Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus DM-10 stereo digital voice recorder/music player packs 64 MB of built-in flash memory to give you nearly 22 hours (1,340 minutes) of voice recording or a full hour of near-CD-quality music in either MP3 or WMA formats. The DM-10's compact, lightweight design and smooth, silvery finish make it an ideal travel companion. Measuring a mere 4.31 x 1.56 x 0.6 inches (H x W x D) and weighing in at a mere 3 ounces, the attractive and ergonomic DM-10 fits comfortably in the hand of the on-the-go professional or exercise enthusiast.

The DM-10 has 5 separate file folders capable of holding 199 files each, so you can organize nearly 1,000 files according to subjects like "work," "personal," and "to do." When recording, simply capture your high-quality voice files in either WMA or DSS (Digital Speech Standard) format and then place the recorder in the included USB docking station to begin downloading hours of audio to a PC or Macintosh computer. Stereo voice recording is possible with an optional stereo microphone.

Alarm playback will alert you to meetings, dates, show reminders, or wake-up times. You can simply dictate reminders into the DM-10--such as "Time to pick up the kids!"--and assign a time for this message to sound, like an alarm clock's buzzer.

Built-in WOW sound enhancement produces rich bass, and three-dimensional sound, while a user-selectable 5-setting equalizer lets you tailor the sound to your taste or environment. Olympus's innovative noise-canceling technology makes the sound even clearer. removing unwanted hiss and background noise.

The unit offers a built-in condenser microphone, and a .125-inch microphone jack gives you the option to use a high-quality external mic (not included). A .125-inch earphone jack and supplied stereo ear bud headphones let you monitor your files during or after recording. To suit various sound conditions, you can adjust the microphone's sensitivity. The recorder can be viewed in low-light situations, such as at a lecture hall or during presentations, thanks to its easy-to-read backlit LCD.

After capturing recordings you can erase them or move them between folders. The DM-10 also lets you set up to 16 index marks per message, during recording and during playback. This way, you can locate specific sections of individual dictations quickly and easily. The individual files may be played back at three different speeds: normal, fast, or slow, through either the built-in speaker or the supplied earphones. In addition, with the Repeat Playback function, the DM-10 can repeatedly play back a particular user-selected section of audio recording--ideal for transcribing dictation.

The unit's Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA) ensures that recording begins only when sound occurs, while its security lock prevents accidental deletion of sensitive files.

The DM-10 is perfectly suited to meet varying professional needs. You can easily attach voice files to e-mails or forward them to others for transcription. The optional AS-3000 transcription kit (DSS Player Pro transcription module with foot switch and headset) can further streamline this process. The DM-10 is also compatible with most voice recognition software, including IBM's Via Voice.

What's in the Box
Voice recorder, docking station, USB cable, stereo ear bud headphones, a CD-ROM, a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• Voice recorder and music recorder/player all in one; stereo recording and playback supports DSS, MP3, and WMA file formats
• 64 MB built-in internal memory for 22 hours of voice recording or 1 hour of near-CD-quality music; offers voice activation, index marking, backlit LCD
• Manage your voice files in 5 folders and music files in 2 folders capable of storing up to 199 files each
• USB docking station grants quick, easy uploads and downloads; PC and Macintosh compatible; comes with stereo ear bud headphones
• Noise Cancellation mode reduces ambient sound; WOW audio technology provides rich bass and 3-dimensional sound during music playback

Reviews (8)

Excellent product
I purchased the DM-20, which has twice the storage. I would recommend finding that one if you plan to use it much for music. It has great support for Windows Media Audio .wma and .mp3 files, and their proprietary format. I try to do everything in .wma. At the lowest quality compression setting you get a very long recording time. Navigation is easy. The controls are set out well. The LCD has good info and lots of options. The voice recording quality is excellent, especially from the remote control plug-in microphone (which might not be available in all versions).

Fragile equipment
On May 29, 2004 I ordered the digital recorder, based upon the glowing reviews that I've read about the sound quality. I'm a barbershopper and wanted to have high fidelity digital recordings for the chorus web site and for learning tapes. The device is tiny, sleek and shiny like an elongated lighter. It sounded sensational with the little ear buds, but came with no protective case. On 07/09/04 it stopped working entirely. The display did not light up, yet the batteries were new (2 days old)and the battery display showed that it was fully charged the day before. I was heading out for a rehearsal, and had it on my wrist by the strap. My guess is that it must have bumped into the car door as I slid into the driver's seat. When I took it off my wrist to put on the seat belt, that's when I discovered that the display was dead. I opened the battery slide and the little coil that pushes against the battery sprung out. Without that in place the recorder cannot work. Because the failure happened more than a month after purchase, Home Depot would not cover it. Olympus is having me send it back. We'll see what happens. It's a nice device, with great fidelity, but it's incredibly fragile. I'd hesitate before recommending it.

Beware, DSS is Olympus proprietary format, not a "standard"
Yes, the features of this machine are nice, but the DSS format's name "Digital Speech Standard" and Olympus's touting of it as an "international standard" are deliberately misleading. In fact, Olympus owns it and does not even make it available enough for software vendors to develop conversion software. There is no way to, for instance, convert a CD audio, or MP3, or any other audio file into DSS format in order to play it on the DM-10. If you buy the thing thinking you can load 10 hours of CD audio books onto it, you will find that instead you only get 1 hour (in WMA format). And if you call Olympus to ask about it, their tech support people based in India will just tell you tough luck.

Wonderful voice recorder, works great in ALL modes
I am going to be conducting interviews for research. I was new to the digital voice recorder buying scene and started out by buying an Olympus VN-3600. That device is OK, but has severe limitations. The most obvious one being that the lower end digital voice recorders do not transfer files to a computer. So if you want to use the space again you have to take your notes and lose the original. The other limitation that the lower-end voice recorders have is poor to unsuable recording in the long-play mode. For the 3600, 6 hours was a joke. Believe me it was completely unsuable. I knew that going in but I didn't realize how crippling not being able to transfer files to the computer would be.

Enter the DM-10. From the reviews here and across the web I decided to give it a try. I am VERY GLAD that I did. What a remarkable device. It has 3(4) recording modes and each one of them is crystal clear. I put 4 in parathensis because if you use a stero microphone it automatically records in SHQ or Super High Quality mode. As many voice recorders have this has a voice activation level so that pauses shut down the recording. This one works really well with 15 different levels. The SP mode gives you 22hours of recording! And it is usable.

I just downloaded the software and it is great. I recorded two files one in HQ mode and one in SP mode. SP and LP recordings are stored in something called DSS files whereas the HQ and SHQ are stored as WMA files. They downloaded in a flash. I also copied them to a folder and then clicked on them and they brought up the software for replay in a flash.

You can also use the DM-10 as an MP3 player. As a nice bonus, and I bought this in early June 2004, the package I got included a stero microphone. You usually get what you pay for and I would suggest if you want to have a ton of recording space and you feel that storing your recordings would be helpful, spend the money on this device. It has too many features to list but all are well-thought out and enhance its usability. The manual is well-written and will get you started in minutes. Really a superb device and worth the money.

Buy this DVR. You won't regret it!!!
I was looking for a digital voice recorder for a long time and first tried Olympus W 10 and did not like its sound quality. After reading the reviews here for DM 10, I decided to give it a try and boy am I happy to do that or what??? !!! Features are superb and the sound quality is perfect. Even the LP mode, which can give you a whopping 22 and half hour long recording, is quite decent. It is easily attached to the computer thru USB and transfering files is a piece of cake. It is small and very portable; it can fit easily into your shirt pocket. It looks slick and slim in design. It can even give you CD quality sound for your MP3's on the go. I am very happy with this purchase and wanted to share this with those who are looking for a good DVR. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Early Adopters Pick: October 2003. Delivering 8-by-10-inch borderless prints in about 75 seconds, the P-440 uses the same dye-sublimation technology of traditional photo labs, producing smooth, realistic, continuous-tone images.

