I'm Not Worthy. . .
Written: May 09 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Tiny; durable; long battery life; sounds great
Cons: A bit pricey; no belt clip; so-so earbuds
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| Girlina's Full Review: Sony Walkman MZ-E900 Personal MiniDisc Player |
of such a fantabulous gizmo! Girlina bows down before the chic and sleek Sony MZ-E90, which is absolute gadget nirvana thanks to its tiny size, great sound, packed features and stylin' design - just see for yourself! The MZ-E90 is almost without downside, except for its semi-stratospheric price. And since I bought a Japan-direct version from Minidisco.com (more about that later) I practically got a bargain at $300.
After a months-long flirtation with MP3 (see my reviews of the Diamond Rio MP300 and Samsung Yepp if you're interested) I decided to go back to Minidisc. Although the convenience of a small MP3 player was undeniable, the lengthy file transfer times over my PC's parallel port were anything but. However, if I couldn't get something as portable, I knew I'd start leaving it at home.
So I hit the Web and did some research. Fortunately, there are tons of great sites (in addition to ePinions of course) with the inside skinny on the latest units from Japan. Check out minidisc.org and t-station.net in particular - they helped me narrow it down to the MZ-E90 and the Sharp ST-55. Both of the units are barely larger than 3 stacked MDs, weigh around 100g with a disc on board, and have an amazing 20+ hour lifespan on their internal rechargeables. If that's not portable, I don't know what is.
After some trials and tribulations I decided on the MZ-E90, partially because I was able to check one out in person at J&R and because of my good experience with other Sony units. It was also available at Minidisco, a US-based dealer in Japanese electronics that could ship orders same-day, unlike the Asian vendors that handle the scarcer ST-55. With a bit of trepidation (assuaged by many positive reviews on T-Station) I ordered on the Minidisco site, receiving prompt confirmation and a neatly packed box 24 hours later.
It's hard to fully convey how small and light the MZ-E90 really is. Smaller than my two past MP3 players. So small that you can't even believe how rich and full the sound is. And of course, so small that I'm bound to break a few nails fumbling for any of the sliver-shaped switches hidden on the sides and back of the unit.
Fortunately, you don't really need any of them. Just set bass boost on 2, turn on the Hold switch, and use the funky translucent remote from then on. This current version has some nice improvements over the original drumstick remote: You push the top to one side to start play and then skip tracks (you had to press pause first on the drumstick). A backlight is also a nice touch, although a bit of a frill.
Despite all the technology packed into its svelte shell, the MZ-E90 also seems built for the long haul. Its case is formed from a special magnesium alloy that's extra tough, and a 40-second anti-shock memory makes it skip-proof. Some reviewers have questioned the stability of the one-touch disk eject, but I haven't experienced any problems.
My one quibble was the lack of a belt clip, which forced me to throw the MZ-E90 into my purse for a few days. It did remain surprisingly scratch and skip-free, and I've since rectified the situation by attaching a removable cell phone swivel clip to the back. The earbuds were also sub-par, but I've never seen a decent pair with any portable I've ever bought at any price.
Overall I'm thrilled to pieces with the MZ-E90; although much cheaper players are easily found, it's worth the extra money if you really care about portability and coolness. If you want to save a few bucks (and get the unit in a snazzy red that's not as available Stateside), I can highly recommend Minidisco. They were prompt and reliable; the Japanese version has a US compatible recharger and seems identical to the US one (even the controls are labeled in English); and you'll save a smooth $150 over current US prices.
Either way, enjoy your new unit - I know I love mine!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Girlina
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Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 247 members
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