budakkawaii

Hi everyone. I'm planning to buy Sony's latest mp3 player, product no. ND-HW5. The problem is i'm a Mac user and for the moment i'm using iBook G4 , and the software given along with the mp3 player, SonicStage is not mac compatible. So do you guys have solutions for this? Or can i still use the hardware and transfer mp3s from my laptop to the mp3 player using usb cable? Please help me and thank you for the answers.

budakkawaii

err..sorry, it's actually model NW-HD5...correction there.

Rampax

Since you are a mac user, you should go with an ipod or ipod shuffle. The classic ipod is the exact same as the sony in size and there is compatability. The sonicstage software is not good. It is slow and you absolutely have to use it with all sony mp3 player products. There is no other way to transfer songs to the player.

Also, like apple products, I believe that sony products are over priced. Who would pay $14000 for a 42" lcd tv? Its not much better than the plasma and the plasma is like half the price.

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JackAxe

Hey, not eveyrthing Apple makes is overpriced. Their towers are priced as they should be, since they're workstations and actually cost less than their PC counterparts. Price out a PC with these components and you'll see; 8 memory slots, 3 PCI-X slots, and 2 processor slots. Also look at the price of just 4 memory slots on a mobo. The G5 cost more then a P4, but it's better. But it's no where near the price of the higher end Opterons. Now a high-end "consumer" Dell gaming system is overpriced. And of course Sony "consumer" PCs.

Oh, and when a Mini was first released with the 4 Gig HD for only $249, the internal Micro Drive it was using was running for $400 at the time. Even now a 6 Gig MicroDrive costs more then a 6 Gig Mini. iBooks are also priced reasonably, and if the G4 didn't cost more then a Pentium M, or Pentium, they along with the Powerbooks would cost less. But in the end, you're paying for quality components. Hence, not all Apple products are no overpriced IMO. Their accessories and upgrade are overpriced though.

*rambles*

But back on topic, I agree. Avoid Sony audio devices, especially since you're using a Mac, and even if you were using a PC. Sonic Stage is of vomit, one of the worst apps I've had the displeasure of using. I tried the Sony route first and learned that it was a big mistake. I since then have moved to an iPod and there's no comparisson, since the iPod is so much better.

<]=)

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Fine_lai

yeah right, overpricing...

intellidryad

Sony practically refuses to take money from Mac users. They act like saying: "If you love Apple, then get lost, we don't want your money." So, if you use a mac, stay away from sony.

By the way, I don't like the look of the iPod nor the NW-HD5. The NW-HD5 looks more like an old gameboy, and the iPod is like a chunk of white plastic. None of the HD MP3 players on the market satisfies me. The ones with good functions are all ugly, and the good looking one are all crippled.

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Rampax

I dont think that sony doesnt like mac users. If anything they hate windows with the xbox and playstation battles going on. Since most people are still using windows based systems, sony is probably putting mac compatability on hold until they can make a profit from mac users. Remember, it takes money to pay programmers to reprogram their software to make it mac compatable.

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zackepceo

Sony would probably love to make Sony PCs that don't run Windows, but there are many factors having to do with business relations and traditional japanese business structure that prevent negotiations from even starting.

As for the Sony MP3 player, yes. Buy an iPod! They look better, sound better, and have muuuuuch better software. They are also, IIRC, cheaper.

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hlslaughter

I bought this much touted device today and am sorely disappointed.

It says right on the box MP3, yet this device DOES NOT PLAY MP3 FILES.