The P-440 prints at 314 dpi (for an effective 2,508 x 3,200 dpi resolution) and offers a variety of finishing options. Choose among signature stamp, background template, frame print, filter, date print, rotation, trimming, A4 passport multiphoto print, and A6 wide ID layout.

A 1.8-inch LCD lets you preview images, aids navigation, and lets you select user preferences. Whether you choose to print directly from a xD-Picture Card (or other compatible media via an optional PCMCIA adapter), or from your PC or Mac (USB interface), you'll get great performance and output.

What's in the Box
P-440 Photo Printer, USB cable, power cord, paper tray, ink cassette (ribbon holder), CD-ROM (printer driver, Instruction Manual, Camedia Master software), standard paper (5 sheets), ink ribbon pack (for 5 prints), basic manual, Read This First, warranty card, registration card ... Read more

Features

• Dye sublimation technology for professional-looking results
• Directly supports xD-PictureCard, no PC required
• Supports optional Type-II PCMCIA adapters for SmartMedia, CompactFlash, and Memory Stick
• Prints 24-bit 314-dpi photos in a variety of sizes up to 8 by 10 inches
• 1.8-inch preview LCD; USB interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (1)

Great photo quality!!
I was worried about spending 500.00 for a printer, which I knew nothing about, but after reading reviews on Google.com I felt comfortable about doing it. The quality comes out great. You can't go wrong with getting this printer. One thing I did notice, it left a scratch on my prints, when I printed 4X6 images. I have not had a chance to see if it was a one time fluke or what. I'm waiting for more paper to arrive. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Connect the Olympus Camedia P-10 Digital Photo Printer directly to your PictBridge-compatible digital camera for outstanding color prints wherever you go, or connect it to your PC via the USB interface. Producing 4-by-6-inch prints in just 44 seconds, or 3.5-by-5-inch prints in just 40 seconds using the included conversion tray, the P-10 makes your memories last without your having to wait.

This printer can connect directly to select digital cameras. Learn more about PictBridge.

Variable print modes let you print preview sheets, display time and date, and choose from bordered or borderless prints. A cassette-style paper input holds up to 50 sheets, the same number held in the P-10's output tray. The P-10 comes with everything you'll need to get started, including a handy starter kit of paper and ink, plus complete user instructions.

What's in the Box
Camedia P-10 Digital Photo Printer, AC adapter (with power cord), paper tray (with 3.5-by-5-inch conversion tray), Starter Kit, CD-ROM (printer driver), Instruction Manual, warranty card, registration card ... Read more

Features

• No PC required when using a PictBridge-compatible digital camera
• Dye sublimation technology for professional-looking results
• Produces 4-by-6 and 3.5-by-5-inch photo prints, with or without borders
• Fast, just 40 to 44 seconds per print
• USB interface; remarkably small footprint; includes Starter Kit

Reviews (5)

Excellent all-around printer
I bought this for my wife to supplement our P-400 (8x10). We went digital almost 3 years ago with the Olympus C4040 and P-400 and I was looking for something to do 4x6s w/o having to cut 8x10s down all the time. I've always been partial to Olympus, having worked extensively with the OM-1 as a photographer in the early 90s. We were very happy with the results we received from the P-400 and I have to say the prints from the P-10 are stunning, if not better. The cost per print is about 39¢, which is a bit more than taking it to some of the local pharmacies (though we live in the middle of nowhere, we'd more than make up for it in time and gas). Plus there's something to be said for the convenience of printing at home. Print time is reasonable, what you'd expect from a dye sub. The greatest benefit to me is that you don't get the diffusion dot patterns you find with the ink-jet "photo" printers. If you want "photos", dye sub is the only way to go -- and the bottom line is the P-10 gives the quality I want at a reasonable price.

Great little printer!!
I've had this printer for a couple months now and would recommend it highly for anyone with occasional, low volume printing needs. The prints are indistinguishable from lab prints when printing high resolution shots and have a high quality gloss finish. Because it's a dye-sub printer, there's no pixelation as with many dot-matrix printers. Set-up and use is easy. In fact, I keep mine disconnected and stowed most of the time. It only takes 1 minute to plug it in and connect it. My only complaints are that there's no integrated imaging software to simplify printing (I use Powerpoint with good results) and the paper and dye-sub pack are a bit expensive (equates to 65 cents per print if you order the 4x6 kit for 100 prints). But if you only need a few good prints on an occasional basis, this printer is tops.

Cost per print
I searched around and found the least expensive place to purchase cartridges for my Olympus P10. I bought enough for 200 4x6 prints.The price per 4x6 turned out to be app. 42 cents per print. I can go down to my local Walgeens and get prints for 29 cents. I'm not certain about quality yet, but at 42 cents, one has to be careful, or the whole thing can cease being fun.

WARNING: Not Macintosh compatible
You have to read the fine print on the Olympus web site very carefully to discover that this printer is not compatible with the Macintosh OS. According to their Technical Support, there are no plans to develop a driver for the Mac.

I am able to use mine as a PictBridge printer, printing directly from the camera. Its prints are fair to good, but not excellent. But since I cannot print my stored images from my computer, I will sell the P-10 and buy something else, and it probably will not be manufactured by Olympus.

Olympus P-10 first impressions
Today I got to play with an Olympus P-10 printer I just received. It comes with a starter pack of ribbon and paper good for 5 4x6 pictures.

The printer uses Dye-Sublimation technology. It prints Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and a special overcoat layer that makes prints fade resistant. You can connect the printer to your PC with a USB cable, or, if your camera supports PictBridge technology, you can connect the camera to the printer directly, and print without PC.

There are two paper sizes supported by the printer 4" x 6" and 3.5" x 5". You have to buy special paper, which comes with ribbon. What I like the most about this printer, is that it produces borderless pictures without the need to tear off perforation or anything like that. When it spits out a picture it's just like from your local drug store - glossy, and ready to use. Or, if you prefer, you can specify to print the images with white border.

The printer is very easy to use, fast, and looks superb. I welcome the fact that it doesn't require any nozzle cleaning, head adjusting, or much preparation at all.

But now is the most important question. How good can it print? I run through the supplied pack very quickly, printing 5 pictures from my collection. Two of the pictures I printed before, using Epson Stylus Photo 820 Printer, Epson Inks, and Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. The ink-jet clearly had an advantage rendering light tones, seeing as it was a 6-color printer. The Olympus, unfortunately, really struggles with rendering light blue. The lighter shades of sky don't look all well to me. Another area where I wouldn't mind to see improvement is shadow detail. Perhaps we are ready for 6 or 7 color Dye-Sub printers, 3 colors may be not adequate.

Off course just 5 pictures is not enough to get familiar with the printer, I am sure, as I gain experience with it and learn to play with settings, I should be able to foresee difficult to print areas of images, and perhaps correct them in order to get better prints.

Overall the printer produces very nice results. And I can see that it will be much easier to maintain and use than an ink-jet. ... Read more

Features

• 32MB of built-in memory
• Built-in Speaker
• Compatible with PC and Macintosh computer systems
• Noise Cancel feature can be activated during playback to reduce noise for clearer listening
• Convenient NEW button enables you to quickly end one recording and begin another

Features

• Saving files in schedule folder displays them according to the day they were made
• 3 recording qualities (HQ, SP, LP)
• 32MB internal memory
• About 177 minutes recording in High Quality mode, 267 minutes Standard Play, 493 minutes Long Play
• Alarm function -- just record appointment details, and set the time you want to be reminded

Features

• Built-in front speaker, built-in condenser mic
• Voice Operated Recording
• One-touch recording
• Dual Tape Speeds, Pocket Size

Reviews (3)

Great, beautiful controls... Easy to use buttons, features
The Olympus Microcassette Recorder S711 is the perfect utensil for corporate meetings, fun stuff, and stuff you know you will remember. It slashes a digital recorder, because the simple tapes that you buy may include almost 90 mins. of space. That's 270 mins. with all 3 tapes (if 90 mins. are included) That is even more then some of the digital voice recorders that top $50. This proves a digital voice recorder isn't and wasn't worth my while. At first, when searching I'd looked towards Sony and Olympus for their digital recorders. But that is nothing compared to their microcassette recorders. Sony has been doing well for quite a while, but it is tiny, puny, and not worth it once compared to the Olympus.

