Hands-on video with Sony's new NW-A800

While some people are already slinging around such terms as "too little too late" for Sony's new NW-A800 video Walkman, we're saying the verdict is out until we get one in-hand. The next best thing to having one in pocket is this hands-on video from the YouTubes, which gives a nice little preview of the device. The software looks solid, though not incredibly flashy, but we like how responsive the unit is looking. Our friendly narrator finds the video quality to be "excellent" and the bundled headphones of a pleasantly surprising quality. Nothing here has us drooling, however, and we probably aren't going to automatically rush out and buy a dozen once Sony makes these available, but there's certainly some cautious optimism about this new offering from our ATRAC-pushing buddies at Sony. The video is after the break.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

[Castle @ Mar 5th 2007 12:19PM]

Looks very sleek. From the video, the video-playback looks very nice, its something it has over the Nano.

It'd be a solid option if they would price it competitively, but the ease of use and accessibility of Apple's click-wheel every non-Apple product.

[Galley @ Mar 5th 2007 12:45PM]

If I wasn't such an Apple fanboy, I might buy one.

[shimman @ Mar 5th 2007 12:46PM]

looks like another failure from sony; the size of screen & the capacity would make difficult (not to mention proprietary usb connector) to use as a video player.

i would say it is bigger version of ipod nano with video playback.

probably, a multimedia phone would replace it easily...and i bet it is closed platform that not even java can be run on it

[kingofwale @ Mar 5th 2007 1:14PM]

>looks like another failure from sony; the size of screen & the capacity would make difficult (not to mention proprietary usb connector) to use as a video player.


is it really a failure when this thing's main competitor is the the Nano?

Size of Scree: Bigger than that of Nana

Capacity: Same as Nano

proprietary usb connector: well, very Nano-ish

with the bigger screen and video capability, I think Sony has done quite a good job with this. Will it win against Nano? Probably not, but at least they are making an good effort with a decent product for once.

[js @ Mar 5th 2007 5:32PM]

>>is it really a failure when this thing's main competitor is the the Nano?

Of course. It's not an iPod. It's doomed for failure.

[navsimpson @ Mar 5th 2007 1:28PM]

Wel, if we're comparing to the Nano, this has:

- better headphones
- better sound quality (okay, i'm guessing, but it's pretty much guaranteed)
- better format support - in addition to mp3, aac and, yes, atrac, it plays wma natively.
- has better battery life
- also does video.

Of course, you will be stuck with Sonicstage, but at least a Sony Walkman finally has *some* compelling features.

[Ian Jardine @ Mar 5th 2007 1:45PM]

Looks like a Sansa.

[cheeze @ Mar 5th 2007 2:06PM]

I wonder if it uses the evil of sonic stage?

[SuicideNinja @ Mar 5th 2007 2:06PM]

Eeewww....Sony Electronics...

My Sony loathing aside, I actually like the look and design of this one. Then again, it's bound to be over-priced crap like everything else that comes out of Sony. However, as most major-manufacturer created portable music/video playing devices, I'm sure it blows anything labeled iPod away.

For video, I'd rather use my PSP...if it had decent storage space.

[Eric Pham @ Mar 5th 2007 2:49PM]

I actually like it, im not one to write off sony because the sound quality on their electronics is always top notch same goes for their battery life. The problem will be their pricing which im assuming will not be competitive at all. Thats how theyve always done it and thats why they never have a shot at apple.

[riceb0i87 @ Mar 5th 2007 5:27PM]

"The Walkman Video MP3 Player NW-A800 series will be available in
Canada in May 2007 at an MSRP of $169 for 2GB, $229 for 4GB and $299 for 8GB."
(http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2007/01/c5640.html)

They're priced exactly the same as the Nanos here in Canada, and it has more features.
Plus, SonicStage really isn't that bad... it gets the job done.

[Moe Abe @ Mar 5th 2007 8:52PM]

The success in iPod is in its name. When a person someone sees another person with a DAP/MP3 player, they say "Hey, I did not know that you had an iPod".

I strongly believe that no matter what features any other DAP has it will never be better that the iPod (even with the iPod's warts). Apple has created a market that revolves around the iPod, not because of the quality of the product but by excellent marketing.

I seriously consider buying one. Why? The NW-A800 has features that are more important to me. I do not feel that the iPod is that good. There are products out there with some features that are better, the Sony NW-A800 series is one.

You can never be too late to a party, especially this one.

[Taka3G @ Mar 6th 2007 1:09AM]

If Sony decides to bring back the Mp3 FileManager from the old Network Walkmans, I'd definately buy. That was the best program ever. It was small, simple, loaded instantly, and it didn't require an installer (meaning I loaded it from the player itself). It also allowed me to order the folders and songs MY WAY, not alphabetically like the iTunes/iPod or the drag and drops. I'm so confused as to why sony abandoned that software. Sonic Stage blows. If they decide to not support it, it's time for me to buy another NW E507 before they disappear.

[DrunkenCP @ Mar 6th 2007 9:53AM]

Trying to compete with the Nano is a bad idea. As has been previously mentioned, iPod has the name going for it, in the same way that Walkman did for radios/tape decks. The player could also be made out of magical gold and have 100Gb of storage, but the price and SonicStage would still kill it, unfortunately. Right now, SanDisk Sansa players are the only DAP that can come close to "competing" with the iPod.