Sony to Offer MP3 Playback - For a Price

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118743,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118743,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Sony is broadening support for the MP3 file format in its portable music player range. It will introduce a new hard drive-based MP3 player in December, and will offer software upgrades for earlier players with hard drive storage so they can play MP3s too. The NW-HD3 can play MP3 files, but is otherwise similar to its predecessor, the NW-HD2, Sony spokesperson Shinji Obana says. The hard drive storage capacity is unchanged at 20GB."</i><br /><br />The article goes on to state that Sony will be offering a firmware update that will enble their previous-generation players to play back MP3 files - but only if you send your device back to them or take it into a Sony service center and pay $20. That's not much to pay in order to make your device more usable, but it's certainly a change from the free firmware updates most OEMs offer. Leave it to Sony to do it their way. :roll:

[James Fee]

http://members.cox.net/jamesf1/emots/jawdrop.gif

[Felix Torres]

&lt;putting on devil's advocate hat>
Why not charge for an upgrade that significantly increases the value of the product?
You already bought it without MP3 capability and were happy, no?
Why give you something for free?
Especially since MP3 support includes licensing fees to be paid to the owner of the spec that were not built into the product's original price.
Surely you don't expect Sony to eat those costs, no do you?
&lt;hat off>
Blearghhh, even as an intellectual exercise this leaves a bad taste in the mouth... :cry:

Gotta wonder if finances are so bad at Sony (and make no mistake; they *are* bad) that they need the extra money this badly.

At least they're giving early buyers a chance at the upgrade, I guess... :?

[James Fee]

Meh, the easier thing to do if you want MP3 support is go down to almost any retailer and get either a Creative Zen Micro or iPod mini this Christmas.

[phillypocket]

Actually I think Felix is right in his "DA" position :twisted: . But in my gut I can't help but think I'm paying extra for something that should be the lowest function of any digital music player - plain vanilla mp3s.

I might think differently if this were for mp3pro and you got standard mp3 as a side effect of backwards compatibility. I might also feel more positively inclined if this were a codec pack: mp3, wma (all flavors), ogg, etc.

But then again, this is why I never seriously considered purchasing a sony digital media product. And still wouldn't do so.