As for the discs, Ive only used real-time direct source recording from my DVD player (to use the software, you NEED at least Win98 SE), similar to the old CD-to-cassette dubbing, but it suits me fine. Theres three recording modes: SP, LP2, and LP4. I guess the best comparison would be CD-quality, FM-, and AM-. With LP2 you can fit about 2h 40m onto one MD, and the difference in sound is negligible unless you have picky ears. At LP4 you get about 5h 20m of music which is really handy and as far as Im concerned, the compression effect is not *too* bad, but is certainly apparent.

One thing I love is how I can record 5-hr radio programs onto MDs to listen to later (albeit from a separate radio), which I dont believe you can do with any other medium. You could even record TV/movie audiotracks if you were so inclined.

The big drawback is copyright restrictions. When using the software, you can only copy a song 3 times (deleting it from a MD allows you to re-copy it elsewhere). When using optical cables with a CD/DVD player (which gives digital quality and adds on the original trackmarks), you can only record from original CDs... no CD-Rs (second-generation copying). So while you can still transfer burned mp3s, youll have to do so with analog cables (still decent) and tack on the trackmarks (which is simple).

A minor hassle is the fact that the remote results in two sets of cords for you to tangle up. But if you can find a way to keep the main unit on a belt (Ive attached a belt clip to a leather pouch), and keep the remote in your hand or belt, youll find it sure beats lugging around a CD player.

Overall, I like the small size, the formats verstility, that spiffy blue finish, and the added radio... usually.

First of all, the cons. The most immediate negative aspect is the headphones, which are stiff, and they pinch your hair. They are merely nothing more than "stock" headphones just included with the product. Fortunately, good earphones and headphones are easy and cheap to buy these days. Also, the remote control is a nice sleek little gadget, but the weatherband and tv rarely get signals, and the FM radio too often have trouble getting clear receptions. The software that comes with this seems to have too much enhancing features. They would be much better off if theyd just focus on getting the job done. Finally, if youre buying this to record stuff and then transfer onto a computer, dont. While you can record onto minidiscs with a digital mic, federal law prohibits transfering these files onto computers out of fear for music piracy, so the sony-610 doesnt have this function.

Now, the Pros. The Sony 610, as you would expect, plays smooth and with an impressively good sound. It is easy to use and certainly very attractive to the eye. The transfering of files onto minisdiscs are rather easy and though contrasting what Ive previously stated about the software, can be a quick process even on more slow computers. Though my review focuses on many negative points, this still gets a rating of 4/5.

My opinion changed dramatically this week, however. The radio function on the remote stopped working completely, and unfortunately that is the only way to control the radio. I lost a major portion of the units funcationality.

I called Sony to see what could be done. Just a short 60 minutes later (note the sarcasm), they wanted to charge me $93 in labor to "fix" (e.g. send me a new one) the remote since it is no longer under the labor portion of the warranty. Thats over half the cost for a brand new whole unit (including the base!). I asked what the price for a new/replacement remote would be and found out its $109! These guys must be kidding!

Ive been pretty brand loyal to Sony over the years but no more. I saw another review on Amazon detailing the same problem with the remote, which leads me to believe that this is a systemic quality issue. Yet Sony refuses to stand behind their product.

If youre considering buying this product, please take this as a warning. Youll be happy with it at first, but there is a large probability the remote will break on you.

Sony used to stand for unquestionable quality and customer service in my mind, but not anymore. Apparantly, theyre no longer concerned about the consumer once they make the sale. Spend your money on a more reliable product.

The only thing I would say that I am not so thrilled with is the remote and the fact that the radio is in the remote, otherwise I am very pleased with this product.

My opinion changed dramatically this week, however. The radio function on the remote stopped working completely, and unfortunately that is the only way to control the radio. I lost a major portion of the units funcationality.

I called Sony to see what could be done. Just a short 60 minutes later (note the sarcasm), they wanted to charge me $93 in labor to "fix" (e.g. send me a new one) the remote since it is no longer under the labor portion of the warranty. Thats over half the cost for a brand new whole unit (including the base!). I asked what the price for a new/replacement remote would be and found out its $109! These guys must be kidding!

Ive been pretty brand loyal to Sony over the years but no more. I saw another review on Amazon detailing the same problem with the remote, which leads me to believe that this is a systemic quality issue. Yet Sony refuses to stand behind their product.