Pros
-Large, easy to use buttons. Nothing fancy
-Allows 2 type of speeds
-From a name brand that you trust
-Cheap, but accurate
-3 tapes with 90 mins. can hold more than some digital recorders which top $50

Cons
-Looks aging
-Some buttons are too big and bulky
-Blue, I think not, Maybe Grey or something else

Overall, I rate the Olympus 5 stars. It isn't too big or small, and it is accurate. It allows you to record with microcassette tapes, and has been proven much better than a digital voice recorder. I'm glad that I own it, and I would like you to have it too.

olympus is a good recorder
I got my olympus for my anatomy class and it works great. the only problem i am having is trying to find the in the ear headphones for it. it records great. if your teacher mumbles you can turn up the volume so you can hear him better. Turning up the volume is like turning up the microphone. there is not wind sounding static noise. you can take a 30 min tape and make it an hour by using the 1/2 speed record. but if you want to listen to it on another machine with out this feature it sounds like alvin and the chiip munks. it is small and the blue is like navy blue not that pale blue in the picture. I have seen more expensive micro recorders for more. it is great for college or high school students with out alot of money. you could not ask for a better record quality.

Bargain Price for Above-Average Performance
No problems here. Beats higher-priced similar models from competitors like Sony and Panasonic. The aesthetics/design quotient is a nice extra, too. ... Read more

Features

• Digital voice recorder with up to 4 hours of recording time
• Voice activation mode enables hands-free recording
• 4 storage folders with up to 100 files each
• Index marking keeps track of files; easy-to-read LCD display
• External earphone and microphone jacks; runs on 2 AAA batteries

Reviews (2)

Deleting is easier than claimed
I doubted it could be so difficult to delete a message as was claimed in the previous review, and so I looked up the user manual for this recorder. The manual says that the complicated procedure only applies when deleting messages in the "S" folder, which sorts messages by date. To delete messages in the ordinary "A" through "C" folders takes just one button press.

a real pain to delete messages
Olympus really blew it this time!
On their previous digital recorder, you pressed the delete button, to delete a message, during or after it played. Now, you can only delete it AFTER it plays, and it requires pressing THREE DIFFERENT BUTTONS to delete one message.
I often record and/or review and delete messages while I'm driving. This new deleting method makes it impossible, without taking your eyes off the road. I hope Olympus realizes this was a REALLY BAD IDEA! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Olympus's P-330N photo printer provides true photographic output, with24-bit color dye-sublimation printing, allowing you to print snapshot-sizedphotos right from your desktop.

You can print photos from files of up to 10 MB (JPEG) or 20 MB (TIFF) fromseveral sources, including SmartMedia cards, your PC, and even yourtelevision. With the printer's video input and output terminals, photopreviews can be displayed on your TV screen, and the printer can serve as avideo printer. With a SmartMedia card, you can print photos by simplyinserting your card into the printer, eliminating the usual mess of cordson your desk.

The printer only prints on one size of paper (4.5 by 3.375 inches), but you canprint your choice of one, four, nine, or 16 shots per page. Print speed canbe slow, producing a 4.5-by-3.375-inch full color print in roughly 2minutes, but the crisp quality and brilliant color make it worth the wait.The P-330N also features a laminated output capability so you can preserveyour favorite photos. Both Mac and PC compatible, the printer includes aone-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 306 dpi dye-sublimation printing
• 24-bit color
• True photographic output with continuous tone
• Multiple print capability
• PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (2)

Super photo quality but not very flexible...
My friends are always commenting on the quality of the photos printed out on our Olympus photo printer. They really look like they came back from the photo shop. They are cosmically better than what you can get from your old inkjet, even if you print inkjet pictures on nice paper.

What's more, since you have an opportunity to photo-edit the pictures before you print, you can correct problems that the photo shop will never bother with: remove red eye, reframe, add labels, etc.

My biggest problem is the limited size of the paper. It will print out a photo at a maximum size of about 3.5 by 5. OK for a snapshot but not good enough for anything you'd want to set on your desk at the office. Also the paper is pretty expensive and relatively hard to find. Remember too that they are not as permanent as regular photos-don't set them down near something wet for example, and make sure you let them dry off a bit before you stack them together.

So if you don't need big pictures, you might find this a fine alternative. The photo quality is really excellent.

Excellent
I have had this printer for quite a while now. It prints unbelievable pictures that compare to the Kodak photo lab. After I am done taking my shots with my Olympus C-3030zoom camera I insert the smartmedia card directly into the printer, then I plug the printers video output into my television. This printer has some really neat editing features that can be used without your computer. Of course it works really well with my computer. All around it is a really excellent product. I have been impressing my neighbors, and family with this printer. I am getting ready to sell off my regular film eqipment. I just aquired an Olympus P400 digital printer, and all I can say is OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY................................. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The compact, lightweight Olympus Voice-Trek VN-120 offers 3 scalable recording modes. You'll get high-value storage with a maximum of 120 minutes recording time from a supplied 16 MB flash-memory card. The recorder weighs just 2.4 ounces with batteries (included) and is designed to sit snugly in the palm of your hand. Fast playback lets you listen at a speed 30 percent faster than real time.

With its lengthy recording time, the VN-120 is ideal for weekend seminars, extended discussions, recording meetings, school lectures, or study groups, as well as for short memos, ideas, phone numbers, shopping lists, and other notes. The unit combines smart styling with 3 folders so you can arrange files according to personalized subjects such as "work," "personal," and "to do." Each folder stores up to 100 messages, and you can erase 1 message or 1 folder at a time.

The unit offers a built-in condenser microphone, and a .125-inch microphone jack gives you the option to use a high-quality external mic (not included). A .125-inch earphone jack lets you monitor your files during or after recording.

The VN-120 has 3 recording modes: HQ mode (for the best possible quality recording and 43 minutes available recording time); SP mode (for a high-quality recording and 65 minutes available recording time); and LP mode (for the most possible recording capacity, with 120 minutes available recording time).

An LCD display lets you check remaining recording time, date and time, voice-activation mode, play mode (HQ/SP/LP), microphone sensitivity (HI/LO), and battery status. Other features include voice activation for hands-free recording and easy deletion of one or all messages in a folder. The VN-120 uses the ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) recording format.

What's in the Box
Voice recorder, 2 AAA batteries, a 16 MB flash card, a pocket clip, a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• Saving files in schedule folder displays them according to the day they were made
• 3 recording qualities ( HQ, SP, LP )
• 16MB internal memory
• About 43 minutes recording in High Quality mode, 65 minutes Standard Play, 121 minutes Long Play
• Alarm function -- just record appointment details, and set the time you want to be reminded

Amazon.com Review

The Olympus Camedia P-400 uses advanced dye-sublimation technology toprint an extremely sharp image on high-quality photo paper. The result looks andfeels like a traditional photograph. The P-400 also accepts a digital camera'sSmartMedia or PC Card directly, and it has USB and parallel interfaces for easyPC connectivity.

