Features

• Adjustable Tape Speed.Adjust the speed control from
• ¿15% to +30% for all levels of transcribing skills."
• Quick erase feature automatically eliminates old messages to free up space.
• Auto Backspace adjusts for trouble-free transcription.
• Tape Counter allows you to locate important notes quickly so you can transcribe them more efficiently.

Features

• 3-pedal foot switch assures efficient transcription.
• Tape-end alarm signals when to change or turn over Microcassette.
• Quick erase feature automatically eliminates old messages to free up space.
• LCD display keeps track of tape data and other important information.

Features

• Tapeless way to record oral memos
• Organize memos in up to 5 folders--up to 199 files each
• Transfer audio files to PC or Mac via USB
• 16 MB total memory
• 2 Speeds of Recording: 155 Minutes or 330 Minutes

Reviews (19)

Great little digital recorder.
I bought the DS330 to record interviews and meeting with clients and prospective clients. It works just fine, and provides over 2 1/2 hours of high quality recording - more than enough for 95% of all meetings. I especially like the feature that allows users to download recorded sound files directly to their PCs. That's a big timesaver and excellent organizational feature. Setup was fast and easy. And the software works as advertised. It allows you to convert DSS files to Wave files which can be further converted to other sound file formats like MP3. My only criticism is that the unit is very small - which makes it slightly difficult to operate at times.

Perfect for Everyday Tasks!
I've had mine for a week now and can find very little fault with this sleek little device. I've not even hooked up the USB connection to my PC. My purpose in purchasing this device was for simple note taking (dictation and idea capturing) and not for recording meetings. On the "SP" and "dictation" settings, voice playback is crisp and clean, sounding like typical tape-based audio recorders. It seems to provide the best output speaking in a normal voice holding the unit about 1 foot away.

My primary intent in selecting a recorder was ease of use, durability, size, quality and price. So far, the Olympus DS-330 has proven easy to use. Turn on using the "hold" slider, hit "new" for a new file, hit "rec" to start recording and "stop" to stop. The unit defaults to appending to the current file so to continue recording, you simply hit "rec" again. The "rew" rewind function is cool, counting back on the LCD timer to any spot along the way. Hit "play" to listen to your output and hit "erase" and the file is gone, or drop it to your PC for safekeeping.

For this simple mode of operation, it's hard for me to imagine this not being an excellent fit. With lots of time in the field, I'll be interested to see how durable it is and how long the batteries last. It fits comfortably in the palm of my very large hands and comes with a really nice carrying case (like a lot of todays digital phones with a wrap-around, use-in-the-case design). With today's dark (black) colored personal computing devices, this Olympus unit fits right in (did I mention it was sleek looking?). Note, this is kind of a "duh" point, but output is monaural, not stereo, and you'll only get sound in one ear of your headphones using the "ear" plug. The price is a little higher than a lot of units, but I sense it's worth it (particularly if you're after the advanced features).

So far, awesome!

Poor Instruction Manual
Good-quality, handy little recorder. However, I, too, had difficulty installing the device driver. The instruction manual is to blame. There are a few instructions on each page in large type, followed by footnotes in small font that at times contradict one another. In one footnote, it says to install device drivers with the recorder on stop. What does that mean? In another, it says if the new hardware wizard comes up, cancel it and install the DSS software. This also is meaningless. In my Dell XP, this is how I did it: 1) when they say make sure the recorder isn't on STOP, what they really mean is to make sure it's off, or in the HOLD position. HOLD, in other words, should be on (the recorder is off at that point). 2) plug the cord into a USB port that you plan to use every time because the driver gets associated with that port and no other. Whether the USB port is in the front or the back of the computer doesn't matter, even though the instructions say that. 3) Once plugged in, THEN turn on the recorder by taking it off HOLD. The screen will say REMOTE. 4) Make sure you've already installed the recorder software on your hard-drive, which by the way, does NOT auto'lly install the device driver. 5) Once the REMOTE screen comes on, your XP PC will sense its presence, and throw up the new hardware device wizard. Don't Cancel, as the Olympus manual suggests, but instead select to manually install certain portions of the software (the device driver). The next screen will offer to install a device driver and ask from which source you want to get it from -- the CD in your CD-ROM drive or the Windows System folder. I think either would work, but I selected the CD-ROM to ensure an exact match. However, I believe the DSS Player software installs the the correct driver into your system folder at the time it's installed, WITHOUT INSTALLING THAT DRIVER FOR YOU. You have to do that using that wizard.

