Sony E-Series Walkman (second generation, 8GB, black) Review

    The mp3 players are changed considerably from time to time.Sony is also amongst them.Recently they launched their new E-Series Walkman which is the proof of that. Sony Walkman MP3 players have never been straight-up cheap--until now. The latest models, including the second-gen E-Series featured here, offer rock-bottom pricing that might make even SanDisk blush. Sony may have cut some corners with features and design, but the company managed to keep its signature great audio quality and solid battery life--and all in the name of proffering the first brand-new 16GB player.

    Like its predecessor, the second-gen Sony E-Series has a fairly

standard design, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it makes the     
player very straightforward to operate. Below the 2-inch screen are
the main playback controls: a five-waycontrol pad, a back/home
button, and an option key that brings up various contextual menus.
Sony includes a dedicated volume rocker on the right spine--always
a nice touch--as well as a hold switch. The bottom of the unit houses
the standard 3.5mm headphone jackand a standard mini USB port i
dig that Sony elected to revert tothis more universal connection,
though accessory compatibility may be a problem as a result.

    It has a compact 3.2 inches tall by 1.7 inches wide by 0.3 inch deep, so it's definitely pocket-friendly and would not be an unreasonable thing to strap to your arm or waistband at the gym. It comes in a two color options--red or black--though the top of the player is all black plastic, which gives the red version a two-tone look.

    In the music submenu, items are sorted by ID3 tag into artists, albums, genres, and so on, or you may navigate by folder (as it is arranged on your desktop). Playlists have their own icon on the main screen and do not show up in the music submenu; it's a bit odd, but not a knock. Tracks are split into sections of letters (A-B, C-E, and so forth) for speedy navigation, and you may browse albums by album art for a more visual experience. Album art can also be magnified on the playback screen, though not to full screen.

    The device also plays photos (JPEG) and video (MPEG-4, H.264/AVC, and WMV), though the latter often requires conversion for the screen, a 262K color TFT number with a 240x320 resolution (QVGA). The player supports videos purchased and rented from Amazon Video On Demand, as well.You can tune into the integrated FM radio, which offers an autoscan function and 30 preset slots.Sony removed the Rhapsody DNA, which is a bit of a bummer if you ask me.

    I recommend swapping in your favorite pair of headphones, as the stock earbuds sound just OK and may not be comfortable for everyone.

   My Rating: 3.6/5