Sony's Walkman E-series lets music nerds play dress up

Think USB sticks are fashion statements? Then listen up nerds, Sony's get a sackful of Walkmans to match your technicolor style. The Walkman E series will get to poppin' next month in 2GB (NW-E042), 4GB (NW-E043), and 8GB (NW-E044) capacities starting at ¥8,000 (about $80, tax inclusive) on up to ¥13,000 (about $132). Each stick ships with a second front panel / cap combination for a quick color swap. Spec-wise, you're looking at a 3-line color LCD display, FM radio, quick 3-hours on 3-minute charge (or 90 minute full charge for 28 hours of MP3 playback), and Sony's excellent earbuds with 13.5mm driver. Japanese launch video demonstrating the finer points of handbag matching posted after the break.

[Via Impress]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:03AM]

Let's see. This has a colour screen, EX082 headphones, controls on player, FM radio, 8GB capacity and better than average battery life. Pretty damn good, IMO.

Still someone will come along and bash it.

[skyzbig Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:01AM]

Woo-hoo

[ACER Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:02AM]

Is it too soon to bring Apple into this discussion?

[PapaGoose Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:03AM]

Yes.

[ACER Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:04AM]

Oh good.

[excelsium Posted Apr 21st 2009 5:06AM]

if only apple shipped decent earphones with their stuffs.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 10:02PM]

I'd take this over the new shuffle any day.

[newreformation Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:16AM]

"Sony's get a sackful of Walkmans to match your technicolor style."

Most perverted line in engadget history.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:33AM]

I've read, reread, and reread that and I still barely see where you're going with that.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 5:26AM]

With mdr-ex082 earbuds included, it will sound way better than ANY ipod included touch. I own ipod touch/iphone and a sony nw-a808 with the same earbuds. Apple MUST include some quality earbuds and make a nice eq/dsp for their players. Until that day, sony walkmans are superior in terms of audio quality compared to an ipod.

[Ishcabible Posted Apr 21st 2009 7:59AM]

Oh, here's a thought:

BUY NEW HEADPHONES.

I love my EX082s as much as the next guy, but an ipod has mediocre sq just because they have craptastic earphones isn't a very valid point because you can always buy new headphones. An ipod still won't sound as good as a walkman using the same headphones because that's pretty much what Sony is going for, sound quality. Not fancy apps or other useless crap that we'll only use once or twice. However, ipods using a line out dock plug sound a bit better than the walkmans I've tried.

[Jono Posted Apr 28th 2009 3:59AM]

@ Ishcabible

lol. Sony is going for quality? Really? With their headphones that exaggerate bass to hide their quality (if any)?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 4:56PM]

Until sony can work how to implement the random function correctly and allows on the go playlists, my moneys with Apple. The random function repeats songs before it goes through all the playlist. and why no playlist creation?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 7:18AM]

I wonder how browsing on this thing is done. Is just basically like the shuffle but with a screen?
And I'm glad that Sony addressed the lack of a clip on the player but instead made a little loop thing which seems cool I guess. And why is it that if something has a changeable skin or whatever, ROYGBIV and Black are no where to be seen. Not all of them at least.

[stridermt2k Posted Apr 21st 2009 8:14AM]

Faceplates?

Wow. It's been a while.

[AKJ Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:26AM]

"3-hours on 3-minute charge"
That's really handy.

[RyanTV Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:51AM]

That's a really good deal.. a year ago the headphones alone would run you around 100 bucks.

[Jimbojones Posted Apr 21st 2009 10:29AM]

I got sony first 2gb usb mp3 stick model back in 2007... it's still working great. I wish it would break so I have an excuse to get this.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 12:05PM]

Before you go gah-gah over this thing, read the model number: its a freaking NW-E series. And the link further confirms you need the disgusting SonicStage V for transfers. No drag and drop. Gosh, thought Sony was over with SonicStage when they announced they are not updating that software any further. Why cant Sony stop it all and only release the B series?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 1:13PM]

http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200904/09-0421/images/img_002.jpg
Surely Sony doesn't approve of the "sit on it and bring it in for warranty" configuration.

2009. Still no FLAC, removable battery or storage from Sony. How stagnant.

[pika2000 Posted Apr 21st 2009 2:02PM]

Whatever. It's Japan only.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 22nd 2009 12:31AM]

Small boobs....