Olympus VN-4100PC (256 MB, 144 Hours) Handheld Digital Voice Recorder

Pros: Great quality and organization
Cons: There are only 4 folders. I need more!

It is true. I have a 300,000 word-a-day vocabulary quota. I run my poor husband ragged with the gift of gab. I have been yapping away since I was 9 months old and really haven't shut up since. What can I say? I have a lot to say, and I like the sound of ...

Pros: Good audio, convenient, easy-to-use, small, light, built-in speaker
Cons: Inflexible and limited software and PC connectivity

The VN-4100PC is the version of this Olympus voice recorder with a USB port and supplied cable for connecting it to your computer. The physical unit is excellent in my opinion. It is smaller and lighter than most cell phones, easily drops in a shirt ...

Pros: Great features. PC interface is a definite plus.
Cons: Alarm can only be set for 24 hours maximum. XHQ mode is not as advertised.

Although the VN-4100pc is a top quality product, I can only give bad marks for Olympus' honesty in advertising this product and for their unresponsive support department. I want to make everyone aware of the fact that Olympus is deceiving the buyer by ...

Pros: Cheap
Cons: Everything else

Audio quality is just short of horrendous for this device, even with a mic. I've conducted interviews with it on the table (only two feet away) and it mostly picks up background noise and air... for 35 dollars I was still very disappointed with it performance.

Pros: Functionally well designed
Cons: Awful recording quality in all modes

Disappointed for sure. Got it home, figured out how it works and installed the software on my PC in a jiffy, so they get points for ease of use in general. However, the recording quality in XHQ & HQ was maddening. Why even sell a product with such terrible output? Maybe I was so disappointed because my MP3 player, which has a simple recording function in it, did an outstanding job, but lacks the functions needed I'm used to in a recorder. The bottom line is I'm returning it to Best Buy for the Sony P520 model (I believe). If that doesn't meet my demands for voice quality, then I'll try a plug in microphone. Interestingly enough though, my wife's voice sounder much better than mine, but still it didn't sound that much like her.

Pros: Good recording time in XHQ, Timer, USB
Cons: Garbled LP

I chose this model because of the timer. The sound quality in XHQ is OK, but not what I would consider even medium quality. The recording time is more than adequate. The LP mode is hopelessly garbled. The USB connector enables me to transfer files to a computer, a big plus.

Pros: PC compatible
Cons: Speaker failed prematurely

I had a bad experience with the Olympus model VN-4100PC digital voice recorder. After about two months of use I lost the audio and had to send the unit back for service (shipping at my expense). I was disappointed that after only two weeks of use, the speaker failed again. I will not send it back again for repair as it is too costly to do so. Consequently, it is just collecting dust on top of my desk.