Weighing over 30 pounds, constructed of heavy plastic, and accented with metalcontrols, the Camedia P-400 impressed us with its sturdy design right out of thebox. To test the printer, we captured photos on a 16 MB CompactFlash card,placed the card in a CompactFlash-to-PCMCIA adapter (not included), and insertedthe adapter in the printer. (Our evaluation model came with the P-RBN photo inkcartridge already installed, but it is easily replaced through the front accesspanel. Also, our unit did not include driver software, so we were unable to testPC functionality.) Using the menu-driven LCD, jog dial, and arrow keys, wespecified our paper type (A4), input source (PC Card), and output photo size (8by 10 inches). We pressed the Print button, and after 2 minutes and 58 secondsthe P-400 rewarded us with a beautiful 8-by-10-inch photograph.

The Camedia P-400's color was very natural, not neon bright or oversaturated,and its tinting was slightly cool (more blue than red). Resolution was only 314dpi, but the dye-sublimation technology showed no visible grain. The resultswere better than many we've seen from 1,200 dpi ink-jet printers. We alsoprinted a slightly soft photograph and then used the printer's sharpeningfunction in an attempt to improve it. Unfortunately, unwanted pixelationincreased along with any positive sharpening affects. Printing speed was slowbut steady at 2:58 for each 8-by-10 print. Several minutes were required toprint one index/proof sheet of 20 photos, with nearly all of that time spentprocessing the CompactFlash card's data, not actually printing.

With only a casual glance, we could have easily mistaken the P-400's output ascoming from a photo lab. Only close scrutiny revealed minor pixelation, whichreflected the limit of our digital photo more than that of the printer. Theinitial cost is high, and the dye-sublimation ink cartridges and photo paper areexpensive; but if you can afford it, the P-400 Camedia makes a fine companionfor your digital camera. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Easy walk-up printing of digital photos
• Prints have the look and feel of traditional photos

Cons:

• Substantial cost for consumables
• Not for general-purpose printing

Features

• Professional-looking, continuous-tone, dye-sublimation prints, up to 8 by 10 inches
• Prints directly from SmartMedia and PC cards
• LCD preview and information screen
• USB and parallel interfaces
• Prints up to 50 copies at a time

Reviews (29)

Olympus P400
The technical detail:

a. The printer may be operated as a standalone product independant of a computer. It contains slots for both SmartMedia cards and compact flash PC card adaptors so you don't have to have a computer connected to the printer to use it. The printer has its own small LCD display which can be used in lieu of a computer interface to help you select pictures off your cards for printing and the printer also has a rather sophisticated built in capability to format the final product.

b. The printer has both a parallel port and a USB port for computer connection and is compatible with both PCs and MACs. Configuration software is included on CD for both types of machines. No computer cables are included and will cost you about $20 at your local computer store.

c. If connected to a computer, the printer is used to provide printed output for whatever photo editing software you already own. No computer photo editing software is included with the package.

d. Documentation is complete and voluminous. However, the technical document giving all the nitty gritty is provided as a computer PDF file readable by Adobe Acrobat software (supplied in multiple languages) and is not provided hardcopy. If you are buying this printer to use as a standalone device without a computer, this puts you at somewhat of a disadvantage.

e. The starter kit of paper and printer ribbon is adequate to print only five (5) 8x10" prints so you will want to purchase paper and ribbon with the printer.

f. Printing supplies (paper and ribbon) are expensive, costing almost $2 per 8x10" print.

The Subjective data:

The final print produced is 314x314 dots per inch and looks incredible. I have standard 8x10" Kodak prints produced from my digital photos that do not look nearly as good. Unless you are going to take your digital data to a custom printing specialist and stand over his shoulder, you will not be able to obtain a print better than this printer will give you. Recently, I was trying to restore an old 8x10" photo and scanned it into my computer at the highest resolution possible, edited it in Adobe Photoshop, and wound up with a wonderful restoration. By that time the digital image was up to 58MB size. I asked Kodak to print it, and they did. However, their system couldn't handle the large file size and compressed it to slightly over 2MB. Their final print was acceptable but a lot of the detail and my work was lost because of the compression. My computer fed the entire 58MB file to this printer and it produced a superb picture that made the Kodak image look like a childs effort in comparison. I don't know of any printer today that has comperable capability to the Olympus P400.

The search is over
From digital camera to print choose Olympus P-400. For the best print quality choose Olympus P-400. To save on the costs of having any developer make 8x10's choose Olympus P-400. For prints of exceptional quality direct from your digital camera Compact Flash or Smart media --- well you know.

Two minutes after I unpacked everything and assembled this printer I was watching the P-400 create the first print. The menu system and selections on the printer were simple to understand.

The quality was exceptional. Using a Compact Flash required a PCMCIA adapter but that didn't slow this printer down.

... And in about 90 seconds! Unless your Uncle works at Kodak or you do, you can't beat the price and speed of getting a truly remarkable print.

Go ahead and enhance your photos with your PC first. Whatever you do will show up in amazing color on the Olympus Camedia P-400.

My last printer for true photo quality prints!

Best Affordable Photo Printer on the Market!
This is the best photo printer I have ever used. I bought the Epson 2000 and returned it because the color and quality wasn't good enough. There is not an ink jet printer on the market that can even come close to matching the quality of prints produced by this printer. I am using the Canon D30 and can produce incredible action shots instantly on this printer without even manipulating the picture. I use Adobe Photoshop 6.0 when I manipulate my pictures. Most of the time I copy the pictures back to a SmartMedia or Compact Flash card and print them from the card. This way I'm not tying up most of the computer's memory and can work on another photo project at the same time. The one thing that I have found is when I copy the picture to a card, the printer only recognizes jpeg files from the PC not the Mac.

Only the best will do.
Nestled upon my desk between a new Brother HP-1440 laser and a recently purchased Epson 960 CD printer, is a three year old Olympus P-400. Fast high quality text print-outs are routed to the laser printer, and the Epson is used for the specialty printing of card stock, CDs, and DVDs, but all photographs are created from the P-400, whether in color or black and white.

I originally purchased the P-400 for one simple reason; I wanted the highest quality prints possible of family members and for my wedding video service. The Olympus P-400 has never disappointed my highest expectations.

Most of us are familiar with how bubble-jet printers create dotted print-outs, which from a distance may look OK, but when viewed up-close the actual quality is not as good as hoped for. I have used a magnifying glass on print-outs from the P-400, and not only are there no dots, I actually do believe I prefer the P-400 print-outs over normal photographs. The P-400 print quality *is* that good. In my region of the world, film developing businesses on occasion ruin whole rolls of film, and so rather than my investing time and money into developing equipment to ensure quality photos, I can now get the prints I want, the size I want, and the quantity I want at any time I want.

The paper used in the P-400 is thick, very similar to normal photographs, and instead of the photographs having a brand name on the back side such as "Kodak", it reads "Olympus". The finished photograph also automatically receives a clear protective high gloss coating that does make the print feel and appear to be a developed photo. Unless a person has considerable experience with photography, they will not be able to tell the difference between a regular photo and one printed from the P-400. The actual cost per print-out is around $2.00 (paper and ribbon costs combined), which is not bad at all for an 8x10 or four 4x5 photographs. Advertised life of prints is about the same as regular photographs, around 50 years or more, which is far better than just a year or two with bubble-jet printers.

Changing the ribbon and paper is fast, clean, and very easy. Software installation is also quick and uncomplicated. The user friendly printer actually is a 'plug and play'.

Though the P-400 has a normal printer parallel port, I highly recommend only using the USB port. The time required to transfer data from the computer to the printer usually only takes several seconds per photograph while using the USB, but it may take minutes through the LPT1 cable. With about two minutes from clicking "print" to receiving a finished 8x10 photograph, the speed is more than pleasing. The printer is fast enough and simple enough that I have not yet found a need to use the Smart Card slot nor even any of the other console controls. Through use of most any photo or graphics program, print-outs are as easy as 'view and print'.

