That Walkman thing makes one wonder about the whole future of DRM for music and ebooks... If you buy a book, it's yours and as long as you keep it on the shelf you can read it. But if you buy a DRM or proprietary format book or song, you can only use it as long as the reader and the platform and the format are supported. You may have to upgrade software or hardware just to read that silly book. Or you may lose the file (easier than losing a book I think).
So if the software isn't upgradable in the future, or you don't want to upgrade your hardware, then your book is a worthless bunch of encrypted bits.
I agree not many consumers have really caught on to the long run issues yet, but we're learning that if sellers keep changing the platform you have to keep buying the content. What a great way to pry the $$s out of your pocket!
I realize there's some need for DRM. But someone's gotta figure out a better way to protect consumer rights. How about copyrights only lasting for 5 years on audio, video, writing? Why do we need to protect rights longer than that anyway? Do you really think the movie studios will stop making movies, or music artists will stop performing if they only get 5yrs revenue out of their creations? Hardly! It will still be a great chance to make money and people like to do art anyway. But then the public benefit would be huge!
Okay, sorry, this is supposed to be about Sony's new product. It is, sort of...
Back on topic
For this to work for Sony and consumers, we had better find a better balance between user and provider for DRM. (How's that for a save?!)
And as far as buying Sony products, I used to be a mass consumer of Sony electronics. No more. Only the very best products will overcome my "no more Sony" sentiments.