as MZ-DH10P has .Only E503 and HD5 has direct standard usb cable ,but I'm happy atleast now they are sticking with WM-port ,since the launch of NW-S7xx series (if I'm correct ).

Yes ,its troublesome to keep soo many cables .

Well,WM-port cable to USB one costs about 14 pounds at adanced mp3 player

http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/Accessories.7/USB_Cables.12/Sony.76/WMCNW20MU.CE7/Sony_WMCNW20MU_WM-Port_to_USB_Cable.2988.html

[aafuss]

I thought at least Sony ould have included a minijack on their iPod docking compatible products.

[amboman52]

>> if you mean the usb-wm-port cable then no way should it cost 65bucks.

That is Aussie dollars - so less for you. I can only find the original Sony replacement, so I assume there is the Sony premium price, plus freight on a special order, plus retailer's markup etc etc

>> most sony products designed for ipods will not work with walkmans...

That was my point, surely in order to maximise sales of both Sony products wouldn't you make them compatible, regardless of whether the competitor's product has market share. There is a degree of psychology involved here - it gives the impression that Sony has no confidence in its own product. All that is needed is an adaptor (like a gender changer) with a wm-port on one side, and an ipod socket on the other.

[Ascariss]

hmm 65 bucks for aussie dollars is still too much, it costs 22.99 here without taxes and this is in canadian dollars. on the USA site it costs 17,99 US with no taxes so there is no sony premium here

65 AUS dollars is 60 canadian so no way should it cost this much.

check your sony website

http://www.sony.com.au/productcategory/pa-accy-uni-wm-port-cable

29.95 which is not 60 bucks, so I am not sure where you are buying this from but don't get it there, you are getting ripped off.