If youre considering buying this product, please take this as a warning. Youll be happy with it at first, but there is a large probability the remote will break on you.

Sony used to stand for unquestionable quality and customer service in my mind, but not anymore. Apparantly, theyre no longer concerned about the consumer once they make the sale. Spend your money on a more reliable product.

P.S- Get an ipod. alot better

The software that came with it was more or less easy to use, and I was able to record a mini disc in almost no time at all!

Its traveled with me several times on airlplanes, and its compact size and shape are great space savers in my carry-on bag. Ive also accidentally dropped it a couple of times (~3-4 foot drop), and it has never skipped a beat, nor has had an damage that I can detect. The only thing that happened was a tiny paint chip flaked off the edge...I guess I have to get a carrying case for it. I also use it while running on the treadmill at the gym...never a problem.

The rechargeable battery is a major plus, and it recharges very very easily by just plugging into an outlet.

Thanks SONY!!

As far as the software is concerned - if you dont care about transferring MP3s - you dont have to use the SonicStage software everybody whines about! You can use the supplied SimpleBurner - which records CDs in your PCs CD-ROM drive to your MD at either LP2 (160 minutes on an 80 minute blank MD) or LP4 (320 minutes). The quality of LP2 is very near CD quality. You can also hook the unit directly to a CD player (remember those) using analogue or digital connections. When you do it that way - you can record at SP (highest quality - 80 minutes on an 80 minute blank MD) or LP2/LP4.

Why would you want an MD player vs. an MP3 player? If you dont have a bunch of MP3s, and all you want to do is make your existing CD collection portable - MD offers a cheaper, more versatile, and sonically superior alternative to MP3. Blank MDs are cheap (less than $2) - re-recordable, durable, and easy-to-handle. Individual tracks can be split into multiple tracks, re-ordered, re-titled, and deleted directly on the MD unit, or using the supplied software. This is very useful for students, musicians, etc. Cant do any of that w/ an MP3. Again - if you have thousands of MP3s - then get an MP3 player. But if you dont - you should check this out.

As far as the software is concerned - if you dont care about transferring MP3s - you dont have to use the SonicStage software everybody whines about! You can use the supplied SimpleBurner - which records CDs in your PCs CD-ROM drive to your MD at either LP2 (160 minutes on an 80 minute blank MD) or LP4 (320 minutes). The quality of LP2 is very near CD quality. You can also hook the unit directly to a CD player (remember those) using analogue or digital connections. When you do it that way - you can record at SP (highest quality - 80 minutes on an 80 minute blank MD) or LP2/LP4.

Why would you want an MD player vs. an MP3 player? If you dont have a bunch of MP3s, and all you want to do is make your existing CD collection portable - MD offers a cheaper, more versatile, and sonically superior alternative to MP3. Blank MDs are cheap (less than $2) - re-recordable, durable, and easy-to-handle. Individual tracks can be split into multiple tracks, re-ordered, re-titled, and deleted directly on the MD unit, or using the supplied software. This is very useful for students, musicians, etc. Cant do any of that w/ an MP3. Again - if you have thousands of MP3s - then get an MP3 player. But if you dont - you should check this out.

The only bad thing is you have to buy a new set of headphone. The one that included with the player is SUCKS=CRAP. It will give you a headache if you wear it longer than 10 minutes. So, look to spend another $$-$$$ for a good headphone. Hint: Apply for the Amazon Credit Card to get $$$ GC on your purchase. I did just that...so now i can afford a new set of headphone.

Regarding Sonys Minidisc, first, the software has an akward interface. Before buying, you should become acquainted with the "check-in", "check-out" system of the OpenMG software, which limits your ability to make copies. Its allright if its for copyright protection, but it often becomes a real burden as the software itself still has a lot of bugs.

There is a bug that will make the OpenMG program eventually stop transferring your songs at exactly 9%. This happened to me, and Sony did not do anything to help. So I looked over the internet and found out that a lot of people were having the same problem. In spite of that, I was amazed to see that Sony had NOT been able to come with a patch! So, in summary, there is no more computer connection. So, what about the extrabucks for the netMD feature???

Another thing is that the recorder will not let you transfer your own recording from the mic to the computer. This function was supposed to be implemented to "protect copyright", but it ended, again, decreasing the funcionality of the device and limiting you capabilities as a user.

My minidisc does not record anymore, not even from analog, exactly one year after buying it (the famous "Sony Timer"). It was a complete waste of money. Next time this money will go to another company.

