Why I buy this one ?
- Compact, high-quality digital voice recorder with 256 MB internal flash memory
- Records up to 68 hours of WMA audio; built-in music player stores up to 66 WMA or MP3 files
- USB Direct design plugs directly into PC USB port; 4 recording modes (HQ, LP, SP, and HQ Stereo)
- 5 separate file folders with 199 files each; voice activation mode enables hands-free recording
- Runs for roughly 15 hours on 1 AAA battery; 1.5 x 3.73 x 0.43 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Super Deal offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $92.00 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Beach Camera offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $99.99 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Zalmar offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $134.87 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

meeow007 offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $139.95 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

BuyAccessories offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $178.95 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

What our customer's say!

"great but not long-lasting", This is a phenomenal speech and song (for rough sketches) recorder w/o all the ambient and hand-movement noise problems, etc. that so many have. However, it did not take all that long to start going on the fritz (I think I came close to losing 3 full folders of sketches!) and also to suddenly start sucking batteries dry in under an 1/2- 1 hour's usage (having always given me amazing battery life before).

At this expense I would expect 4-6 years of life not 1 or so. I'm having trouble finding a different (and more durable) one that lives up to it's high standards and will work with Vista (this is fine with Vista, I guess, since it's simple; ironically, a lot of newer ones are not). Most of the good ones seem to be geared toward usage with a tripod which defeats my peripatetic purposes.

You won't be able to cut in halfway through a track for editing or any of that fancy stuff.

My other beef is that it should have more storage space. I had hoped to keep a couple of MP3 albums on it too, but I need all the space for recording.

"Very bad product - avoid at all costs", Before considering to purchase this recorder, please do a search for the model number on google: OLYMPUS WS-300M. You will find that many many people have "memory error" malfunctions the moment they change the battery for the first time. From this point on the product no longer works (ever). The manual says that this error message indicates that the unit needs to be returned to OLYMPUS as it is an internal memory error.

It is very light and compact, but the battery disconnects from the main unit when you use the USB port meaning that you may need to reset the date and time.

Maybe you can return it when it malfunctions, but you know what a hassle it is to deal with returning anything purchased on the internet.

This product is not worth the hassle. Mine worked for abou 20 minutes and never again. I spent USD80 and it was money out the window. I am sure Panasonic or Sony make less nice looking but more reliable products.

Good Luck !!!

"Finicky", I bought one of these last year and loved it for the first several months. The sound quality was great. It was easy to put recordings on my computer, and it was Mac compatible. But every time I've used it in the last two months, it's shut off a few minutes into an interview. I've replaced the battery, cleared the contents, everything. But the problem keeps happening, so I'll have to replace it with another model. As a journalist, I can't afford for my digital recorder to be this finicky

"Good buy, lots of fun", I love this little dvr. I use it as an audio diary, so I am always alone and in a quiet place while recording. I don't know how it would be for use in a classroom or meeting, don't know the strength it has to pick up a speaker from afar. For how I use it, it is great. I tried the music feature also with no problems. I liked that the file format is WMA as I have trouble converting my files and never could find an answer as to how to do it. When your folder is full just plug it into your computer and burn a cd. Couldn't be easier. If I would list one complaint it would be that it doesn't let you know when your folder IS full, and I have all ready lost entries. Also, because of its small size, the screen is very hard for me to see, but I do have eye problems, so that may not hold true for everyone else. All in all I love this little dvr and I'm very happy I bought it. (Got it at Radio Shack, cheaper than on Amazon, which is unusual)

"handy for all computers, bad dication", I've had better sound out of other recorders, BUT I was searching for anything Mac compatible. Actually quite challenging.

This is easy to use and I like that I don't have to install software with every computer I use. I plugged it directly into my Mac and my friend with a PC strolls on over to download it to hers really fast before our next class. Easy.

Dictation is awful. I read some reviews on this sight and the guy who used it to speak into on that setting was entirely correct. It sounds like The Matrix is about to take over. I seriously can't listen to it because of the warped sound. Dictation is not an option on this item. If you want dictation, I also bought an Olympus DS-330, (darn forgotten Ebay bid), and that's a-whole-lot more professional. I may use it for dictation, but the lecture recording is not as good as the Olympus WS-300M.

If you don't have to mess around with the market's incompetent attempt to accommodate a Mac, I would recommend the Olympus VN-3100PC. It has 71 hours of pure lecture joy recording capacity. That was the first one I bought. Oops. PC only. I think it has better sound than the WS-300M and it's not as light.

Oh - this is not made out of material like an iPod nano or something - it's a light plastic. As such, you can really hear the pushing of buttons and shuffling around regardless of careful handling.

So, this recorder was stolen, the first one was for PC and the third one I got off of eBay where they failed to mention that there was no software so I can't get lectures onto my computer unless I pirate something or wander around campus searching for someone with the disk because Olympus does not have very friendly customer service, (i.e. they may be non-existent or possibly alien). Beware of second hand deals.

Having gone through all of that, I think I'm just going to get a iPod with a microphone. There's plenty of memory and I don't have to worry about it not hooking up to my computer. Plus, if it ends up sub-par I at least have an iPod. For Mac people, we just don't have very many options.

I hope that helps and you don't have to stare at reviews for hours at a time thinking, "Oh my God, I'm getting closer to death every hour I sit here."

Caboose.

Read this reviews before You buy...

"Loved it, but it STOPPED WORKING after 5 months.", I loved this product, but now, whenever I set it down, or if there are any movements around the recorder (such as setting another item on the table where the recorder is) the recorder "loses its place" and goes back to the introductory screen. It seems like maybe the wiring is loose. I took good care of it, so I am not sure why this happens. (Of course, I've tried changing the batteries and all of that. It just seems to be an internal problem.)

"Work just perfect", Work just perfect
I usedevery day, is very comfortable,very good
Is a good investment.
You do not going to regretted


"Worked for two months!", I really liked this DVR and then it malfunctioned right after the return window closed.

As far as sound quality - it is OK for unimportant voice recording. If you are going to use it for remote podcasting, you may want to spend some more money and go with the Zoom H2. The microphone recording is in mono which is lame.

I mainly used it for recording ideas. I would then periodically transfer the files to my computer.

After about a month I ran into the problem of No computer could recognize it. I have tried it with four different computers and none of them recognize it. This pretty much makes the unit worthless to me since i transfer my audio files weekly. I have checked the forums and there is no answer in sight for this problem.

Now after spending all this money, i feel cheated.



"It is giving memory error", I bought this on Sep 27th and hardly used it. Now giving memory error. When I insert into the PC it is asking for format, when I select Yes, it says write protected. Since I bought it from amazon.com not able to exchange it. Had I bought it in BestBuy I would have exchanged it. I am feeling bad.

"Strange things about this player", Does great recordings but really should do Mp3 but doesent... that said I purchased this exact recorder exactly 1 year ago for $76 - and have now lost it at work... can't believe the price has doubled since then... wtf