The only problem I have encountered was when the printer was new and the plastic ribbon roll rod would occasionally bind in the ribbon holder slot (caused by too tight of tolerances). I was able to trim off the holder's excess plastic to allow the ribbon to turn more freely, and after speaking to the Olympus technical support describing the problem and remedy (of which they were appreciative for the information), surely the new models will no longer have similar minor problems.

Three years ago I paid over one thousand dollars for the P-400 on sale, and I have never regretted the cost. Recently I was able to print-out numerous specially-formatted 8x10 copies of my daughter's college graduation, which if done through a photographer would have cost me more than the price of the printer. Today's prices are very reasonable, enough that my wife has begun saying she wants one for herself. In our high-tech low-cost society, not many items produce true quality results, but the Olympus P-400 is one product that actually does live up to our best expectations. Highly recommended, I know of no better desk-top photo printer than the Olympus P series.

Great photo printer for the commited digital photographer
I've been printing 3.2 megapixel images on this and they're virtually indistinguishable from a "real" photo, even at the 7.64x10" full size (7.7 megapixel as advertised in the printer information) resolution. Don't believe the inkjet monkeys who tell you that an inkjet can produce comparable prints - they can't.

I chose this printer over the others available because of the size it is capable of printing, the better color-handling (for instance, the sony dye-subs tend to skew towards overly bright and red tones), and the recommendations of hard-core photo people.

Things you should know about this printer: when all is said and done, you can find this printer for under three hundred, and 100 prints are going to run you about a buck sixty five each (for a single 8x10) if you shop around. If you want smaller, cheaper photos, just print two or four up on a sheet, get 4 prints out of it on a sheet for about 40 cents each. Get out the scissors, and enjoy. Horray.

The printer has been having EXTREME difficulty printing directly from a smart media card - I don't like printing two-dollar blank pages - I've only had consistent success printing via USB connection to my 'puter, but it's a lot faster than printing from the smart media card anyway, so no real loss there - just something to keep in mind.

Reviewers have noted that the ink ribbon can be difficult to install. I don't really agree - olumpus' packaging makes this a straight forward procedure - it's just a little more work than the plug-in-the-inkjet-cartridge laziness we've all become accustomed to.

The printer is rather large and heavy, but you have to understand this was really initially intended as a professional's printer. It is solidly built, has a real feeling of quality construction. Just make sure if your living space is small that you've hollowed out a suitably sized location - think of it like a 16" monitor and you're working along the right lines size and space-wise.

For those with a mac (like me - running OS X 10.3), Olympus is seriously lagging on making a compatible driver. I wrote them and got a swift but lackluster response (no deadline for producing a driver). After printing several blank pages directly from my memory card and freaking out, I found the solution: do a google search for "Gimp-print," an open source & free driver bundle for the mac that runs under 10.3, and powers this printer just fine (so far - haven't tested with photoshop yet - only iPhoto, but I suspect it'll do just fine). It's free. Yay. Problem solved, no thanks to Olympus.

For those of you looking at this printer vs the P-440, the newer version of this printer, the differences are relatively minor (though the 440 does do TRUE 8x10 prints). They use the same paper and ink ribbons, so presumably olympus has a vested interest in continuing to make consumeables for this hardware.

Driver bitterness aside, the quality coming out of this printer had me jumping up & down once the photos started coming out. I'm really pleased, and the overall quality of the prints is enough to let me overlook the negatives, which have all been temporary. ... Read more

Features

• Record up to 90 minutes of digital sound
• Download lectures, notes, etc. to your computer with the high-speed USB interface
• Listen to your files from your computer with Olympus's "Digital Wave Player" software
• LCD display panel helps you keep track of important recording information
• Voice activation function allows for hands-free recording

Reviews (21)

Very Small Capacity
I purchased this thinking that I was getting a recorder that would actually hold 90 minutes of audio. Unfortunately that capacity is only available for "LP" mode which is highly distorted. HQ and SP modes record very well, but only plan on getting 20-30 minutes of use out of it before the memory is full.

The PC connection was not automatic, despite the instruction manual comments that no additional software was required. On the whole, I found no little to no support material available on the Olympus website.

I returned the recorder and am still looking for something <$100 that provides 2-3 hours of high quality recording with a PC connection.

Proved with time
I've been using this recorder for about 5 months now, and I love it now just as much as I did when I first purchased it. One thing that I like very much about the design is that the Erase button is extremely hard to accidentally push (and that, twice) - which shows someone was thinking when they designed it. The software installed perfectly, and works perfectly. I am very satisfied with this little recorder; it does not weigh much, but it gets the job done - and very well at that.

Compact yet full of features
I just got this little guy (so small it fits in the palm of my hand), and I am thoroughly satisfied with it. It is small, yet it has a lot of features, and it seems to be well manufactured - doesn't seem like it will break real soon or anything. I have recorded four files so far, and have even transfered them to my laptop (running Win 98 SE). The installation of the software was seamless, and all works great. I have not had a chance to try out some features of the recorder (lecture mode for instance), but I am very satisfied with what I got so far.

limited functionality, short duration very good LP mode poor
Bought this model to record science lecture notes, but the advertized 90 minute recording capability is only in LP mode. In LP mode, the playback is completely illegible. In HQ mode, the sound is superb, but you only get 22 minutes of recording. I will return this and continue looking.

Should have read the reviews here first, it would have saved me time but I was out on errands and stopped in at a local superstore to buy one.

Better as a 30 min, recorder.
Overall, a good recorder. But for practical purposes this product can really only be used as a 30 min. recorder. The long play mode, which allows for 90 min. of recording time, is really not that great. The recorded sound in this mode is so poor that it is difficult to comprehend even if it was simple dictation. All the other modes of recording do so with very good fidelity. ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable Tape Speed.Adjust the speed control from
• ¿15% to +30% for all levels of transcribing skills."
• Dual-speaker headset for comfort and excellent sound quality.
• Tape-end alarm signals when to change or turn over Microcassette.
• Quick erase feature automatically eliminates old messages to free up space.

Amazon.com Product Description

Record your memos and meetings with the Olympus L400 Ultra-Compact Microcassette Recorder. It fits easily in a shirt pocket and weighs only 3.2 ounces, so you can travel with it anywhere. The easy-to-read LCD displays tape direction, operation mode, and a tape counter. Voice activation enables hands-free recording with adjustable sensitivity. With dual tape speeds, you can record up to three hours on a 90-minute tape. An auto-reverse function provides uninterrupted recording or playback from one side of the tape to the other. ... Read more

Features

• Compact design, weighs only 3.2 ounces
• Voice activation for hands-free operation
• Dual tape speeds for longer recordings
• Auto reverse for uninterrupted operation
• Fits easily in a shirt pocket

Reviews (3)

Disapointing sound quality
I bought the L400 and 500 recorders, and am disapointed in the sound quality with both. The 500 had a real "tinny" sound, and unsuitable for dictation. The 400 has a loud motor whine on playback (which doesn't happen if I play the same tape back on a Sony recorder), and a similar tinny sound. Olympus recorders seem to be well constructed, compact, and great gadgets. But, the sound quality is inferior, and causes me not to recommend them until Olympus makes this better. My various Sony recorders are so far superior in sound quality that Olympus should be ashamed. Is my experience unique?

Tiny yet loud
I bought this as a replacement for a previous Olympus pearlcorder for my father-in-law and he loves it. The Olympus microcassette recorders blow all those cheap recorders in the retail stores. Olympus can pick up your voice easily and play back loudly. The bonus is that the L400 is so small, it's cool. If my father-in-law can use it easily, then anyone can!

