Sony MP3 player - wish I'd bought an iPod

[itinerants]

I've posted before about problems with my Sony MP3 player. But I still am unable to get any sense at all from the Sony helpline. They promise to call back but don't.

I've downloaded Sonic Stage - I've downloaded the Gracenote patch to update - I've turned off firewalls and Norton - all to no avail. I can get a CD onto the MP3 but Gracenote refuses to accept registration. Every time it tells me "HTTP error" although my internet links are fine. So I'm unable to download track information.

Has anyone experienced this before?
Is anyone else having problems with Sony helpline?

I've been trying to resolve this for 3 weeks now and have reached the stage where I'll send the MP3 back to Sony and buy an iPod instead - but the only one to suffer from that would be my wallet.

If you have any ideas, or are having problems with Sony, please post. Perhaps together we can do something.

[Carby]

In my experience Sony have the best products out there. I would buy a Sony MP3 player over an Ipod any day. It's usually down to the 'end user' (you) doing something wrong. Basically if your too stupid to figure out how to use your MP3 player, then your too stupid to own an MP3 player. What I suggest you do is put it back in the box and take it back to the shop, because you are too stupid to own an MP3 player. Go back to a cassette walkman, thats more your style I think.

[Machecoul]

Who let him out?

Two suggestions - have you tried googling for any Sony discussion forums - there might be something there to help or would another piece of software work with the Sony e.g. Windows Media Player etc. There have been many suggestions on here for good free mp3 manipulation programs.

[soulstar11]

Yes, well done Carby - nothing like a smartar@e to shout their mouth off when someone is asking a reasonable question. (Especially one who uses the phrase "end user" without apparent irony!)

Itinerants, as Mach suggested, you will find shedloads of forums crammed with complaints about Sonic Stage. The good news is; you won't be the only one who feels "stupid". Bad news: looks like you might be shelling out for another brand. (Don't limit yourself to i-pod). Good luck.
Fellow frustrated SonicStage (non)user.

[itinerants]

Thanks for your comments. I've trawled through a few websites and am horrified at the number of complaints connected with the Sony MP3 player. Also, it seems the problem was known by Sony before I purchased my MP3.

If Sony was a small company, they'd have been stopped trading by now. Surely the Trading Standards Office should have a say in this? I'd always considered Sony an A1 company but I'll never purchase another product from them.

[Oneeyedvic]

I managed to get a refund of my Sony MP3 player as I had similar problems - bought my self an ipod instead which has working software.

If you do a google search for "sonic stage problems," you come up with over 1 Million results in English