BIOS Reviews the Sony Walkman NW-E003

[Damion Chaplin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/rev.php?id=479' target='_blank'>http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/rev.php?id=479</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Some time ago Apple made a bold move by releasing an entry-level player, the iPod Shuffle. This managed to creep in at an acceptable price point by being a small memory device with no screen or fancy extras. But times have moved on and the Shuffle is under serious attack from Sony and its latest range of Flash-based Walkmans... The Walkman NW-E003 is an impressive MP3 player which sounds great playing all types of music. Its features are limited compared to HDD-based players with larger screens, but Sony is definitely on the right path to dislodge Apple’s grip on the lower-end of the MP3 market. Sony also has the brand to carry this off and tempt people away from the ice-white iPod Shuffle. If you’re looking for the latest, smartest and most reasonably-priced MP3 player which can easily be described as the best thing since the bagel slicer, don’t delay, buy one today!"</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/sonye000_2.jpg" /> <br /><br />I've never been a fan of the Shuffle, and always thought companies that tried to release a product to compete with it were silly. After all, the Shuffle was really released so people with only $100 to spend could get an iPod like their friends. In addition, Sony's 'MP3' offerings have always left much to be desired. This latest Walkman, however, looks like a killer player. Meant to take on the Shuffle, with a name like Sony Walkman, they might actually take the ~$100 price point top position. It's just like the Shuffle except it has a one-line OLED display, better controls, a stunning 28-hour battery life and is available in a color to suit you. Well, actually, it's really nothing like the Shuffle, is it? :wink: What do you think? Tempted?

[Jason Dunn]

My wife uses a Dell Ditty I bought her for Christmas, but these Sony players blow it away - great design, great battery life, impressive storage capacity (the Ditty was ONLY sold in a 512MB config)....I normally avoid Sony products because of the limitations they always place on them, but this one looks like a winner.

[Chris Gohlke]

Unfortunately, they made the same mistake that keeps Apple from getting my money for an iPod. No drag and drop for your music. I don't want to load an application just to copy my music back and forth when it seems so simple to just have the device show as a USB mass storage device when plugged in and do it that way.

[Jason Dunn]

No drag and drop for your music.

Ahh...hmm. So it's not an MTP compliant or mass-storage device? That does suck. :? I should have known, it's Sony...bah! :evil:

[Damion Chaplin]

Yeah, once again we are presented with an awesome product with one fatal flaw that will prevent most of us from buying it. Between this and the Shuffle though, there's no contest.

[ctmagnus]

I wonder if it supports drag and drop of files (rather than music)? If so, this may be on my watchlist. The price is roughly on par with some other 2GB thumbdrives I've seen lately.

[kiwi]

hmm.. the drag and drop is a big thing for me too.. When I did have a shuffle, It was okay because Anapod was installed on my PC and allowed me to drag and drop to the shuffle.

b.