Please hit the YES button at the end of this - thanks!

Now then... you wouldn't think loading a new MP3 with your music library would be difficult, would you? After all, ALL I wanted to do was upgrade my Sony 4gb MP3 (the NW-A806) player, to a bigger version in the Sony range (the NWZ-A818). But of course it WASN'T the same range! That little 'Z' in the title made all the difference when it came to downloading music.

After filling up the 4gb player in a matter of a few months, I thought I would be able to just unwrap the new 8gb version, plug it into my computer and download from Sony's Sonic Stage CP ver.4.3 where all my albums are kept and from where the 4 was loading from.

Could I heck!!! It turns out that this 8gb prefers to download all its' songs through Windows Media Player. Never mind, I thought. I shall just pop the disk in that came with the device and click/drag them across from Sonic to Media Player. No chance!

It appears they are a different type of file and need to be converted. Now, as you have gathered I'm just a dizzy blond and don't have a degree in computer science. Nevertheless, I did think things would be a little quicker and easier than THIS!

The next job was to send the Sonic Stage converter (supplied) to 'go fetch' . Let me tell you folks, this one year old computer churned away all afternoon converting music. Unfortunately it didn't just go and fetch music...oh no! Every photograph of every dodgy Spanish holiday I've ever had is on there as well (which I didn't want)! Another option, I read on the internet, would have been to save the albums on a disk in the correct format and transfer them that way. I am not sure how many disks I would have needed or if that was quicker or easier?

Anyone who is familiar with computers will know that you can go into My Computer while the device is connected and remove any pictures, videos and music from there if you want to. Unlike my lovely little 4gb there doesn't seem to be a 'trash can' option on the new device which enables you to isolate stuff ready for deletion when you next plug it into the computer.

I am sure when it is finally loaded with all my current 3.500 songs I will be over the moon with the new mp3 player. (If you are thinking of getting a Sony mpg, do shop around, Amazon have some great deals and next morning delivery for example). But for the time being I can only assume that the 'zed' in the title of the Sony NWZ-A818 refers to the sleeping you have to do if you want to transfer your Sonic music to Media Player mp3 files!

One plus about this new 8 gb is that the battery lasts hours and hours - much longer than the 4gb

Advice, comments, handy hints on the 818 player are most welcome, by the way. Did you have the same problem? Do you love yours or hate yours?  I have to say the ear phones that come with both devices are 'in the ear' style and I love 'em. On both devices the 'do not disconnect' sign comes up constantly when it is connected to the computer, so I don't know when I am supposed to disconnect. Frankly I just think 'drat the darn thing' and disconnect anyway without a problem. Anyone else found this?? 

Thanks for reading. Do check out my other top rated guides and give them a yes vote too if you feel so inclined - its free and anonymous!

Dressing-2-Kill