When I purchased this player in July/August, I had also considered purchasing the Creative MUVO or an Appple Ipod. I chose MD for a few reasons. The MUVO wasnt upgradeable in terms of storage capacity. Other MP3 players are, but simply upgrading 64 or 128 MB is very costly. Youll get more music for your money with MD. You can get a blank MD for about $2 and then put either 80, 160, or 320 (I think) minutes of music depending on the compression you use. I have been told that the LP2 compression is similar to a 128 kps mp3; with LP2 compression, you get about 160 minutes of music, which is enough to store 2 albums easily. As far as the Ipod is concerned, the NF610 is much cheaper. Also, the 300 dollar Ipod lacks many accessories that the 400 dollar one includes, so if you look at it that way, the NF610 is half the price.

I originally thought I would buy this player and only use one Minidisc. Since then, I have about 10. I use the NF610 to record my cds onto MDS. I like having several albums of one artist on one MD. Its also nice to carry an additional MD when traveling/walking/etc.

Some people have also complained about the OpenMG/Sonic Stage software. It is true that it is somewhat confusing (and annoying, given the weird check-in/check-out system). I have recently started using RealOne Player, which supports Sony Music Devices (including NetMD!). RealOne is free for download. I use RealOne to copy all my CDS to high-quality MP3 on my computer. Then RealOne allows me to select tracks and write them onto Minidisc. Its a breeze, fun, and very simple.

As far as the unit itself, I really like the blue color that the NF610 has. The remote is not as big as other reviews make it. Its small enough to where I can put it on my belt loop and thumb through my music; its not easily noticeable with a shirt over it. I would say it may be big compared to other LCD remotes, but not by much. The radio is nice and can get good reception. I would say the unit is solidly built and after a few months use, still looks brand new.

The Sony software takes about a week to get used to. It has glitches but it works on my machine; its awkward using it because it has too many different ways to view files. Ive read about people having trouble on older PC hardware/OSes, so check the net reviews before you buy.

The file conversion problem the reviewer preceding me describes is due to seek/scan/write error by the disc player. This unit weighs almost nothing. If you examine this unit the extremely sexy metal shell is not stiff enough to fully protect the internal mechanism from deformation stress. I learned this from my previous MD player when it started to skip around from track to track. This was after I carried it in my jeans back pocket for two months. My previous player lasted a year of harsh physical abuse. The shear stress on the lid caused misalignment of the lens. To prevent this problem, carry the player in a rigid box like those boxes for 3.5-inch diskettes. It doesnt increase the form factor much. Ive been using this method for the past 10 months and my current player works fine. The unit does fine resisting "normal" vibration as with jogging or walking. You really cant damage this unit by dropping it, as you might with an Ipod, but you can "squeeze it broke" if you sit on it.

Note that the TV receiver only pulls in channels 2 to 13, so you wont get the full range like you might with regular TV-radios. At first I thought the attached remote would be a pain, but it actually makes using the unit convenient. The included headphones are schlocky. If you get a high end Sennheiser headphone set, sound quality is excellent.

The real attraction of these units is they allow you to copy at full CD quality. The minidiscs can hold up to 1.5 CDs of music at CD quality. With track editing software, you can load up to 24 of your favorite CD tracks per minidisc at full quality which is much much better than MP3. I dont think you can do this with MP3 players.

Dont get too worked up about the hype of cheap minidiscs and 160 Mb worth of songs you can put in it. There are some catches that you need to be aware of:

1. You can transfer your MP3s only 3 times to a minidisc. Yes, 3 times. Why? Sony has made a licensing agreement with itself (the Sony label company) that an MP3 file can only be transfered 3 times. So, if your first transfer didnt work-- you got 2 transfers left. If your disc got broken, it doesnt matter-- only 1 transfer is left. This, ladies and gentlemen, is called the OpenMG magic. The OpenMG software is a nightmare to be told in reason number 2.

2. The OpenMG software that comes with this device is a pure frustrating-agonizing joke. Go to www.musiclub.sonystyle.com and see how many people are complaining about this software. Sony "the software company" and Sony "the electronics company" is so incompatible with each other that youd think ones made in Japan and the other in the U.S separated by a large body of water (literally). Technically: You have to convert MP3s to an ATrac3 file before transfering anything to a NetMD device. OpenMGs job is to convert MP3 files into Atrac3 files. Guess what? Those converts DOES NOT always work. Transfering a CD to an MP3? You still need to convert to Atrac3 files. You cannot record anything to a minidisc without converting it first-- well what if the conversions DOES NOT always work? A HAH! Strike 2!