Actually needs to be a little bigger
I ordered this from Amazon, who had the best price on the internet or otherwise. When I received it, I spent several days thinking I might send it back. It has its problems and is a little "too" small for me. However, I've worked through the problems and gotten used to the device and it is pretty good.

First, the problems. Someone with real small hands will appreciate it. Others with bigger hands might find it too small. Those used to holding a microcassette recorder a certain way (using the thumb to work the controls for example) will have to get used to the small size. The controls on this device are electronic buttons instead of manual push buttons. But I have to shift the device up in my hands to access all the buttons with my thumb. In addition, only the rewind function works while the tape is playing. That is, you can't fast forward without stopping the tape first. Further, they didn't add a separate fast forward button, but you hit the rewind button twice to go forward. I don't really like this feature. Finally, the voice activation doesn't work too well. At least not for me.

Now, the good news. You can turn the access to the buttons off, so if it is in your pocket, it won't go off prematurely, and it won't accidentally pop the tape open since the eject slide is on the bottom of the unit. The speaker sounds pretty good and recording quality is about the best I've seen from the total of 4 recorders I've had. All in all, I have started to like it, but I would have made it a little bigger and gone for controls more like traditional recorders.

Update: I have used this recorder almost every day (at least 3-4 days a week) for about a year and a half. Everything above still stands, but there are other things, some good some bad. First, the bad (or, perhaps, not so good): you MUST use good quality tapes in the machine. I used whatever tapes my firm had, some cheap tapes that probably are good for 2 or 3 erases even in a cheap machine. This caused the unit to act up -- and you would hear 6 beeps when trying to play, record, or even rewind. I thought the unit was defective and called customer service, who told me to send it in. Finally, I realized that the problem didn't happen when I use Maxell, Sony, or TDK (high quality tapes). Second issue, you can't start talking immediately after hitting record. I didn't realize this unitl recently when my secretary was always missing the first words of sentences. I wondered why until I was rewinding one day and found out that there is a quick delay before recording. It is constant, but lasts for less than or about a second.

Now, the good news: this thing still produces the best sounding stuff. Olympus clearly makes the best analog recorders. Although I think the unit could be a little better, you do end up getting used to the small size (if that was ever a problem) and the controls. I haven't gone back to the voice activation feature to see if I was the problem, but one day I will. Good luck, and after 1.5 years, I would buy this again. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This flash memory recorder records up to three hours of input. With four separate folders, you can organize your messages into distinct sections. Each folder saves up to one hundred messages, and you can transfer these files from folder to folder, or delete them as necessary, using the file management system. The LCD screen displays a variety of information including: date, time, recording time, battery status, folder indicator, recording mode indicator, alarm indicator and battery indicator. The three recording modes allows you to adjust recording time. Choose between high quality, standard or long record. Twenty custom alarms keeps you up-to-date on important dates and times. The highly sensitive microphone will detect silence and stop recording saving valuable memory space. The recorder comes with earphone and mic jacks for added versatility.

What's in the Box
Recorder, user's manual and a one year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Three recording modes allow up to three hours of recording time
• Pauses recording during silence to save memory
• Four folders, each holding up to 100 recorded messages
• Jogdial layout
• Two AAA batteries last up to 33 hours

Reviews (4)

OK for personal messages, but don't try to dictate
Although this digital voice recorder's (DVR) customer- and editorial reviews are accurate, they fail to identify one important flaw!

With a DVR, (unlike audio microcassette recorders) you can NOT rewind over an erroneous word and rerecord it. If you are using the DVR to dictate, you will not be able to back up and restate anything said in error.

This is a major drawback.

great product
The new VN1800 from olympus is a very good product! I see it as a next generation compared to my older VN90. The most impressive differences to me are the smaller size and the better sound. There is also a fourth directory and buttons are more intuitive with the jogdial. The size is now about 3 inches versus 4 inches, allowing the VN1800 to hold in a pocket without deforming it or hurting. The sound quality in HQ mode is very crisp allowing to better recognize all kinds of sounds, even mixes of noises, voices and music. It is no longer a struggle to understand voicenotes I took in my car with ambiant city noise.

The consomation is low: i measured about 0.1mA standby, 40mA play (low volume) 30mA rec mode. So batteries must last a while
I also did a test of replacing the batteries within reasonable time (10sec) and thank god the messages were not lost.

The VN1800 will always be with me, attached to my keys with an extendable cord.
Note: sometimes under harsch frictions and pressure the tiny 'hold' button accidentally shifts and the unit starts recording. For this I simply cut off the 3 grooves of the button

Very useful - almost essential once you've tried it
This has good, crisp sound at the HQ setting. The full range of the mic shows on a larger speaker if you dub it from the headphone jack. The mic is very sensitive (on high) and is able to pick up sounds near and far without over-amplifying the nearer ones.

The sound quality is fair at the medium setting and almost unusable at the longest-play setting, so don't take the maximum rec time at face value with these units. I've yet to use all 45 minutes at HQ, so this is perfect for my mental note taking and to-do lists at home. People who record entire lectures or meetings might go with a pricier model and more memory unless they want to strain their hearing with the compressed modes.

There are no worries about losing data if batteries die (flash memory) and battery life appears to live up to the 33 hour rating. It's still on "full" after 4 months if that can be trusted. The ergonomics seem clever and they did their best to keep the unit tiny. I think critics of the jog-pad just need more practice!

One improvement might be a rougher gripping surface to prevent slippage. I dropped it once on a carpet from 3 feet but nothing happened. I also would like to see more than 100 messages allowed per folder (4 total folders) since I have no reason to use more than one at any given time.

Review Voice Recorder VN 1800 & VN 900. Does what I neeed.
Review for Voice Recorder VN 1800 and VN 900.

Pretty good machine, does basically what I need it to do !
Overall good value and functionality for the price.

Although this is not the perfect device of my dreams with all the features I would like to see
it is a good replacement for my old voice recorder...

I bought the VN 900 with advertised 90 min of recording time.
The fact is on high quality you get 22.5 minutes and that is plenty enough.
Before I had 11 minutes which I never used.
Remember this is a voice recorder to take notes and reminders that you would
otherwise put on sticky notes, not a recorder for whole meetings. If you look
for a recorder for meetings you are in fact better off with a tape recorder.
For taking notes it is great because you can do it while riding a bike, a car, on a plane,

where ever you are and want to take a note, without taking out a note pad and end up
with messy pieces of paper.
Best ideas usually come, when you least expect them so be prepared to take a note.

Record with high quality, I agree.
The use of low sensitivity on the microphone is very useful.
If low sensitiviy is used, it significantly reduces background noise.
With my old recorder I had problems understanding what I said when recording
notes on airplanes or in noisy plant setting. Not so with this unit on low sensitivity.
On high sensitivity the background noise is very disturbing.
If you talk into the mic low is you setting of choice if you want to record a whole
room then high is.
I agree that automatic voice recording does not work and so far never has on
any device I have seen. Just don't use it. If you use the machine for notes,
you won't need it.
Stop button on top is in deed confusing, but the logic is that it is right below the
record button. This takes some getting used to.
I did not find a use for the clip either but it is not in the way so who cares.

I agree that the hold button is somewhat of a nuisance.
However, if the unit is left on long enough it goes into a sleep mode by itself.
Unit works well with rechargable NiMH batteries so that it does not add to
the toxic garbage pile created by used batteries.
One hand operation is not a problem, not a problem to handle while driving.

Possible Improvements:
1. A feature I would like to see is an integrated stop watch.
2. Erasing is a pain because when you push it after the message has played
it erases the next message not the one just played. One has to be careful.
3. I would prefer if the machine stayed on the message just played
instead of jumping to the next one.
4. I would prefer if the unit would always come up with folder A instead of the last
folder that was open.
5. I would prefer to have easier access to the folders instead of having to cycle
one way through them.
6. I would prefer to always see the recorded date and time when on a message
instead of the current time. This makes it easier to know what the message
is and makes it easier to classify them.
7. I would like to just have plain alarm function for a wake-up call but it is okay
as it is, when the alarm sounds I get a message when I silence it.
8. Setting the alarm is the same problem as erasing. If you set the alarm once
the message has played you set it for the next message not for the one
you just heard.

