Hardware Information

Sony vs. Olympus: Digital Voice Recorders


Digital voice recorders have become increasingly popular over the last few years, as they offer a relatively cheap and reliable alternative to older cassette voice recorders. Digital voice recorders use memory - much like the memory used in your personal pc - to record sound, rather than tape cassettes. Newer recorders tend to have very large memory capacities, despite their small size.

Though there are several brands of digital voice recorders to choose from, two stand out as the most popular at this time: Sony and Olympus. Here we attempt to compare two recording devices, one from each company. Hopefully this information will be helpful in deciding which recorder is more suitable for your needs.

Olympus DM-20 Digital Voice Recorder

The DM-20 is a popular new model by Olympus. It has received high marks in the past for it's large memory capacity (128MB Built-in flash) that provides about 45 hours of voice recording time. In addition, the device is capable of holding 120 minutes of high quality mp3 music. The recorder can hook up to both a mac or pc, so there isn't much of a compatibility issue in uploading/ downloading songs or voice recordings. Physically, the device is really quite sharp (picture below), and is relatively light - 3 oz. This is good news for anyone who travels; it can be easily placed in a pocket or hand bag. The device also has some nice features that make it even more attractive, such as reminder alarms (work much like your alarm clock), different play and play-back modes, files may be saved in WMA or DSS format, and an external microphone. The main draw back to the device is the lack of an on/ off switch - something that should certainly be there. You are forced to hold down the hold button for some time before the device will shut down. Other than this, however, the device is well worth your attention. It currently sells for $180 - $270 dollars, so shop around.

Olympus DM-20 Digital Voice Recorder

Sony's answer to the DM-20 is the ICD-MS515 memory stick digital voice recorder. This device uses removable Memory Stick Media that is very similar to the smart flash cards used in digital cameras and other devices. The ICD-MS515 comes with a relatively small 8mb memory stick that holds about 170 minutes of recording. This is much smaller than the capacity of the DM-20, but it is possible to simply upgrade to larger memory sticks. Some of the nice features of this device are the built-in microphone, the ability to work with Voice To Print Software (allows the conversion of voice recording to text), usb connectivity, and a voice e-mail system (allowing you to send audible voice mail). The device is also very light, weighing slightly less than 3 oz. It's proportions are very similar to that of the Olympus DM-20. Besides the low memory capacity (which can be upgraded at an additional cost), this a very solid and competitive device. It currently sells for around $200.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on digital voice recorders, please visit our digital voice recorder webpage.


MORE RESOURCES:

Sears Hardware Leaves for Good This Friday
Patch.com
By Barbara Capella Loehr May 21, 2012: Site of the now former Sears Appliances and Hardware in Lindenhurst; Its closing leaves yet another anchor store in North Lindenhurst on North Wellwood Avenue and Sunrise Highway vacant.



V3.co.uk

EMC's 'Mega Launch II' Intros 40-Plus Hardware, Software Products
CRN
By Joseph F. Kovar, CRN EMC on Monday opened its annual EMC World 2012 conference, held this week in Las Vegas, with the introduction of several new storage hardware and software products. The new product introductions came a day after EMC held its ...
EMC World: Tucci sees 'data science' overtaking computer science as top IT skillV3.co.uk

all 22 news articles »


Fla. hardware store says 'no more pennies!'
UPI.com
COCONUT GROVE, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- A Coconut Grove, Fla., hardware store has instituted a no penny policy, saying pennies -- to coin a phrase -- just no longer make cents. Andy Haase, owner of Shell Lumber, has banished the one-cent nuisance from his ...
Store Bans Pennies, Says They Don't Make 'Cents'WCTI12.com
Shell Lumber declares the penny currency non grataMiamiHerald.com

all 18 news articles »


TPM delivers a hardware root of trust for IT security
Government Security News
Today, with increasing electronic communications and transactions, trust in the hardware used for these purposes has never been more important. To establish and ensure trust, the US and other governments around the world have taken advantage of the ...



Old-timey hardware store sells just about everything
Winston-Salem Journal
Customers compare Webster Brothers Hardware Co. Inc. to the bar in the TV show "Cheers" — a place where everybody knows your name. Henry Sell of Winston-Salem, a regular customer, has been buying products ranging from bolts and washers to grass seed ...

and more »


Research and Markets: Computer Hardware: Global Industry Almanac - In 2016 ...
SYS-CON Media (press release)
By Business Wire Computer Hardware: Global Industry Almanac is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Computer Hardware industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, textual analysis of the key trends ...

and more »


Outwater Introduces LED Crystal Light Box for Cable Shelving & Signage Hardware
Interconnectionworld
An incorporated highly efficient LED Crystal Light Box within the Cable Shelving Hardware system is a great way to backlight your graphics, posters and promotional messages without a visible power supply. Ultra slim design enables the Crystal Light Box ...

and more »


Computing

HSBC hardware glitch causes ATM outage
ZDNet UK (blog)
By Tom Espiner , 21 May, 2012 11:37 HSBC customers had problems withdrawing money from cash machines and paying by HSBC debit cards on Sunday after a hardware failure, according to the bank. Customers trying to use non-HSBC cash machines could not ...
HSBC suffers IT hardware glitchComputing
HSBC hit by IT hardware failureComputerworldUK
HSBC customers in UK hit by “hardware failure”PanARMENIAN.Net

all 16 news articles »


Electronic Hardware Design Project Engineer
ElectronicsWeekly.com
An opportunity has arisen in Redditch for a Electronic Hardware Design Project Engineer with embedded firmware / assembler skills - C/C++. An opportunity has arisen in Redditch for an Electronic Hardware Design Project Engineer.



Greater New Haven hardware survival stories: Sound advice, stellar service ...
New Haven Register
With so many independently owned hardware stores throughout the region, one thing is perfectly clear: The quintessential New England hardware store has evolved. Gone are the sawdust-covered floors. Ditto, by-the-pound nail bins.

and more »

Google News

Mommy Home Jobs | Mommy Matters | index | site map
Copyright MommyHomeJobs.com