Sony ICD-UX70 (1024 MB, 4.5 Hours) Handheld Digital Voice Recorder

We used a Sony microcassette recorder for dictation at auction sites (to gather the raw information for lotting). The format worked better than regular cassettes, and the recorder was small, but it still was obtrusive, and finicky, and ran out of batteries sooner than desired.

This new Sony is half the size of a pack of cigarettes, records all the time we need in a pass, and produces high-quality STEREO recordings that copy via USB directly onto our computer as MP3 files for transcription. It's got lots of features we'll probably never use, and it doesn't matter. Our applause for NO moving parts, easy operation (usually one button is all we need), beautiful sound (we use a headset w/mike), and voice-operated recording (VOR).

Beefs? They say that it buffers, so nothing is lost when you're using VOR and start up after a pause. Ain't so, we've lost things like "it measures...[pause while we measure]...teen inches." It missed the first word, fourteen.

Also,they say it'll run a long time on a single AAA battery. Our experience is that it'll run about three-four hours, and then will need a new battery. Small problem, takes 30 seconds to swap, and you get an audigle alarm when it's low.

It's so small, the buttons are sometimes hard to find and use. We'll get used to it. Oh, and the screen is pretty tiny, too!

Loves: Mic sensitivity has two options, and the high setting can capture a room-full of conversation IN STEREO!

Recordings are saved in a PC-like file system that looks like a disk drive when you plug into your USB port on the computer. Unless the USB port access is tight quarters, you don't even need a cable, just pull the cap off the bottom of the DVR and plug it into the port. 1GB of storage should tide us over for a week's-worth of recording if needed.

We've had BAD experiences with Plug 'n' Play devices, but this one appears to be flawless! Never complains, always accesses, works like it's a hard drive on my system. Copy, erase, organize, it all works as expected. You can even save non-audio files on here to carry them with you to another location. And sure, your music MP3 files will play just fine (earphones highly recommended).

It has lots of features for playback and music and file organization, and other functions we'll never use. But for an inexpensive digital voice recorder, this is the cat's meow! Retail was $99.99, we found it at Fry's for 69.99. Love it, recommend it, use it almost every day.

I bought the Sony ICD-UX70 to record class lectures on a friend's recommendation. I used micro-cassette recorders in the past, but the sound quality was awful. The Sony sounds great, even in a big room. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is that it's made out of plastic and feels cheap and also uses one AAA battery, and it uses it quickly. I get about four hours worth of recording out the battery. Other than that, it is a great sounding unit.

I bought this for my gf she is going to school for nursing and needed a good recorder. Well shes had it now for a few months and all I hear is good things shes always raving about this new thing she did with it. So in short it is well worth purchasing if you want a great recorder

everything was good! very good!

:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-•* FABULOUS * -:¦:- * HIGHLY RECOMMEND -:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-
:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-•* FABULOUS * -:¦:- * HIGHLY RECOMMEND -:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-

Works great, quality of sound is good. Only negative aspect is the short battery life it has. I go through one battery per day.