Eberhard. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Keeping track of memos and important recordings is easy with the Olympus J500 Microcassette Recorder. An indexing capability and tape counter allow for easy location of recordings. The three LED battery-check system provides information on how much battery life remains. Dual tape speeds give you up to three hours of recording time on a 90-minute tape. For a private listening experience, use the external earphones jack. External jacks for a microphone and external power are also provided (AC adapter not included). ... Read more

Features

• Uses a standard microcassette tape
• Includes voice activation for hands-free recording
• Indexing capability helps you locate important recordings
• 3 LED battery-check system
• Dual tape speeds give you up to 3 hours of recording time

Reviews (7)

To Die For...
Olympus makes GREAT digital cameras, but their recorders are to die for, especially when you interview someone and get back to the newsroom only to discover that while the tape was moving, the condenser mic had decided to go South on you and the only you can hear is the sound of the motor. Cleaning and demagnatizing the heads didn't work for me, either.

For interviews, spend the extra money and get a super quality product.

Olympus Microcassette Recorder
I purchased this product and found that it was of relatively poor construction quality. After reasonable normal use the cassette door hinge broke. I elected not to send it back for repair as my need for this equipment passed, but I was surprised that such a key element of the recorder would be so fragile.

Only Okay
I was given this as an unexpected & thoughtful gift, but after working with it a bit, I don't think I'd chose the Olympus again. One basic design flaw is that it doesn't stand up very well on it's think rounded base. You can balance it, but it will topple over at the slightest disturbance. I compared it with my friend's Panasonic RN505 which is substantially heavier, but has a bigger, better speaker & is more stable. When I played my tape on her machine it seemed as if the microphones on both were comparable.

Great package
I use minicassette recorders on interviews a lot, and this one is a great recorder for the price. It's small enough to fit in a shirt pocket (and nicely slim as well), and the ergonomics are good: easy to play back, fast-forward, etc. It has all the basic controls you need. I can't speak for the sound relative to others, but for voice, it's more than good enough. It picks up voices quite distinctly even in a relatively noisy environment. I also like the battery indicator, so I always know when I need to bring extra batteries, which last a pretty long time. I also can't speak for reliability, but I've had no problems in the six months I've been using it. The only caveats are that the microphone/earphone jack is smaller than ones used by other recorders, so you need an adapter or a mike/earphone with small plugs, and that it doesn't come with an AC power supply. But overall, it's great.

Buyer Beware
I am not sure if it is my usage of this recorder, the tapes I put in it or the batteries. My recorder doesn't work anymore. The features on it are good, and it is certainly an attractive recorder. While it did work, I had absolutely no complaints. Unfortunately it isn't working now (and I have complaints).

If I had to purchase another mini-recorder, I would go with a bigger name brand, just to be safe. It may cost extra money (as in a few measly bucks) but it is better to pay five more than replacing a whole new recorder.

Lawyers will like the cassette recorders (and micro ones) but for the average person, I might even venture to suggest purchasing a digital recorder. Give it some thought, but whatever you do, be careful before you buy this one. I would not recommend it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus Voice-Trek VN-3600 features a compact, lightweight design with three scalable recording modes. You'll get superb cost performance with a maximum of six hours recording time, with 32 MB built-in flash memory. The recorder weighs just 23 ounces and is ergonomically designed to fit snugly inside the palm of the hand. With its long talk time, the VN-3600 is ideal for weekend seminars, extended discussions, recording meetings, school lectures, or study groups, as well as for short memos, ideas, phone numbers, shopping lists, and other notes.

The unit combines smart styling with four folders for arranging files according to personalized subjects such as "work," "personal," and "to do." A fourth folder (scheduling folder) is used to sort recordings by date, letting you recall the day's meetings, expenses, and reminders for easy on-the-go retrieval. Each folder stores up to 100 messages. Up to 20 alarms can also be programmed for meeting, dates, show reminders, or wake-up calls. Simply press the button when hearing the alarm beep to hear the pre-recorded reminder.

The VN-3600 has these recording modes: HQ mode (for the best possible quality recording and 91 minutes available recording time); SP mode (for a high-quality recording and 137 minutes available recording time); and LP mode (for the most possible recording capacity, with 364 minutes available recording time). An LCD display shows remaining recording time, date and time, voice-activation mode, play mode (HQ/SP/LP), microphone sensitivity (HI/LO), and battery status. Other features include voice activation for hands-free recording and easy deletion of one or all messages in a folder. The VN-3600 uses the ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) recording format. ... Read more

Features

• 32 MB internal flash memory for up to 6 hours of talk time
• 20 alarm messages, built-in speaker
• Easy-to-use jog-dial for quick navigation through folders and options
• 4 folders, up to 100 messages per folder, scalable recording quality/duration
• Convenient metal clip for shirt pockets for quick retrieval

Reviews (7)

Great value
I ordered this product new from a third party seller on amazon, and I was more than pleased with the product once it arrived. As is always the case, the LP setting isn't the greatest, though in a pinch one could use it for, say, a personal interview in a quiet room, if one needed more than the 2.5 hours afforded by the SP setting, which sounds fine in most lecture/interview/meeting situations.

The folders are a tool I didn't think would be useful to me, but have since come to love. I can file interviews for several articles I'm working on at a time, and when I'm done with one, simply erase the whole file.

When I was shopping for one of these things, I almost went with a mini-cassette recorder. Don't make that mistake. Digital gives much better sound quality simply because you don't get the hiss of the tape in the recorder. It is also incredibly small and light. Batteries last longer since there isn't a motor.

Some reviewers have asked about getting files onto your computer. The only way to do that with this unit is to plug the earphone output into an audio input and record the audio in realtime. I haven't found any need to archive old interviews so this hasn't been an issue. If you will need to archive, either go for a mini-cassette recorder or pay through the nose for USB connectivity.

There isn't a jog-dial as the description says. There is a four-way circular button. I don't know of any personal voice recorders with a jog-dial. Searching through audio is incredibly easy and fast, though.

I used to carry a notebook around everywhere, now I have my mini-recorder in my pocket at all times. I use it as a journalism student as I don't know shorthand, and as a music student to record my private lessons and review them later. The sound quality is fine, and the amount of audio that this little thing holds is simply staggering.

Question on editing voice files on digital recorders
I bought the Olympus VN1800 and used it for about a week, and found my biggest frustration is that you can't edit any voice files that you record. In other words, if you wanted to add on to an existing file, you can't. You have to create a new file to record more information. In addition, you can't edit any portion of the file, for example, if you had a long list of items to do for a given day, you can't edit the file to remove those that you took care of, and don't want on the recorder anymore. Are there any recorders with this capability, and if so, which are they? Thanks much.

Question
I wonder whether there's any PC interface, such as USB port available in this recorder??

LP Mode -- Unusable for me
Yes, this unit is small and compact. And it does record great in the 'high quality' or 'standard mode', but if you need to record a long meeting in the 'LP- long play" mode, you may be very frustrated. I attest to a previous reivew -- this mode is "too muffled" unless you have very acute hearing and have a good sense for what the person was saying. Thus, for me, LP mode is terrible and i find it unusable and I have fairly good hearing. I've even tried earphones -- still unusable. Finally, the buttons to fast forward and skip can be very frustrating to use. It takes a deft touch to operate them correctly.