Finish out the wizard screen. That's it.

If you plug the recorder into another USB port another time, you'll have to go through the wizard again. It's just a guess, but if you don't have your CD-ROM handy, it's likely the driver in the Windows/System folder is the correct one and can be used.

Works great on Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)
The recorder and its accompanying Mac software work great. I noticed one reviewer said the included software does not work in OS 10.2, which is true: the version on the CD would not run after installation. However, after quick trip to Olympus' web site, I downloaded and installed the software.

I like how the software allows you to manage the recordings on the voice recorder, listen to them before downloading, download only what you want, and export them to AIFF files, which can be played by QuickTime.

I use the recorder with a phone recording controller (from Radio Shack) that lets me record interviews I conduct on the phone. I can save the interview file on my hard drive along with my notes.

Works GREAT with iMac
I don't know what the other Mac user's problem is. In fact, his advice actually made my installation more difficult. His poor review of the included software got me to go first to the software downloaded from the website, which didn't work right. Instead, when I went on and used the software that came in the box, IT WORKED GREAT. It's true that you have to be running the software before your Mac will see your DS-330 when it's in the cradle, but what I love is that you can set the software to automatically download the files from the DS-330 and delete the original files on the 330. I'm using it with a 2000 iMac and OS 10.2.8. ... Read more

Features

• PC LinkDownload your recordings to your PC. to edit, e-mail,or archive.
• Four-Hour Recording Record up to 4 uninterrupted hours in LP mode.
• 3 Recording Modes Use HQ mode for superior sound, LP and SP modes for extended recording.
• 4 Folders Three file folders plus a convenient schedule folder provide unparalleled organization.
• Long Battery Life Two AAA batteries are good for up to 33 hours of continuous operation.

Amazon.com Product Description

The tiny new V-90 digital voice recorder is ergonomically designed to fit snugly inside the palm of the hand. Weighing only 1.6 ounces, it stores 90 minutes of voice recordings--longer than any other digital voice recorder in its price range.

The V-90 is ideal for recording meetings, school lectures, and television or radio shows, as well as short memos, ideas, phone numbers, shopping lists, and other notes. And the V-90's small and lightweight size means it can be taken everywhere.

Recordings can be stored in two separate folders, each capable of storing 99 messages. A third folder is used as a scheduling tool, where reminders can be recorded. These recordings can be programmed to play at a certain time, creating a customized verbal alarm. ... Read more

Features

• 90-minute recording time
• 3 folders for organizing messages
• Record your own alarm
• LCD display
• Lightweight, ergonomic design

Reviews (24)

HIGHLY recommended and EASY to use
I would like to say that I received this product as a gift and was one of the best gifts ever. The V-90 is so compact and so easy to use, even a BLONDE could do it.

Without reading the manual, I was able to record messages, play them back, change clock setting, etc... So easy to operate that you can use it right away! As I read past reviews, they obviously need to read their manuals. They complained about the following (features they didn't know the V-90 had):

Some excellent features:

* "HOLD" button so you the recorder doesn't accidentally record, delete, or change messages

* While recording, you could press the "REC" button again for a pause or just use the voice activation feature

*While playback, press "PLAY" to pause and unpause message (very useful when used for dictation purposes)

The V-90 has 3 folders - two general and the "S" folder for scheduled messages. Good feature and not that hard to navigate if you have a brain. I use my recorder on a daily basis and delete messages very quickly to save space (not that I would use it all up anyway).

One overall complaint, if used in the LP-90 minute mode, voice is deep and hard to understand. Very easy to fix that problem, use the SP-33 minute mode. Excellent voice clarification. Even when used with voice activation, your messages don't get cut off.

Once again, I would HIGHLY recommend this product. The design and features are great for a basic user.

Good tools for ministry professionals
Out of the box the V-90 is easy to use. Though the manual does give insight as to some of the more exotic features, the basic record and play functions are a snap.

