New Sony Walkman warning!

[Dom996]

Someone may be able to tell me otherwise, but I've just spent much needed time trying to sort out one of these devices for someone. He came to me as I do I.T. networking etc. and he and several other friends could not get it working properly. Now bare in mind the first time I used iTunes I had it worked out in 5 mins without reading the manual. This has to be the most unusable modern software on the market. Unintuitive would be an understatement. The OSs you can use are limited and even the help topics could not give me the simple answer to 'how do I take the CD in my drive and put it on the MP3 player.' Way to many processes run in the background on bootup after install (compared to 2 with iTunes) which naturally hog resources.

I'm sure it's simple to experienced users and I know I'd master it with time (which I don't have at the moment). If anyone can enlighten me to a simple way of operating this device please do!!!

Rant Over!

[Tideman]

Funnily enough, I received a Sony NW-A3000 yesterday. I think you will find that the manual supplied on the Connect CD provides a fairly comprehensive overview of the Walkman. Then after installation of the software, the Help menu in the Connect software should provide ample information on ripping CDs and tranferring files over to the Walkman.

This is actually my first MP3 player. I was dubious to say the least about getting it all up and running after noting all the complaints on here concerning Sony's Connect software.

True to form, my first attempt was a disaster. I tried to install around 8 albums (converted to MP3 last week using EAC) but each album was taking about 30 minutes (I kid you not) to transfer over to the Walkman. After an hour and a half, I could take no more. So I pulled the plug, initialised the Walkman's 20GB disk back to its factory setting, and started again. This time, though, I connected the Walkman to a different USB port on the computer. What a difference! Within ten minutes or so, all 8 albums had transferred successfully over to the Walkman - and not only does the Walkman sound fantastic, but even the software seems to be working as Sony intended.

So, overall, it gets the thumbs up from me!

[recsnmisc]

ANOTHER WARNING

Sony will discontinue this product in 6 months and launch another player full of new features. Sony won't provide firmware updates to make your player compliant with these new features or new software.


Regards from a NW-HD5 owner.

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by recsnmisc

ANOTHER WARNING

Sony will discontinue this product in 6 months and launch another player full of new features. Sony won't provide firmware updates to make your player compliant with these new features or new software.


Regards from a NW-HD5 owner.

Regards a Sony HD3 owner

Not to mention Connect software rapes your resources. I saw a screenshot of t.m and it uses more than FM 2006!

[stuge]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Regards a Sony HD3 owner

Not to mention Connect software rapes your resources. I saw a screenshot of t.m and it uses more than FM 2006!

Funny

[Dom996]

It's no joke I run XP pro on a network and I've tuned my machine to boot to 17 processes, it was about 30 after installing the Sony software. Also the update was labouriously slow (unless last night was a bad one for the server)

[justdoit]

Switch to sonicstage 3.3. it works far better at the moment not that its perfect, far from it! (You will lose the link feature mind!)

Originally Posted by recsnmisc

ANOTHER WARNING

Sony will discontinue this product in 6 months and launch another player full of new features. Sony won't provide firmware updates to make your player compliant with these new features or new software.


Regards from a NW-HD5 owner.

I really dont get you guys. You bought a HD5, not a A3000 or anything else. You buy it with the specs listed and thats that. Do you have a winge every year when a new version of your car is released and the company didn't upgrade yours?

All this moaning is really quite pathetic.

Regards from a NW-HD1 owner.

[vtah236]

***All this moaning is really quite pathetic.***


I agree with the principal, although the sentiment is a bit strong. Sony is a mega corporation that needs short-term profits to keep its board of directors in power. If this quarter's profits are up on the last, then they're happy.

This form of logic means there is absolutely no reason to waste resources on backwards-compatibility: what you buy is what you get.

I love my HD5 but my experiences with Sony have put me off them. I've since had a nano in my hand and love it: the intuitiveness of the software and cheapness of iTunes tracks has determined my next purchase of an mp3 player.

Will Sony ever eat into the iPod's market share? I don't think so, and Sony don't deserve to.

[recsnmisc]

Didn't MS release updates for WinXP to correct its faults and add new features?

There are tons of upgradable (firmware) mp3 players out there! It would be easy for Sony to do it if they wanted to. I'm just talking about little tweaks and additions here and there...

...It's just software. How hard can it be?

@nasanu:
You were happy when Sony released a firmware update that added MP3 support for your NW-HD1, right?

The stuff I'm talking about..like extra shuffles, new atrac3plus bitrates and more playlisting options is a joke compared to Sony adding Mp3 support after years of trying to implement their own format...

It's just software and the car comparison isnt a valid one...

Cheers!

[BenW]

I wasn't totally happy when they released a firmware update for MP3 support. IT COST £15!!! Why is that everyone can release free software updates but sony have to charge you £15 and have you send the walkman away. Thats the reason i never updated mine, atracs meant to sound better and give better battery life anyway

[stuge]

Originally Posted by recsnmisc

It's just software and the car comparison isnt a valid one...

Cheers!

I Do agree with you that Comparision a OF A Car & A Software doesn`t justify here ..
Creative ,I-RIVER , I-pod ETC companies all update their players firmware from time to time but Sony doesn`t do this frequently ...
Sometime back I mailed regarding the firmware update for our Sony HD3,HD5etc..They told me that they will sent that E-mail forword
http://www.atraclife.com/index.php?s...y%60s+responce

But Yesterday it was Amazing that a person from Sony Deparment called me regarding the new bit rates.....
I told him that new Atrac bit rates which have been added to Sonic Stagever3.3 are totally useless..I told Him that basically Sonic Stage ver3.3 is meant for old players like HD5,HD3,HD1,E505(except for A3000(SERIES & 600 (SERIES) & Connect is meant for new players ...So these new bit rate should be compatible with are players Otherwise It is totally useless to keep the songs in Atrac128kpbs,96kpbs,320kpbs etc ,Atrac Lossless in our computers(As they are going take space on our PC`s)..We Don`t want these bit rate just to listen to music on our computers ..And He aslo agreed with me .
In the Last he told me that he will call me within one week .....

[recsnmisc]

Well,those are great news...maybe.

I "started a campaign" here on AVForums to try and get Sony to release firmware updates for all the NW-HDX series.

Here:
NW-HD5 Firmware Update - Artist Link, My Favourite Shuffle and Time Machine Shuffle Post #19

Lots of people sent a lot of emails. We got a few replies, but nothing that made us think that they were giving this issue some serious thoughts.

I guess no one else ever received a call from them and a promise that they would call back regarding this subject.

Thanks for sharing. Keep us posted!

[David Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by nasanu

I really dont get you guys. You bought a HD5, not a A3000 or anything else. You buy it with the specs listed and thats that. Do you have a winge every year when a new version of your car is released and the company didn't upgrade yours?

Well put. I'm perfectly happy with my HD5.

[Tomdale]

Yes, well said. I am also happy with my HD5.

Good sound, size and no major problems with software. Good battery life too!