Whoa, the E100s are already on Sonystyle.com’s site!

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=NWE107SILVER&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_flashMemory

Also, the 1GB model for $149 is competitively priced! You figure some places will have it for $10-20 less so it’s a pretty decent deal.

This is great! That means we shall see the NW-E500/400 series shortly from SonyStyle.  ^_^

The big thing though is that Sony CANNOT charge more than Apple’s iPod Shuffle…even if the Sony is technically superior. They’ll need to price it around the same price and let people feel like they’re getting more value. They currently do not have and “mindshare” in the marketplace. Apple has that and even then Sony isn’t even mentioned in the top 3. There’s iRiver, Rio and even Samsung who have more market share in this sector. Sony is coming from behind so they don’t have the luxury of being high and mighty anymore.

Good point.

So, are you planning to get either these new 500/400/100 series flash-based players?

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]The big thing though is that Sony CANNOT charge more than Apple’s iPod Shuffle…even if the Sony is technically superior.

You spoke too soon . Remember this is Sony we’re talking about. They have no idea what it takes to compete in the American marketplace anymore. (yes, I realize this is a different product, but you know what they say about those who forget the lessons of the past)

Good thing then that they have gullible fans like us. 

Official release from Sony re new Flash Players:
http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5685

What do you guys think of the NW-E400/500 series? - check the last post of page 1 of this thread.

[quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]The big thing though is that Sony CANNOT charge more than Apple’s iPod Shuffle…even if the Sony is technically superior.

You spoke too soon . Remember this is Sony we’re talking about. They have no idea what it takes to compete in the American marketplace anymore. (yes, I realize this is a different product, but you know what they say about those who forget the lessons of the past)

The EU prices don’t match up with the Japan prices. That’s messed up. The highest end E507 lists at 22000 YEN which is currently $210 and not the $317+ which is the Euro price. The FM-less version is supposedly closer to $180.

So, yeah, Sony is still charging a premium. A company can do that if the are the market leader…however, Sony no longer is…

They started selling the E40x in the Netherlands this week. Prices are pretty competitive and they have a nice promo running for it as well: free MDR-NX1 with any E40x and E50x model. Say one yesterday and my main complaint is that it’s too big. It’s quite fat as well, and compared to those tiny korean players they sell over here it really looks old.
I didn’t have a chance to see it working and I’m sure it will look much better with the OLED display powered on but I’m not so sure ‘bout buying one anymore… Besides, it’ll probably force me to use SonicStage 3.x which I absolutely refuse to install untill they stop the forceful sorting by artist.

way hot than that ipod thinny!!!!
not sure about that round one…

Been drooling like a baby kid needing a bottle here for the past couple of months.

These players are on the USA sonystyle site now.  You can’t add them to your cart (I’ve tried about 20+ times, despite it’s pop-up telling me no).

Prices are:

NW-E407 - $179.95 (1gb no FM Tuner)
NW-E405 - $129.95 (512mb NavyBlue)
NW-E507 - $199.95 (1gb w/ FM Tuner)
NW-E505PINK - $145.95 (512mb)
NW-E505BLUE - #145.95 (512mb)

fact that for 30 dollars for the OLED screen, and the fact that I’m not joining the masses with an ipod.  Radio for another 20 isn’t worth it for me.  The’re suppose to be out this month! i’ll be checking daily

Does anybody know if these flash based players can store data as well ?

Yes, they can. These units can act as USB mass storage, but Sonicstage is required to put music on.

Can’t you just simply copy the music onto these things like you would copy regular data? My iRock 128 mb player (which sounds ancient now) allows me to do that and play the music.