Rating: 
Summary: Not for me!
Review: First of all, let's get this straight: the Sony MZ-N10 is NOT a top-of-the-line recorder. It is mostly a music file transfer, storage and playback device. It does not come with a microphone; therefore, recording sound with it as packaged is not possible. However, you can purchase a mic and use the unit to record, but the limitations are severe, as I'll explain below. You can record from any analog source but again with sever limitations. I will split my review into two parts: (a) hardware, (b) software. The hardware for the MZ-N10 is superb. The unit is unbelievably small and yet has both a feel and look of quality about it. The sound it produces is exceptional. The mechanical function of the unit is a little unorthodox and takes a while at the manual to master, but that's to be expected when packing so many features into such a small unit. The rotating 'Jog Dial' also pushes laterally to navigate many features, and this may confuse you at first if you've not seen that type of mechanism before. It comes with an attachable battery pack (one AA, not included) that should but does not have to be attached when in use. The pack does make it bulkier, heavier and more fragile. It attaches to the USP port, and the cantilevered pack if it should sustain a blow, could damage the unit's USB port. The connection of the unit to its power docking station (also through the USB port) is simple and positive. The computer USB connection is made through a second USB port on the docking station. All this hardware, including the attachable 'remote' is well designed and functional. I'll be honest, I simply love the hardware. It is truly one of the marvels of 21st century technology. The software, called SonicStage, is another story. Why Sony calls many of the functions of the MZ-N10 'recording' is a puzzle until you read the manual on its operation. The process of transferring a music file from your computer into the device is called 'recording,' a rather significant misnomer, in my opinion. In this mode the unit is a MUSIC transfer, storage and playback device. The manual talks exclusive of 'song' transfer, and it calls the transformation process 'recording'. When a song is transferred into the unit it is 'Checked Out'. And when the song is returned to the computer, it is 'Checked In'. While the song (file) is Checked Out it cannot be uploaded to another computer. The software blocks the transfer. The song can be played on the unit any number of times, but it can only be Checked Out three times. Another sever limitation comes if you want to create a CD. Here is the quote from the user's manual: 'In order to create your original audio CDs with SonicStage, you must use a Sony VAIO series computer only. The computer must be pre-installed with Windows XP and come with a recordable optical disc drive.' Now for the recording problem. As I said above, you cannot record sound with the unit as packaged. You must purchase an external microphone to record sound into the unit. I purchased Sony's ECM-MS907 stereo mic. It works great. Another fine piece of Sony hardware. The mic plugs into the 'Line In' port. The operation is then straightforward, and the recorded sound is crystal clear. You can use either a mic or record directly from any audio analog signal. Here's the problem. You cannot upload the recorded sound through the USB computer connection. The software is designed to block transfer (say Check In) of any sound files that have not first been Checked Out from the computer. I record animal sounds, bird calls, night sounds, and create sounds for website buttons, etc. I also import sound from my Yamaha keyboard. You CAN get the recorded sound into your computer by connecting a stereo wire from the unit's 'Line Out' port to your computer's sound card. A very easy operation, but you must also purchase software that can capture the incoming sound. (I use SoundForge.) So the unit has digitized the incoming sound and then regenerates an analog signal to export it to your sound card. Your capture software then must re-digitize it. You have to adjust the sound using the volume control on the MZ-N10. This is an unnecessary lossy process, and you will not get anywhere near as good sound as you would have if the software had permitted you to import the sound directly from the unit into your computer through the USB port. My results are terrible. You could have simply connected the analog device to your sound card and eliminated the two conversions inside the MZ-N10. So the ability to record through an extra-purchase mic is a minor (should I say bogus?) feature of the unit and should not affect your purchase decision one way or the other. In my opinion, the software cripples the function of this unit to the point where it is not worth the money. To call transferring digital sound files 'recording' is simply not correct. All this software slight-of-hand has obviously been caused by the hysteria in the music industry over pirated songs. Hopefully Sony will quickly come to its senses and release another driver for this marvelous and expensive piece of hardware that will allow it to unfold its wings. It along with the Sony mic would be a miniature portable stereo recording studio par excellence in the field.
Rating: 
Summary: Not durable, but nice while it works
Review: I bought several of these units to use in my laboratory for recording sound data for later transfer to computers. They worked great for that but they are notoriously easy to break. Most of the recorders were damaged in some way within a year. Perhaps this is just the result of hard use by undergraduate students but nonetheless I was hoping they would last a little longer. My suggestion is to go for higher quality and longer lasting units instead of these unless you want something to play with and break. For the price I think they could have done a better job of making the product survive daily use, given that it is meant to be carried around and used on the street.
Rating: 
Summary: Quality VS Convenience
Review: I'm a Canadian working in China. Before I left Canada I bought a 20G MP3 player to help deal with the down time of traveling and home sickness :(
It was bulky, and of questionable quality to say the least, but the realplayer software interfaced with my laptop seamlessly transfering MP3-WMA without any complaints. At any rate I lost the unit on a drunken eve in Dalian, and I have been searching for a replacement for several months.
MP3 Players in China suck, and are extremely over priced, so I decided to go for a minidisc player in it's place. (partly because of it's recording capabilities.)
I picked up the MZ-N10, and at first I was right pissed about the (c) protection embeded in the software, which is real pain and prevents me from transfering any recordings I make for sampling purposes. (I collect samples for writing music)
But after a few days of using the unit I have to reply to all the negative feed back I have seen about minidisc players.
