ARGH! Avoid Sony Network Walkman!!!

I recently bought the Sony Network Walkman (NW-E3). If you are not familiar, the NW-E3 is the walkman that connects to your computer via USB. It doesn't have the memory stick.

I take full responsibility for not reading the fine print about having to convert my MP-3s to Sony's ATRAC3 format (bastards). But I am PISSED off at this cute little 'feature' that wasn't mentioned on the box or in the manual, only on the online help:

"What is Check-in / Check-out?

With OpenMG Jukebox, you can transfer songs imported to your computer to a portable player (check-out), or from a portable player to your computer (check-in). However, for copyright protection purposes, there are some limitations on check-in and check-out are limited as follows:

The number of times a song can be checked out is limited: A song can be checked out up to three times only (with some exceptions)."

The NW-E3 only holds about an hour of music. I certainly don't want to listen to the same song over and over. So it certainly isn't beyond reason that I would eventually end up wanting to put the same song back on more than three times!!!

The store I bought it from said it was not returnable (it wasn't a closeout sale, they had tons of them) and I can see why... Everyone who figures this out probably wants to get rid of it.

I am done with ALL Sony products now. Screw them. If you know anyone who is considering a Sony digital product tell them to BE CAREFUL!!