I carried the V-90 with me for a month, testing working ability and ministry application. On ability, the V-90 is a champ. At no time did I have any difficulty operating the recorder, and it always did a good job recording. The hold function is especially useful, as it locks the keys to avoid unintentional record or playback when the unit is in a pocket or purse. The visual display is easy to read, and the folders are easy to navigate. The only folder that was at all dificult to navigate was the S-Folder, which is used to record alarms for later playback.

On ministry application, the V-90 confirmed my suspicions that a digital recorder would be a great tool for ministry. I found it handy when talking with people to record short notes to myself with prayer requests, phone numbers, and action items. No more fumbling for pen and paper (or napkin, or back of business card, or palm of hand!).

The ergonomic design is stylish and makes for good conversation, but probably unnecessary. With the small size and light weight, it probably would not matter if it were rectangular. In fact, it might be easier for a guy with large hands (like me) to hold a rectangular recorder (check out the VN-90!).

Exceptional!
I've had mine for over a year and I absolutely love it! It's easy to use and the play back is crisp and clear. Very well made and thought out ... the unit sits neatly in the palm of your hand allowing finger tip control. A great value and high quality product!

Died after about 9 months daily use
A great item but it quit playing back after about 9 months of use. You could get bits of the messages by holding the mode button down momentarily. The gold paint wears off carrying it in your pocket.

I really like it but it keeps breaking!
I like for form and features of this voice recorder but I have now had 2 of them break! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus VN-180 digital voice recorder can be taken anywhere, weighing only 2.3 ounces, and records up to 180 minutes with built-in flash memory. Voice-activated recording mode automatically starts recording when the microphone senses sound. It's ideal for business meetings, school lectures, or personal notes. With its LCD panel, you can store, move, and save your messages in folders, or create recordings to remind you of important events. The LCD also displays recording time, voice activation mode, date and time, play mode, and battery status. ... Read more

Features

• Records up to 180 minutes in LP mode
• Built-in flash memory
• Operates on 2 AA batteries
• Voice-activated recording mode
• Weighs only 2.3 ounces

Reviews (20)

An unobtrusive snare for information on-the-fly
I use my Olympus daily to capture ideas, wishes, anecdotes, pipe dreams, and a lot of prosaic stuff that I might either forget after 10 minutes or not remember on cue.This recorder's small and light so you can pull it out anywhere you're not self-conscious about speaking into a microphone.Sample entries: the name of the dish I had at the Thai restaurant, a memo to add "Return videos"to my pre-travel checklist after watching someone ahead of me in line pay a hefty fine for not doing so, to-do items, work gossip and gripes, purchases to consider, requests made and favors promised, diary entries in real time.Technical: It is only really useful (intelligible) in the SP mode, about an hour.It is durable and reliable, but the battery cover and clip are vulnerable to breakage.If you need to record lectures, you should consider another DVR with removable memory media.Finally, I wish this recorder had user security. Maybe they could come up with password protection using "chord" combinations of the buttons.

Nice, easy to use
I had an Olympus DS-150, sadly it went through the washer one day. I didn't really like the controls on the DS-150, so I was looking for something that would be easier to operate. The VN-180 is well designed, with easy to use buttons. Nice, since I bought one for my retired Dad to help him keep track of things (he was skeptical, but now uses it every day) The VN-180 has 3 folders, 2 are general purpose, and the other is a schedule folder.

Alarms! You can set a Schedule alarm to play back that days schedule messages at a certain time each day. With the other two folders, you can set up to a total of 20 alarms (any date/time) - tied to a specific message, that will cause the unit to beep (subdued), and then with any button press will play the associated message - even if the unit is off. This is a very nice feature.

The recording quality in the SP mode is good (although not as good as the DS-150), and the LP mode is serviceable. You can set the sensitivity of the microphone (Hi/Lo) which does help with noisy environments. The VN-180 also has a fast playback option, and auto-shutoff. The only thing I don't like about it, is the quality of the LP recording.