3. Finally, I have had this NetMD MZ-NF610 for the past 2 months. The first month, everything worked fine--transfers were good, followed every single instructions on the manual, and never dropped, bumped, and hurt the device in any way. What happened in the second month you asked? These MP3-Atrac3 conversions started to go wrong. Go to any minidisc forum in the website (search for "minidisc forum" on google) and you will see that theres this huge problem of converting files. The conversion progress goes up to 8 or 9% and then it halted into nowhere. No explanation and no reason. Sony support line doesnt help because the people working there are your grandparents.

If youre thinking about buying this device as an alternate MP3 device, re-think again. The industry is on a crackdown and what makes you think that you can transfer these files freely? Buying this device is like buying a 200 dollar worth of fish net. The simple truth.

Note: These errors that the other reviewer noted are NOT "seek/scan/write error by the disc player" because I can still record analog(ly) through an optical cable from my stereo. (a bit more work than clicking your mouse)

Pros:
*Sonys compression technology enables MP3 file sizes with near CD quality of sound (I cannot tell the difference). I have a Creative Nomad II MP3 player, and this unit is far superior in sound quality.
*Small size
*MD media is cheap and robust and small.
*Can listen to AM/FM through the remote unit (not main unit)
*Remote is handy when not wanting to pull out main unit in subway.
* Sonys basic ripping software is simple and easy.
* Although the unit only has an optical in, it can be used with a condenser mike, if you want to record live performances (discrete size)

Cons:
* Both the screen on the main unit and the remote are small. They dont enable you with easy navigation of tracks and albums.
* If you want to navigate from the main unit only (no remote), the menu system is difficult and clumsy.
* Headphones are junk - Do yourself a favor and pick up some better quality cans. I would recommend: Sonys fontopia buds or Etymolics ER-6s
* Sonys check in/out system of copying recordings is stupid and could be a problem if you want to re-record an album more than 3 times.

The problem has always been transferring the music - the 701 can only do it in realtime and that has always annoyed me. Quite often something would go wrong in the transfer, which meant I had to hang around for 4 hours and keep an eye on it.

So NetMD looked like an easyfix for this, and in some ways it is. The OpenMG / SonicStage package is pretty to look at, and user-friendly, but an absolute system resource hog. But it does deliver high speed transfers (if the tracks are already converted) and I can "make" a disc in 10 minutes or so. Big win.

What surprised me was the size of the remote. Its almost embarrassing to have something that big clipped to your satchel when commuting to work. The picture is misleading - its about twice as deep as it is wide - I have a Sony digital tuner that I jog with that is much smaller than the remote!

All in all, it served its purpose - it gave me access to NetMD, but will it replace my 701? Unlikely - the 610 is almost identical in features and size (with the exception of the remote!). I suspect I should have gone for the N10 just so Id feel like Id upgraded properly - apart from the NetMD functionality, little else has changed in 2 years.

NOTE: This player uses Sonys proprietary compression scheme for music files (ATRAC3). This player will not directly play mp3 or wma file format. Also, software has a check-in, check-out feature for music; you are allowed to copy or check-out a song only 3 times. If you want to copy more times, you have to check-in the song. This is some kind of copyright protection scheme to keep you from making unlimited copies of music.

The remote is handy when the MDP is in your pocket, great sound...easy to read title text. Easy software. It was a little tricky at first about how to figure out how to download songs, but once you get it once -it only gets easier. If you are going to use the software..USE SONICSTAGE! It really is easy, even though it has the check in/check out for your music..it doesnt take up much time. You can recharge the battery. Believe me..THIS IS WORTH EVERY CENT.

Sadly..there are some cons:

*No backlit screen..for nighttime
*I sorta wish it came in other colors..blue is okay, but there are some other better colors.
*Darn USB flap keeps on opening, sometimes very hard to close.

Other than that..GET THIS!

A piece of advice when choosing the software to burn your music, either from CDs or your own downloaded MP3 files - use SonicStage, its the easiest and least confusing.

And here are few cons. No carrying bag, huge remote control, when you transfer MP3 to MD, its fast as it says (32x) but i dont think the converting time is included. The converting time is annoying. no backlit, not bad but not good headphone.

You cant expect too many things. ... I love this MDP. Yay~