Sony is to embrace MP3 at last!

[bluedolphin]

Just read that sony will embrace MP3 file format...yeah! the ipod has some serious competition!!! Sony's lates shows video as well as plays the music... could it be a killer gadget?

[tomd]

Why not buy an archos? Those things kick the ipod and any attempt sony could make.

[Mattk]

archos are also rather expensive ! media players wont rivl mp3 players until it can match their size

[fly258]

Totaly agree with tomd, Archos (especially the JBRecorder V1 with Rockbox firmware) nox the sox off all of them. The ipod is a choice of fashion over function and the Sony (like most of them) suffers from dreaded DRM issues. See this link http://www.newmp3technology.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=368 for more info. I have recently bought 3 Archos recorders V1 on Ebay for about �100-�150 each, previously owned by people who were(mistakenly IMHO) upgrading to ipods.

[tomd]

The RRPs of Archos are quite high, but you can get them alot newer (including new) It does seem a little excessive to me though, I have an MIcrosoft SPV & a big SD card which I play mp3s on, I don't have a personal need for video as I tend to be doing something else while I'm listening.

[slimjim]

I've just paid 300 for an Archos AV420 at Dixons (duty-free). Don't call that expensive when you consider what it does. i-pod; schmi-pod!