cute device missing on the Titanic
The VN90 is a cute device that looks like a cell phone but feels like a light plastic toy
i have mine for more than a year and it still works. Unlike tapes, digital is magic and seems it will last forever. I wish they were playing with these on the Titanic so we could listen to old conversations and notes from the past, provided they were left in air pockets, a posting says it does not survive washmachine :-(

i use it a lot! i also still use paper notes, it's a competition
voice notes are easier to take, like during a hike, and much safer while driving
taking a phone number or an address is so convienient
then at the end of day i can just review latest messages, add more when going to bed and have a more relaxed sleep (except when i come accross a rush note where I do not understand myself anymore)

i regret the ergonomy; all buttons feel the same so it is still necessary to look at the device quiclky to operate it and at night some dim light is necessary
the size is good (nice fit in hand) but i wish a mini version existed that i can attach to my keychain along with my car alarm, always
the device is easy to use, sturdy, and the 2 batteries last almost forever
note that at replacement messages are NOT lost
i like the 3 folders A,B,C capability and the fact that folder C has date-month compartiments is great, though it takes forever to review messages in these 365 boxes the sound is of pretty good quality (i wish my answ machine had such a sound, so i can record music in my greeting) An when it's not clear it's because there was noise around. Unfortunately there's no feature 'record my voice but not the background noise of the street or restaurant'
the device has no computer link capability. Too bad, it would
be nice to put some 'voicessages' on hard disk.

now a few tips if you have one:
tip1: write your phone number on it on the back. This way i lost and recovered mine one day. Think that the recorder with messages of sentimental value on it is then worth much more than the original cost.
other tip: deposit some wax glue dots on the buttons (eg 1 blop on play and 2 blops on stop, imitating braille) so you can operate the device without looking at it
tip3: the microphone is not on the front but on the back! still talk as if it was on the front. However when recording on a phone handset (for example i am in Paris in a phone booth remotely reading an important message and need a copy on my olympus) please apply the back (the tiny area with 2 grooves above the word battery) on the speaker of the handset, and your ear on top of this like a sandwich. You can then hangup and replay at no cost. Works great.

Peice Of Crep
I Bought this peace of crip to record different things that I hear. It only records fuzz. I hate this piece of plastic. It cost me a few dollars to buy, and when I record sounds that I hear, it distorts them and makes them sound like flatulance. I can not believe that this peace of crud works so badly. Don't buy it. It should burn!

A 67 minutes recorder
I bought this recorder because it can record 180 minutes. There are three recording modes. For 180 minutes, you have to put up with very poor sound quality. The sound of standard play mode is excellent, but only record 67 minutes. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The handy Olympus Voice-Trek VN-900 features a compact, lightweight design with three scalable recording modes. You'll get high-value storage with a maximum of 90 minutes recording time from 8 MB of built-in flash memory. The recorder weighs just 2.3 ounces and is designed to sit snugly in the palm of your hand.

With its lengthy recording time, the VN-900 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 so you can arrange 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 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-900 has three recording modes: HQ mode (for the best possible quality recording and 22 minutes available recording time); SP mode (for a high-quality recording and 33 minutes available recording time); and LP mode (for the most possible recording capacity, with 90 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-900 uses the ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) recording format.

What's in the Box
Voice recorder, 2 AAA batteries, pocket clip, user's manual, warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• 4 folders for organizing and storing notes, with up to 100 messages able to be stored per folder
• Up to 20 customizable alarms
• LCD display shows remaining record time, date, time, voice-activation mode, play mode, mic sensitivity, and battery status
• Voice activation lets the VN-900 begin recording when the microphone senses sound (hands-free recording)

Reviews (7)

Perfect little number
This is a supa little recording device. Very compact and easy to use. I agree that the LP mode is rather crap, but it does work for emergency long recordings (if you were say kidnapped and held in a small box and needed to record what the criminals were saying). The HQ mode is cool tho, offering 22mins of hi-quality recording time.

I mainly use it for recording ideas for tunes that I have whilst away from my Mac, so 22 mins is easily long enough. Much better than trying to remember a tune in you head until you get home.

Great size, good price. LP quality not usable
I recommend this voice recorder. The size is excellent. I carry it everywhere in my pocket and use it everyday at least once. Haven't had to change the batteries yet after 3 months of use. It's easy to use, easy to organize your recordings and will keep track of when you recorded them (date and time). It doubles as a pocket clock for those without a wristwatch.

You can even keep it by your bedside and use it at night if you have to make a note. The REC button is easy to locate and there's a small red light for when it's recording. The voice detection feature works well, too (it stops recording during periods of silence). You can turn on distinctive beeps in the menu, which could work pretty well for the visually impaired.

The reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because it claims 90 minutes of recording time at LP, when SP (33 min) and HQ (15 min?) are the only modes that produce voice recordings you can actually understand. If you think you need more than 30 minutes, go for the model with more recording time.

Powerfull Little Device!
I've had this recorder for almost a year. I've dropped it, gotten it wet, and it's still ticking! Never had any problems with it; it's been a huge asset in my record keeping. I HIGHLY recommend this recorder!!!

Excellent choice for the casual user!
This is a fantastic product. I bought one for my Father-in-law and liked it so much I just had to buy one for myself! It's small enough to slip easily into my pocket so it's always available. I use it for to-do lists, short personal memos, and to dictate correspondence. I couldn't be more pleased!

Perfect product, but misrepresented
The VN900 is a wonderful product. It is the smallest of kind, easy to use, has powerful extra features like programmable alarms to help you remember when and what to do on a busy day. The battery consumption is nill, much lower than some competative products. It suits my purposes perfectly.

but . . .

It does NOT record 90 minutes of voice. In LP mode the sound quality is SOOO poor that it is USELESS. Ninety minutes of muffled incomprehensible noise is perfectly USELESS, a stupid choice on the part of Olympus. The medium and high quality modes are quite good, but you only get 33 and 22 minutes! Folks, this model should be called VN330, not VN900 ... Read more

Features

• External Jack
• Cue/Review, Quick Review
• Built-In Microphone, Built-In Dynamic Speaker
• Dual Tape Speeds, Pocket Size

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus VN-90 digital voice recorder can be taken anywhere, weighingonly 2.3 ounces, and records up to 90 minutes with built-in flash memory. Itsvoice-activated recording mode automatically starts recording when themicrophone senses sound. It's ideal for business meetings, school lectures, orpersonal notes. The VN-90 lets you move and save your messages in folders orcreate recordings to remind you of important events. The LCD displays recordingtime, voice activation mode, date and time, play mode, and battery status. ... Read more

Features

• Records up to 90 minutes in LP mode
• Built-in flash memory
• Operates on 2 AAA batteries
• Voice-activated recording mode
• Weighs only 2.3 ounces

Reviews (20)

An unobtrusive snare for information on-the-fly
I use my Olympus daily to capture ideas, wishes, anecdotes, pipe dreams, and a lot of prosaic stuff that I might either forget after 10 minutes or not remember on cue.This recorder's small and light so you can pull it out anywhere you're not self-conscious about speaking into a microphone.Sample entries: the name of the dish I had at the Thai restaurant, a memo to add "Return videos"to my pre-travel checklist after watching someone ahead of me in line pay a hefty fine for not doing so, to-do items, work gossip and gripes, purchases to consider, requests made and favors promised, diary entries in real time.Technical: It is only really useful (intelligible) in the SP mode, about an hour.It is durable and reliable, but the battery cover and clip are vulnerable to breakage.If you need to record lectures, you should consider another DVR with removable memory media.Finally, I wish this recorder had user security. Maybe they could come up with password protection using "chord" combinations of the buttons.

Nice, easy to use
I had an Olympus DS-150, sadly it went through the washer one day. I didn't really like the controls on the DS-150, so I was looking for something that would be easier to operate. The VN-180 is well designed, with easy to use buttons. Nice, since I bought one for my retired Dad to help him keep track of things (he was skeptical, but now uses it every day) The VN-180 has 3 folders, 2 are general purpose, and the other is a schedule folder.

Alarms! You can set a Schedule alarm to play back that days schedule messages at a certain time each day. With the other two folders, you can set up to a total of 20 alarms (any date/time) - tied to a specific message, that will cause the unit to beep (subdued), and then with any button press will play the associated message - even if the unit is off. This is a very nice feature.

