Rating: 
Summary: Compact, Simple, Powerful...a home run!
Review: Sony has knocked it out of the park with this one! The truth is, I've never been much of a fan of Sony products...this one, on the other hand, has convinced me otherwise.The software ran like a champ on my (antiquated) laptop. No problems whatsoever. I used some 74-minute MDs I had laying around and easily recorded 3 hours or more on each. The playback quality in LP4 mode is so close to cd-quality as to be identical. Folks, I have never felt so strongly about any product as to write a review...this little jewel, though, is my new favorite toy.
Rating: 
Summary: OpenMG software would not work
Review: The sound from the nicely sized, small unit was great but the OpenMg software would not work for me on a Pentium 4 with XP Home. Spent over an hour on the phone with Sony tech support and still not fixed. Gave up on it and returned the unit.
Rating: 
Summary: Great player - annoying software.
Review: I love the size, battery life and long play formats. However, the packaging is somewhat deceptive. Of course, the device does not play mp3s - instead, one must go through the time consuming process of converting them to the Sony format. A few minor gripes, since the strengths of the device have been covered by others, no protective case or remote is provided, the display is tiny and the headphones stink. Otherwise, a great product at a superb price.
Rating:
Summary: It's not really a digital music player
Review: I was happy to take it last Tuesday, but I'm just going to return it on Monday, no more than a week for me to find out it's really inconvenience and, not even really a digital music player. It has a sticker on it(damn sticker, it makes the player looks silly) saying it can play mp3,wma,wav whatever... However, you have to use the software to CONVERT them into ATARC or ATARC3 in order to enjoy them! Man, so with a Nero software and a CD burner, my 3 years old Discman can play all this format, too. And it cost me only 50 bucks, with CDRs cheap as free! I have to complain the sound quality as well. As many ones said the MD can compare with CD, don't forget that you must use the optical line out and amplifier and speakers to access that. And, as even the sp mode will have a compress rate as just 256kbps, don't expect it will sound too much better than a 256kbps well made mp3, and exactly, it can't compare with a 320kbps or VBR -0 mp3.(If you are using lame, you know what I'm saying) Well, it really looks cool, and the battery life's amazing. But so what, it doesn't sound as good as a discman, it can't really support mp3,wma,wav (if it can, we should be able to copy them DIRECTLY into it and play whatever file with just upgrading the software INSIDE the machine). And, coming to the worst part, all the technologies for MD are belong to Sony only... you've already seen how OpenMG bothers, so can you trust Sony more? Can you believe it will upgrade it as often as possible? For me, MD players are just becoming another lovely alien pets as Mac machines. Well, lovely, but not for people who would rather keep their feet on earth.
Rating:
Summary: Great MD player
Review: 1. It is cuttinge edge: the one drawback to MD players - the fact that recording was at real-time speed and not accelerated - has been wiped away by netMD technology, allowing up to 32x speed recording and a drag-and-drop interface with your home computer.
2. It is inexpensive: It is the lowest-price netMD player out there, lower in price than other non-netMD players!
3. Verdict: This MD player offers the most bang for the buck - it would be foolish to buy any non-netMD capable player with the n505 around.
The only reason I do not give this player a five-star rating is because it does not come with a remote - it CAN indeed use a remote, its just that one isn't sold with it. However, See if you can pick up a remote from an old r30 or r50 MD player - they both work flawlessly with this model. It also does not have a microphone input - I really wish it did, but you may not need it.
Oh, and disregard the whining of the previous poster who said this player was "ruined" by the difficulty of the software - while the software is not as user-friendly as could be, if she has THAT much trouble from the software, I question how "computer literate" she really is.