I've been playing with it all day and I cannot get it to recognize any mp3 files that I copy to it. I have a library of CDs ripped to mp3 format with windows media player <<PUTS ON FLAME SUIT>>. yes, these are in mp3 not wma format. no matter how/where i copy them to the sony device, they will not play them. i even re-edited the id3 tags thinking that was the problem.

this device only plays some BS called "openmg" that has something to do with some DRM crap called ATRAC. it is a new proprietary sony format. just what the world needs, yet another closed and encrypted audio format.

the only way you can listen to music on this device is by running your mp3s through the sonic software. if the software doesn't hog up all your memory and/or crash on you and you actually get files onto your HD5, they are run through a blender and show up on your device as hundreds of files with numbers for names. you cannot open these files in windows. the sony software won't even play them. they are only good on the device.

furthermore, it will not transfer WMA files either. i bought a legit copy of an album in WMA format (i'm experimenting, i don't use WMA). I PAID FOR THESE TRACKS, THEY ARE MINE. soniccrap software would not transfer them to the device because of DRM crap.

i called sony tech support and told them i wanted to store and listen to MP3 files on this device. they didn't understand the question. they claim it plays mp3 files, but it DOES NOT.

the software also tries to make some sort of big brother connection to sony servers to validate your music. the lady on the phone said i needed to 'authorize my music', to which i responded, 'I DON'T NEED AUTHORIZATION TO LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT I PAID FOR!!!'

I'm sure this is an experiment on sony's part. they can't possibly expect people to buy a device that only plays files in some new openmg format. don't buy this thing until sony comes to their senses and fixes the device so that it can play mp3 and other open formats.

this thing is going straight back to the store.

you have been warned.

intellidryad

It plays ATRAC3 and MP3. Yes, I'm very sure it does play MP3.
The problem here is that you cannot just drag in an MP3 file in windows explorer. It can only play MP3's that are wrapped in the "openMG" DRM. (OpenMG is a kind of DRM, just like apple's "fairplay", not a format) The actual proprietary sony format here is ATRAC3, which is always wrapped in DRM.
Actually, I remember that with iPods, you also need to transfer MP3's through iTunes, for it to add the DRM.

I know, all DRM's suck, expecially one that is used by a company that also owns a record company. Just another reason to stick with my clie.

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hlslaughter

IMHO, .OMG files are not .MP3 files. everyone seems to disagree with me, but the mp3 format has a specification, and .omg files do not adhere to this specification.

the absolute only effect this DRM crap has is to prevent the owner of the device from using the device as he sees fit. if i want to drag and drop, i should be able to.

this mentality of sony's sickens me, and i'm returning my device today. i would hope that others would use their buying power to tell sony, apple and any other audio player manufacturer that they don't need or want devices that limit choices.

the ultimate irony here is that you can use the HD5 to transport .mp3 files. copy them to the hd5 and transfer them to any computer you want. you simply can't listen to .mp3 files on the device itself. the only restriction here is imposed on the sucker who paid $350 for the device!!!

JackAxe

If Sony played nice with all formats and not just their own, reworkd the pestilent plague that is Sonic Stage, and truly supported the Mac, then maybe they would be on top right now. But since they try to force feed ATRAC3 down our throats, and make it cumbersome to use, they don't deserve any praise. Sony is all visual design now days. They really need to "fire" all of their software engineers, and whichever fat bureaucrats are hindering the progress of the company. Apple on the other hand is overall design, they design the whole package, providing the simplest, but yet most effective way to get your music to an iPod. I'm not bothered by the fact I need to use iTunes, because it's such a great app. If iTunes sucked even 5% as bad as Sonic Stage, Apple certainly wouldn't be on top right now.

My Clié is a great Palm device, but absolutely the worst audio device ever made. Then again, that applies to all Sony digital audio devices.

<]=)

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I be a hearty pirate that plunders many waffles.

The Dread Pirate Monkey Gizmo has scurvy! :)

Nintendo DS and Wii, me gaming machines of choice.

Alva

I have this mp3-player, and think it works fine, not much problems with mp3s and sonicstage etc. But I'm thinking of buying an Ibook, and there is absolutely no way I can use this on a mac?? Theres not another program I can download or use or something?
Thanks

dragonsgames

Welcome to 1src!
Nope, no Mac support. That is what kept me from getting one...

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