The recording quality in the SP mode is good (although not as good as the DS-150), and the LP mode is serviceable. You can set the sensitivity of the microphone (Hi/Lo) which does help with noisy environments. The VN-180 also has a fast playback option, and auto-shutoff. The only thing I don't like about it, is the quality of the LP recording.

cute device missing on the Titanic
The VN90 is a cute device that looks like a cell phone but feels like a light plastic toy
i have mine for more than a year and it still works. Unlike tapes, digital is magic and seems it will last forever. I wish they were playing with these on the Titanic so we could listen to old conversations and notes from the past, provided they were left in air pockets, a posting says it does not survive washmachine :-(

i use it a lot! i also still use paper notes, it's a competition
voice notes are easier to take, like during a hike, and much safer while driving
taking a phone number or an address is so convienient
then at the end of day i can just review latest messages, add more when going to bed and have a more relaxed sleep (except when i come accross a rush note where I do not understand myself anymore)

i regret the ergonomy; all buttons feel the same so it is still necessary to look at the device quiclky to operate it and at night some dim light is necessary
the size is good (nice fit in hand) but i wish a mini version existed that i can attach to my keychain along with my car alarm, always
the device is easy to use, sturdy, and the 2 batteries last almost forever
note that at replacement messages are NOT lost
i like the 3 folders A,B,C capability and the fact that folder C has date-month compartiments is great, though it takes forever to review messages in these 365 boxes the sound is of pretty good quality (i wish my answ machine had such a sound, so i can record music in my greeting) An when it's not clear it's because there was noise around. Unfortunately there's no feature 'record my voice but not the background noise of the street or restaurant'
the device has no computer link capability. Too bad, it would
be nice to put some 'voicessages' on hard disk.

now a few tips if you have one:
tip1: write your phone number on it on the back. This way i lost and recovered mine one day. Think that the recorder with messages of sentimental value on it is then worth much more than the original cost.
other tip: deposit some wax glue dots on the buttons (eg 1 blop on play and 2 blops on stop, imitating braille) so you can operate the device without looking at it
tip3: the microphone is not on the front but on the back! still talk as if it was on the front. However when recording on a phone handset (for example i am in Paris in a phone booth remotely reading an important message and need a copy on my olympus) please apply the back (the tiny area with 2 grooves above the word battery) on the speaker of the handset, and your ear on top of this like a sandwich. You can then hangup and replay at no cost. Works great.

Peice Of Crep
I Bought this peace of crip to record different things that I hear. It only records fuzz. I hate this piece of plastic. It cost me a few dollars to buy, and when I record sounds that I hear, it distorts them and makes them sound like flatulance. I can not believe that this peace of crud works so badly. Don't buy it. It should burn!

A 67 minutes recorder
I bought this recorder because it can record 180 minutes. There are three recording modes. For 180 minutes, you have to put up with very poor sound quality. The sound of standard play mode is excellent, but only record 67 minutes. ... Read more

Features

• SP and LP recording modes
• LCD panel display to check recording mode, remaining recording time, date and time
• Voice-activation for hands-free recording
• Supports removable SmartMedia cards for up to 22 hours of recording time
• Includes USB cable

Reviews (5)

I liked this recorder.
I used this recorder to record class lectures. In the small room that I used it in, the microphone worked very well. However, I was going to buy a nice external microphone if my recorder hadn't gotten fried (more below). I got the DS-2000 not only because it was from Olympus, but because one can use smart media to get more memory-- Olympus says it gets 22 hours or so on 64 mb of memory but not really--- you have to use the bad quality recording mode to get that much. I couldn't work with the bad quality recording mode-- it was just too bad for me.

All in all it was a good recorder. I did notice beeps in the recording occasionally (and with another Olypus recorder) but it was not at all frequent and not really a problem. The DS-2000 has a nice layout with easy to use tools.

Mine worked very well untill I plugged it into a car power adapter that I had in my car cigarette lighter. After a few seconds, for some reason, the electronics in the recorder started to burn and now it doesn't record right. I was hoping it was the memory card that got broken, but I might have to get a new recorder. If I do have to get a new recorder, I was probably going to get an Olympus DM-1. It is mostly the same as the DS-2000, I think, but with a better sound system and a few other features. I really plan to one day get a recorder that records in 44Kbps or more. The DS-2000 uses I think 12 Kbps in its best quality mode. I am going to wait until the prices come down on those, though.

Thank you for reading all of this.
Bottom line: The DS-2000 was a good recorder, but I would probably buy the DM-1 if I had to buy another recorder right away. I would buy an external microphone (though I have never used one). It seems to me that that might help in the recording quality. Eventually, I am going to get a recorder that has the highest recording quality I can afford (44Kbps or more)(I think the Olympus DM-90 currently has good quality).