It does what it should
It's very good gadget. Before buying, keep in mind what the use would be. For memos/reminders/thoughs its great, and for lectures/interviews too. You can use the LP mode to have 6 hours available, but I recommend this mode only for memos, or things that you don't need to keep crystal clear; the recordings in LP mode are understandable. ... Read more

Features

• Microcassette recorder with variable control voice actuator for hands-free recording
• Tape counter for easy location of previously recorded passages
• Dual tape speeds give you up to three hours of recording time on a 90-minute tape
• Cue/Review makes for fast, easy message monitoring
• Built-in, dynamic speaker delivers crystal-clear sound; does not include a blank microcassette tape (as stated on the packaging)

Reviews (5)

Don't bother
I have owned three of these "machines" and each time, they stop working after lessthatn a week for no reason. I wish I could post no stars.

Don't But it.

Never buy it.

You're beter off throwing your money out the window.

Fairly Suitible as an Analog Recorder
I don't understand the three one-star reviews on this product. I remember purchasing this recorder in probably Sep, Oct, or Nov, 2001 and have been pretty happy with it. I've played around with it a few times here and there, and overall it's not too bad. The microcassette tapes are pretty inexpensive; like $4.99 I believe for 3 microcassettes. The speaker is loud enough to hear the playback most of the time, and the microphone is at a convenient spot on the top of the recorder.

THe VCVA Voice Activated recording works almost every time. You just set it to that setting, And it'll record when it starts to hear voice. As for the options you get on this thing, you get 1.2x speed and 2.4x. The 1.2x is the regular speed in which you get a fair amount of time on the tape, and 2.4x is just twice as fast which takes up twice as much tape. The three modes are: F. Play (Fast Play; makes the play probably 1.25x faster), OFF, and VCVA. Right next to that is the 3V DC port. I've never had to use it because I think after nearly three years I've never replaced the battery but once.

You also get a red LED light when recording which is somewhat bright. There's also a pause button, which may come in handy for playback. The only drawbacks I have is that the MIC/EAR (microphone/headphone) jack is for some reason too small for the 1/8" jacks. So I've never been able to use that feature, which doesn't really put a downer on my spirits because the internal microphone is perfectly fine. The other drawback is that about a year ago the cover for the microcassette tape fell off--but I put it back in place and it stays on all right, however it falls off at certain angles.

I haven't had any experience with customer support, because I never needed it. This recorder is fine as a toy, but for a serious business person they would want something like the Olympus VN-3600 Digital Voice Recorder. It's one of the more fancy voice recorders, having 6 hours available to record, but in my opinion looks worth its price tag. The best part about digital is that it isn't analog, so you can put it onto the computer via USB.

Price Paid:
39.99 $USD

Recommended:
As a play-around toy, but not as a serious business recording tool.

Poor Performer
I own this unit. I attempted to purchase earphones from Olympus but after phoning them 5 times, and getting put on hold each time, I gave up. I was never able to speak to a live person.
The unit itself does not have enough audible power with batteriess or by AC connection. I do not recommend this unit.

Piece of Junk
I have had this recorder for a couple years and have sent it back 5 times because it just decides to not work. Customer service is horrible and the new recorders they send me are just as bad and stop working (without explanation) again. A waste of time and money.

Olympus J300 Microcassette Recorder
I have bought this recorder 2 days ago. I have used it only twice and for some unknown reasons it does not work any more.
I have paid [quite a lot]. Thus, if you do not want to have trouble do not buy it ! Add few euros and buy yourself something better. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With the Olympus P-330 home photo printer, you can take all those photos you made with your digital camera, or downloaded from the Web, and print them on real photo paper. You can also capture stills from any video device, edit them on TV, and add them to your photo collection in just a few minutes.

This printer comes with an overwhelming array of accessories and cables, yet we were able to figure out which accessories fit into which slots without consulting the owner's manual. (However, we do recommend that novices read the owner's manual before attempting setup.) We simply plugged in the printer, attached the parallel cable, and inserted the paper tray and ribbon cartridge. Then we dropped in the CD-ROM and followed the setup wizard on our PC.

Next, we tested the printer's features. We started our favorite image-editing program, opened a previously scanned 24-bit color photo, chose the Print command, and waited. After two minutes of mysterious humming, the printer produced a great-looking new photo. At arm's length, the quality of the print was astonishingly true to the original. Closer inspection revealed definite pixelation, but the output was still much better than a print on coated paper from a good quality ink-jet printer.

We also attached an S-video cable (not included) from a DVD player to the P-330, and connected the composite video cable from the P-330 to a monitor. Looking at the P-330's controls, we intuitively guessed how to select the video-input signal and how to capture a still shot from the DVD player. We pressed the P-330's Print button, and the photo printer produced the image two minutes later.

The P-330 impressed us with both its sophistication and its simplicity. It's fun to use, and if you enjoy digital imaging, but miss the feel of photographic paper in your hands, then this photo printer makes a great companion for your digital camera.

Pros:

• Includes accessories to get started right away
• Intuitive setup
• Mac- and PC-ready right out of the box

Cons

• No quick start card
• Slow printing

Features

• Makes real photographic prints
• 1,024 x 1,376 effective pixel resolution
• Supports 32-MB SmartMedia
• Works with PCs, Macs, and digital cameras
• Captures video stills from any standard video device

Reviews (6)

olympus p-330 photo printer
the printer gave very good results, but see no need for all the insturction books, (2) that come with the printer. Everything said could surly be condensed to one simple to read and use set of insturctions. there should be a better system to tell what you are going to print before you print it.

Does one job well
This printer is designed for one task- printing 4x6 color images. It's not real fast or real cheap but it is very easy to use and the quality of the prints is comparable to conventional photos. This printer is particularly useful if you use your digital camera as a replacement for a point-and-shoot, and you want to be able to get good, quick prints with a mimimum of fuss. Individual prints are probably more expensive than conventional photos but you don't pay for printing pictures you don't want, so in the end it's probably more cost effective. Compared to ink-jet printers, it's clearly less versitile, but you don't have to remember to load special paper or make special settings, and you won't run out of ink in the middle of a print job, as each paper pack comes with a print cartridge that runs out when the paper does.

Good for what it is
This is not an Office printer. It print as good as a 35mm film camera does. Do not expect any thing else. Small paper high cost but best picture that U can get.

P-330/Sony Digital Camera
There are suggestioons, including on Amazon.com that the P-330 and a Sony Digital Camera that uses 3.5" floppy disks are compatible. To a limited extemt this may be true, but direct use is not possible as the P-330 only takes the smaller Smart Media disk. It would appear one would be well advised to use a Sony printer that can directly receive the 3.5" floppy disk; otherwise one of the feature attractions of a printer is defeated. The one star rating is only in connection with a Sony digital camera.

No driver for Windows NT. Picture quality is poor.
The setup was relatively easy until I tried to hook it up to my PC. There is no driver available for Windows NT workstation. I tried to install it under Windows 95. Spent most of my Saturday with downloading drivers from their website. Finally called tech support and got email back that someone will call me in 2-3 days and also to be patient. Color quality is ok. I could print from my Sony Digital camcorder. It takes about 2 minutes to print a 4-5 in. picture. Save your money and get something else. This printer is not ready for any prime time yet. At least they should include a driver that works. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a good product at a reasonable price
This tape recorder is perfect for recording class lectures or conducting field interviews for academic purposes. The only thing you have to watch is make sure you have it on the right tape speed. You have to use the higher quality speed if you want to hear anything in a classroom setting. If the speaker is close and you only want the lecture and none of the student comments or you are conducting an interview both speeds are fine. Overall a very fine purchase ... Read more

Features

• Transcribe from both minicassettes and microcassettes.
• 20% to 40% for all levels of transcribing skills.
• Auto Backspace, adjusts for trouble-free transcription.
• Tape Counter allows you to locate important notes quickly so you can transcribe them more efficiently.