Driven: Sony Walkman NWZ-W262
Firstly before we venture further into the product itself I'd just like to congratulate Sony for the silliest product names. I've been using this W Series Walkman for close to two years now and I still have to Google it's name up for the title of this post.
Compare these two conversations:
Conversation 1:-
"Hey, what MP3 player do you use for workouts?"
"It's from Sony. The one that looks like earpieces, has only 2GB and is waterproof. I forgot it's name. W something."
"Ermm..... I have no idea what you're talking about, dude."
Conversation 2:-
"Hey, what MP3 player do you use for workouts?"
"An iPod Shuffle."
If it's any consolation, it will help you engage in longer conversations with people.
So, ridiculously silly names aside and onward to the actual item. This player is pretty amazing. For starters, it's waterproof. Well you can't submerge it into the pool and swim with it, but you can wash it with running water and you won't have to worry about sweat and rain destroying it. Which makes sense considering it's a workout player. Then it's got no cables. Ultimate WIN, in my books. Between running, box jumps, burpees and double unders, I only usually have to readjust it ever so slightly and very occasionally.
With only 2GB of space, I have to go through the trouble of spending some time with my playlists which can be a pain. But then again the iPod Shuffle also only comes in 2GB so Sony wouldn't be encouraged to do any better at the moment.
I would create multiple playlists for workouts and stretching sessions if the media software provided was not that retarded. I cannot believe that having so many expensive Apple-competitive models for sale, they can't even give us a decent media software that actually works. Forget Windows Media Player or any other third party software out there, none of them work like they should. So I just dump all the files into that drive, and hit Shuffle. The result? Post Rock during workouts and Hardstyle during stretching. Come to think of it, thank God I only have to deal with 2GB of songs.
Zappin' Modes are, in my honest opinion, stupid. I don't ever use it unless it was triggered unintentionally. But by then I'd be frantically hitting buttons all around just to undo it. Button recognition require some practice as well, as they are all mounted on the device and the device on your ears. You can't see them so you just got to know where what is.
Sound quality is amazing, true to Sony's name. The noise reduction in-ear buds keep the best parts of a song from escaping. It can even properly isolate outside noise without music being turned on. Warning though, keep an eye out for approaching vehicles when running on the streets.
I know I said I've been using this player for close to 2 years now but to be precise this is my second pair. My first one died on me in a little over a year, conveniently just past my warranty period. My second pair, you guessed it, was just sent in for repairs. Still under warranty, I don't know if that's me being lucky or not. And my units were not the only ones with similar problems. My using this device has led to many friends following suit, and theirs too broke down just after a year of usage. And no we don't dump barbells onto them.
Yes there are plenty of complaints and shortcomings with this here device. But what got me to buy another one, knowing full well it's problems, is that above and beyond it is still the best thing I have available in the market today. I don't want to do worry about cables flying everywhere and snagging my jump rope during double unders. I don't want to spend an extra RM 200 for a 'waterproof' earpiece on top of the player. And I sure as hell don't want to deal with slipping earpieces throughout Filthy 50. So if this second pair comes back broken and Sony insisting they're unable to repair it for free, I might just go and buy another one. I'm a sucker, I know.
So this is my message to makers of workout media players: Crossfitters need something like the Sony Walkman NWZ-W13894753491343874492743984732948. Make one just like it, make it better, make it more durable. And you've won all our hearts.