Does what it claims to do
and is very good at it. I really like the VCVA feature. You can control the sensivity as well. Also the switch for dictation vs conference is very useful as well. Awesome/fast tech support. Had few questions about the software, and got them all answered in 5 mins.

The most important thing about digital voice recorders is: they should be easy to control and navigate. I must say DS-2000 is very easy to control and use.

Wish List:
It would be awesome if the software had the capability to export to mp3 format.

Good technology - durablity could be better
I've bought analog recorders for years and constantly been disappointed in the microphone quality, not to mention the annoyance of dealing with tapes. If you want quality you have to pay for it, and you pretty much get it with this product. In my case I was able to set it on a table and pick up presentation style audio more than 15 feet away (assumes the individuals were projecting, but not shouting). The playback was quite clear. The size, weight and functionality are good. The MP3 playback was nice, but dedicated MP3 players will always have better features.

My only complaint is that after more than a year, the price doesn't seem to have come down much. Considering that Olympus sells an improved DM-1 model for a similar amount, I would've expected a lower price for this.

I originally gave this product 4 stars, but after using it moderately for 10 months, have lowered it to 3 stars. My reason is that in less than a year, the headphones plug has malfunctioned so that audio only works in one ear, and to my surprise, the speaker stopped working. I understand that expensive electronics such as this can be fragile. But my advice to anyone purchasing this is to handle with care and keep your receipt and packaging ready.

Excellent for dictation
I use mine for medical dictation over internet. It has more memory than you will ever use. USB download is much, much faster than previous recorders with serial download (earlier Olympus models). Much better than tape machines: 1) longer battery life 2) don't have to buy microrecorder tapes ever again 3) file management better and faster (ie search, erase, playback).

AT ($$$), YOU WASTE ABOUT $200
Digital is so much better, right? Well, this misstep from Olympus didn't sound any better at all than my Olympus analog (microcassette) recorder. There was a very noticeable hiss during playback, and in order to hear my recording without laying the speaker almost directly against my ear, I had to turn the volume up past the point of distortion. Consider the fact that I am a Pentecostal preacher, and you might get the idea. As loudly as I speak, I shouldn't have to turn the thing up so high. This wouldn't be bad for a $50 recorder, but at ($$$), this is just a couple steps below robbery! I used the highest quality mode, and both high and low mic sensitivity, but the results were just not acceptable. It was on its way back within 72 hours. I liked the size, weight and the features, but the poor playback, combined with the low-wattage speaker, killed this recorder for me, at least at it's retail price. It's one strong feature is that you can connect it directly to a PC (no need for a card reader), but again, that just wasn't enough to save it from the return process.
Olympus makes the best ANALOG recorders, by my ears, but digitally, they have left much to be desired. If you want to spend ($$$) on a digital recorder, I'd highly recommend the Sony ICD-MS1. Same price (the one without the voice recognition software), basically the same features (except direct PC connection), but much better sound, I mean very much better. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus P-200 produces variable-size, professional images in the field and in the palm of your hand. It has all the essential features of a full-scale stationary printer, as well as direct editing capabilities such as sharpness control, date and time insertion, image cropping, and more.

The P-200 is compatible with most popular hardware and software. It links directly with most Olympus digital cameras, SmartMedia, and CompactFlash Type I and II cards. Optional parallel port and USB connection kits allow for unlimited PC image editing. Compatible graphics file formats include DPOF (for image scheduling and order assignment), JPEG, JFIF, EXIF, TIFF, and DCF.

The four-pass dye-sublimation system cranks out crisp 320 dpi prints in 2.1 million colors. Each print is sealed with a protective UV overcoat layer and measures 3 by 4 inches. The 25-sheet capacity A6 paper cartridge conveniently matches the ink ribbon's 25-print life, eliminating substandard pictures and wasted ribbon.

Streamlined in a case measuring 5 by 2 by 6 inches and weighing less than 2 pounds, the portable P-200 offers instant hard copies and test prints. ... Read more

Features

• Portable photo printer, ideal for travel
• 320 dpi dye-sublimation for true continuous-tone quality
• Accepts SmartMedia and CompactFlash Type I and II cards
• Prints A-6 size prints in approximately 90 seconds
• Choose 1, 2, 4, 9, or 16 images per page or a 40-image index print

Reviews (2)

Nice but some shortcomings
It overheats if asked to do more than 5 prints in a row. Once cooled (45sec.), it will continue, but heat problem & delays get worse. Considered a "normal" condition in the manual! Like a Windows crash is a "feature"???