In my opintion this piece of hardware is made with a lot of love. It cost the same amount as a 20gig hardrive player, but there is no comparison when it comes to the hardware or audio quality. The unit sound is rock solid and the sound is far better than any CD player I have owned. Maybe it's the DAC or EQ. At any rate it's an amazing unit to plug into! If you are not looking to swipe crapy quality RIPS off the internet. Then, maybe this is the quality unit your looking for. However the software included is a real let down, which acuses you of stealing anything you put onto disc.Peace. FR4C7AL=-
Rating:
Summary: Good thing I didn't buy it @ retail price!
Review: I've been wanting to try out MD players for a while. After heavily weighting between an MP3 player and an MD, I decided, why not try something new. Previously, I had owned Sony's network walkman with a sad amount of imbedded memory with no capability of expansion of 64mb. (I received it as a gift back when it was first introduced to the market.) Fortunately, for this product, I only paid $175.00 for it through eBaY. Had I forked out the true retail value of some $350, I would have shot myself and put myself out of my misery. The biggest thing that bothered me the most about this product was the software. Having owned a number of VAIO computers, I was already introduced to the Sonicstage software. Little did I know that Sony incorporated copyright protection into their software for transferring files to your MD player. Good grief! What a pain in the ass. They basically put a tag on your forehead saying you're a thief! This is a big let down and a huge disadvantage to this otherwise, beautiful product. Otherwise, I love the product..Quite a lot of functionality..Especially at the price of $175. I'm loving the USB cradle, battery life...And most of all, I love how I can tote a physical collection of music. (...) Bottom line: The software kills the entire piece.
Rating: 
Summary: The SONY MZ-N10 If you have the means...
Review: If you have the means, by all means pick this little baby up!
The SONY MZ-N10 is an amazing device! I was having trouble trying to upload my songs from my YAMAHA musical keyboard to my PC, and then from there burn cds. I had no luck, until I purchased the SONY MZ-N10! Not only can you record songs from any analog or digital source straight to your SONY MZ-N10 and then upload them onto your PC, but you can also download songs from the internet or songs or sounds from your PC as well! Talk about versatilty! One thing I want to mention about this unit. The jog shuttle button is confusing the first time you use the unit. Do not pull on the jog shuttle button to get it to work, or apply excessive force! When I first tried to operate it, I pushed the button from the side of the unit inward, it didn't budge. I thought it might have been a defect, but it wasn't! I then found out by carefully inspecting the unit, to have the unit with the LCD display facing you, then press downward on the jog shuttle button to access the menu. Then from there, rotate the the jog shuttle button to select the functions and the press the play button to execute! This incredible Machine is small enough to be covered by your hands and yet has the ability of an expensive, high performance, high powered home stereo system. And depending on the source, can achieve studio quality sound! The clarity is exceptional! I also purchased the SONY ECM-MS907 microphone for this unit. Kick [hiney]! The combination of the two is phenominal! You really can hear a pin drop! Clear, clear, clear! So as I said earlier, if you have the means , by all means pick this baby up, you'll be glad you did!
Rating:
Summary: piece of junk
Review: My family bought this for me for Fathers Day. Worked fine for one week, but when I decided to erase and re-record new songs one week later, it wouldn't work. I went thru all the steps...downloaded upgraded software from Sony's site, used different discs, and even redid the whole thing on a different computer...nothing worked. So, on top of the $120+ my family spent on the unit, now Sony says I have to spend more money to send it from WI to Texas to get it fixed...AFTER ONE WEEK OF USE! Don't bother with this piece of junk or you might have to deal with Sony's customer service.
Rating: 
Summary: Watch out!
Review: NO matter what anyone says, it is physically impossible to upload microphone recorded music onto your computer with any Minidisc player. You can however record music to your hard-drive through an analogue connection, in real time. This not only wastes time, but usually there will be a slight loss in sound quality.
Rating:
Summary: Useless
Review: Sony has decided that they will implement full music copy protection with this unit. I'm a classical pianist and bought the Sony $99 electret microphone to record myself. That works fine. BUT Sony has decided that I just might have recorded a professional concert and does not allow me to copy music digitally from the unit to my computer. Makes no difference that I AM the artist. Sony has built a unit that assumes everyone is a thief and that can ONLY be used to copy digitally signed music that YOU ALREADY OWN. Be warned that this makes the unit useless for most people.
Rating:
Summary: Useless
Review: Sony has decided that they will implement full music copy protection with this unit. I'm a classical pianist and bought the Sony $99 electret microphone to record myself. That works fine. BUT Sony has decided that I just might have recorded a professional concert and does not allow me to copy music digitally from the unit to my computer. Makes no difference that I AM the artist. Sony has built a unit that assumes everyone is a thief and that can ONLY be used to copy digitally signed music that YOU ALREADY OWN. Be warned that this makes the unit useless for most people.
Rating:
Summary: The Software the Comes with this is Horrible
Review: The player itself is great, but if you are going to rely on the player and your computer to write to MiniDiscs, just be warned that the software that comes with this device is very hard to use, often crashes, and is very very restrictive. For example, you can't copy songs off a MiniDisc onto your computer. You've been warned. Ratings:
Hardware: 5
Software: 1
Average and Final: 3
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