Sony ICD-PX820 Digital Voice Recorder (Black)

I've had this recorder for a couple of days now. The basic operations such as record, playback, recording quality setting, erase and moving files and setting microphone sensitivity took less than 15 minutes to memorize and master. Compared to the old Panasonic digital recorder I had before, the sound quality on this model at the SP setting (next to the lowest quality recording) blows away my old Panasonic at the HIGHEST quality setting. The microphone sensitivity setting works VERY well! For strictly voice recordings in a quiet environment, I noticed little difference between SP and SHQ. I imagine that under different conditions, there are noticible differences. SLP is USABLE, but the sound quality isn't very good... but again it is adequate for voice only. At the low microphone sensitivity setting you should hold the microphone no more than about two inches on the side of your mouth. That will give you plenty of volume! This is the perfect recorder for dictation... it does have vox (voice actuated recording). I have not tried the software that comes with the recorder yet. I will after I return from Europe in late July. I am completely satisfied with this recorder for any voice recording application I can think of!The only additional feature that would be nice would be the ability to add more folders. The recorder comes with only five folders. Each folder is limited to 99 files. At SP speed you get over 89 hours of recording. My average note is around 30 seconds. However, with only five folders at 99 files per folder, that comes out to a total of only 495 notes with around 247 minutes of recording time (4 hours seven minutes)for all 5 folders combined. I know MANY people use these for recording meetings or classes that can take hours. It's just that it would be nice to have the OPTION to add folders. Right now I use folder A for general notes, folder B for ideas in photography or photojournalism either in the car, at home or on vacation. Folder C I use for recording names of people I photograph with my digital camera frame reference number along with phone and address, folder D I use for recording titles to new songs I hear in my car that I really like. I use folder E for personal thoughts on the news and my political commentary!! :) This is a great recorder!! Very highly recommended!UPDATE: Feb 28th, 2011:I lost this recorder last week.. so I have ordered this same model again... but THIS time I ordered it from B & H Photo for about $7 less TODAY.WARNING: I originally ordered this via Amazon from DataVision Computer Video about two weeks ago. I was told on my order that this would be shipped about 4 days after I ordered it and that it would arrive between 2-24 and March 1st. Yesterday was the end of the "window" for delivery, yet it had not even shipped yet. I called DataVision Computer Video TODAY and was told the order was cancelled!! WHAT A TRIP!!! Amazon didn't cancel the order, and neither had I!! After checking again, I can see why DataVision cancelled my order. They raised their price on this recorder!! They didn't WANT to sell it to me at their price the day I ordered it! This retailer should be removed and banned permanantly by Amazon!! They are CROOKS! I would recommend that you avoid DataVision Computer Video LIKE THE PLAGUE when ordering this. It appears that they make promises they REFUSE TO keep. Amazon no longer lists them as the seller of this recorder. But they ARE still on Amazon's list of "partners"! I am shocked!

To start, I had originally owned a Sony ICD-P520 when I started college. It, like most Sony products did its job and did a great job at it. Recently, I needed a new computer and that one I chose (a HP Touchsmart TM2T) had a 64 bit environment and unfortunately, Sony never released a 64 driver for my old recorder. Hence the need for a new recorder, the ICD-PX820.Layout wise, the ICD-PX820 follows the design of its predecessors, however, with some slight changes. Notably, larger buttons and a larger overall design. This makes it easier to hold and feels more sturdy in your hands. The only differences I really experienced with this upgrade was the redesigned hold switch, the volume rocker, the removal of the rubber flap over the USB port on the side and the lack of recesses for some buttons. I personally prefer all the changes, except the hold switch. The switch is a little slippery, stiff, and smaller than older designs. So you need a little bit of effort to really turn "off" the device. Overall though, this is negligible and shouldn't impact performance.In regards to features, the ICD-PX820 has the same core features as previous generations of Sony recorders; it records in various degrees of quality, SHQ, HQ, SP and LP. IMHO, I doubt you'll need the SHQ recording quality since it just increases file size and HQ suffices well enough. There is a high and low sensitivity setting for the microphone. Five folders for storing recordings, so if you have OCD like me, you can easily sort lecture recordings for the semester; I sincerely doubt most students would have more than 4 or 5 courses per semester that need to be recorded. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 3.5mm audio in jack at the top for recording from other sources or via a separately purchased microphone that Sony sells.The recorder connects to a computer via a USB mini port on the left bevel of the device and like I mentioned above, there is no rubber cover over the port. So dust might accumulate if you don't air dust it from time to time; however the rubber flap on older devices was cumbersome and tended to stay open with wear & tear. Understandable for Sony to remove a flap that just got in the way.The box comes with a CD containing Sony's proprietary software, Digital Voice Editor, and the necessary drivers you'll need to use the PX820 on both 32 bit and 64 bit environments. <--- MANY THUMBS UP if you ever need to upgrade computers. There is also a USB cable and 2 double A batteries; and the standard warranty and instruction pamphlets.If you plan on using this in college, I'd just recommend getting a little tassel or a label placed onto it so you can distinguish your recorder from others. I've had classes where almost half the class placed a recorder on the front table; let's just say, it helps to know which recorder is yours when there's about a half of dozen other recorders just like yours.