A Digital Darkroom in the Field
Awesome is a horribly overused word, but this little puppy earns major kudos! It's terrbily intuitive, easy to use, runs on a honking big NIMH battery (or AC) and -- yes -- produces dye-sub prints that are rich and gorgeous and tough-to-tell from conventionally processed ones. If the big chasm preventing digital photography from going mainstream has been the lack of physical prints that you can stick in an envelope and mail to the relatives (or carry around in your pocket), the P-200 more than bridges that gap. It's a masterpiece of engineering. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus DS-320 digital voice recorder, with its 16 MB of built-in memory, will grant you up to 320 minutes of recording time. Its voice-activated recording mode automatically starts recording when the microphone sensessound, making it ideal for business meetings, school lectures, or personal notes. The VN-90 lets you move and save your messages in two different folders (99 messages per folder), and partial erase lets you erase one message at a time or an entire folder at once. The LCD displays recording time, voice-activation mode, date and time, play mode, and battery status. The DS-320 even includes IBM ViaVoice 8.0 speech recognition software for simple PC speech-to-text conversion (USB cable not included). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE WORST
I don't know where to begin with this product. I spent WEEKS trying to get this to work with voice recognition and the only result was my computer crashing - several times. The customer service at Olympus was USELESS as they kept telling me it was the software and the software company kept telling me it was Olympus. I finally returned it and settled on desktop version of Dragon Naturally Speaking. I don't have the mobility that I wanted, but I sure do have FEWER HEADACHES.

Handy recorder, excellent quality
Excellent voice quality on this digital recorder. Saving files onto your PC is a snap with the serial or USB cables. Use the software that comes with it to edit the recordings and then save them to WAV files that can be played on any system. The data compression is excellent -- the sound files are small and can be emailed or put onto floppy disk. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Record important memos or meetings on the Olympus S723 Microcassette Recorder Kit. It automatically reverses your tape when it reaches the end of a side during either recording or playback, so you don't have to worry about missing a discussion or flipping the cassette yourself. You can also save tape space by using dual tape speeds, giving you up to three hours of recording time on a 90-minute tape. The microphone is built in, and dynamic speakers deliver clear sound. The Olympus S723 is powered by either two rechargeable batteries or an AC adapter (not included). ... Read more

Features

• Uses standard microcassette tapes
• Auto reverse provides uninterrupted recording
• Dual tape speeds for longer recording time
• Cue/review for fast, easy message monitoring
• Auto shut-off feature conserves battery power

Reviews (3)

Nice product
I found this recorder very good. I'm very much satisfied with its mic sensitivity and play back. Most importantly the auto reverse feature it has, came good during my lecture hours. It also makes very less noise. No hangups of any sort. Even though it doesn't have an AC adapter slot, it doesn't matter as I don't use it anyway (who does for portable recorder). Anyways, it's an exellent product and em very much satisfied with it.

a nice product, but...no external mic jack
I bought this recorder specifically because it has the auto-reverse feature -- which I have had a hard time finding in microcassette recorders. I didn't even think to double-check to see if this unit had an external mic jack, assuming that was standard on all recorders. (My old one has it.) It seems like a nice product, but since I do many telephone interviews, it was useless for me. FYI the Model S725 (...) supposedly has an external mic jack (this info is from the manual).

OK but not great
The price is a bit steep but I think overall it is a good product i gueuss it's as good as any. But i usually go for cheaper things! ... Read more

Features

• Dual tape speeds give you up to three hours of recording time on a 90-minute tape
• Variable Control Voice Actuator for Hands-Free Recording
• Tape Counter for Easy Location of Previously-Recorded Passages
• Cue/review, built-in microphone & speaker, external jacks for earphone, microphone & external power

Reviews (1)

Disappointing for sure
The tape recorder did a poor job with picking up sound. The sound on the microcassette recorder was muffled and didn't do a good job picking sounds in a classroom, especially if the speaker is using a microphone. If you are looking for a top of the line recorder, I strongly recommend going with Sony ... Read more