Rating: 
Summary: A great music player, but crippled by looney software
Review: At first glance, this seems like a perfect portable music player. Much greater storage capacity than a MP3 player, and smaller than a CD player. The storage media (MiniDisc) is inexpensive. The product specs promise fast transfer speeds. However, you are forced to use Sony's propietary file compression system (ATRAC), and Sony's software. The software is designed NOT for ease of use, but to protect the music publisher's copyright. I don't mind that, I really just want a convenient way to listen to my CD's and music files. The software you must use to transfer music to the disc player is so hard to use, and so goofy, that I have pretty much given up on the player. Transfer speed? It takes about 15 minutes to transfer a CD to the Minidisc, because the files must first be converted to ATRAC format. If you have MP3's on your computer, they have to be converted as well. You might want to convert the CD to ATRAC first, then transfer it. Then you are confronted by one of the protection schemes. You can only transfer the file three times. (Even if it is your OWN CD, being transfered to your OWN player!) After that, you have to re-convert the file. Why three times? Why even limit transfers if you only need to re-convert the file to get three more transfers? Who knows? I am constantly finding more limitations to the software. Re-install your operating system, and the Sony software has to re-configure your music files. You can't re-install the Sony software unless you have an open internet connection. You can't even delete the files on the player unless it is connected to your PC. How could it infringe on publishing rights to delete a file from your player? It is just too frustrating for me. I am fairly "computer-literate", but this is just too time consuming and complicated. What I really think is crazy is that Sony has ruined this player by forcing you to use their software, all to protect music copyrights. However, you can buy a Sony MP3/CD player that will be MUCH easier to use, and play all the music you want with no copyright protection!
Rating:
Summary: Small, durable, light and long-lasting.
Review: The unit actually does run 50 or 60 hours on a measly AA battery. Using a NIMH battery, it runs longer. Taking the battery out of the unit makes the unit feel almost weightless. Unit is smaller than a standard man's wallet. Place it into a ziplock bag for protection. Software has complicated interface but it is not insurmountable; there is a learning curve; it could have been optimized better for friendliness. Biggest problem is when file transfer lock ups occur due to incompatible bandwidths of source media, but such error may not be immediately recognized because the software does not throw an error message. MP3 conversion is not difficult. CD conversion is not difficult but eats up disc space on host computer; solve this by finding "storage" files and deleting them. Using a third party music conversion program may be useful to generate lots and lots of WAVs repetitively if that is what you want to do. Sound is excellent in full stereo recording mode; it is acceptable in LP4 compression mode; compatible with MP3. Holds about 1.5 CDs per minidisc at full stereo mode, and about 5 to 6 CDs at LP4 mode. Unit does not skip with lots of jostling around. Can't figure out how to record in the usual manner because all my hardware is non-optical. Better than MP3 in my opinion because you can pop the data disc OUT. This unit/system is not well suited to the technologically challenged; proper use of it is demanding. Can't believe its this [price]; must be threat of MP3 players. USB in, optical ins and outs, headphone, pseudo-holographic colored display, weird plug in thingey next to headphone jack, more supporting documentation than I've seen in a long while. Turns your notebook computer into a recording studio. Don't know how they crammed this much technology into something this small. Much much sexier and more intriguing than MP3ers.
Rating:
Summary: Sony MZ-N505S Net Minidisc Player
Review: Superb player/recorder. I've recently been able to try this excellent MD. It is small, compact, and has an extremely long battery life.
Although I've heard reports of buggy software, I have had no problems with it so far. The USB connection allows for much faster transfer of songs from computer to minidisc. Doesnt have remote or mic input, but it will suit the average user's need.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Alternative to MP3 Players, Horrible Software
Review: I have had this product for a few days now, and after playing with it in every possible way, I can say a few things. First, the software is horrible. It tends to lock up if you are running other applications. I have tried the application on my normal run of the mill home pc, and my power house pc at work. Either one, the software [is not good]. When it doesn't lock up, the software is very functional. Another problem with the product is that it will not record digitally without an optical cable in. You can run a normal digital cable into the recorder, but it records in analog. Overall, a great alternative to MP3 players with its size and flexibility with file types. Awesome memory capacity and power consumption.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: This is a great player. It's easy to use, and is just great all around. The only problem is you have to buy an optical cord or another cord to record of a cd player, radio, etc.
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