Customer Reviews

Sony 128 MB MagicGate Memory Stick (MSG128A)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I think it's well worth buying a 64MB or, even better, this 128MB memory stick with a new Sony camera (that's what I did) but I don't see any reason to pay the premium in price between the Sony version and those made by competitors like Lexar, ScanDisk and others.

Sony will tell you that part of the speed of the camera depends to a large degree on the way the in-camera computer can access the memory card, but I have read articles that say that is just a tiny piece of the equation. And from experience, I can say that I see no difference in quality between my Sony card and the one from Lexar.

In the end, I give this card only three stars for reasons not related to quality but to price. These memory sticks have become simple commodities, like rice, cement or gasoline, and so the deciding factor in any comparison shopping should be price rather than brand. I would (and do) pay extra for Sony quality when it comes to digital cameras and other high-tech equipment, but I don't see a reason for it when it comes to memory sticks.

Many people will tell you that if you want to listen to MP3s on your Clie, you need to get a MagicGate MemoryStick. That's not quite the case...

It is true to say that if you use the music software that comes with the Clie, you will need a MagicGate MemoryStick. The Sony software uses Digital Rights Management (DRM), and only allows you to make a small number of copies of each music file, so you can't illegally share music with other people.

However, the audio player on the Clie is capable of playing normal MP3 files as well as DRM protected ones. So if you want you can just copy across regular MP3 files to a regular MemoryStick and listen to them.

What's more the Clie comes with software to allow you to mount the MemeoryStick as a Windoze drive while the Clie is in its cradle, so you can just use Explorer to copy the files across.

If you've already bought MagicGate MemorySticks, you can copy MP3s on to them too if you don't want to use the DRM software that comes with the Clie.

Having said that, if you're in the USA, I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to put regular non-DRM MP3s on MagicGate MemorySticks. It might constitute an offence under the DMCA, along the lines of circumnavigating encryption technology. You might want to check.

The blue Memory Sticks by Sony or Lexar play MP3 files just dandy. I should know, I've owned a Clie the past 2 years and I have been enjoying MP3s on my 128 MB Memory Stick since I bought my Clie.

All you need to do is put the MP3s you want to listen to in the MSAudio folder on the memory stick. In fact, Sony's manual even gives instructions on how to do this! For the price of ONE Magic Gate Memory Sticks you can buy TWO blue Memory Sticks of equal size! Don't believe me, visit cliesource.com and ask all the Clie users there.

Sony acts as if the ability to block MP3's is a virtue. Otherwise it functions like all of the other memory sticks out there.

SONY has released MAGIC GATE for converting MP3 to ATRAC (especially designed by SONY for copy right control).
It stores up to 125 minutes with 132 bits recording on a 128mb MG memory card.
Everything went on fine until middle of 2003 when all CDs come with COPY RIGHT CONTROL. Then I have no more use for my MAGIC GATE MEMORY STICK. I think SONY should do something about this.
The only reason when MAGIC GATE MEMORY STICKS are more expensive than the blue ones is because SONY pays for the copy right.
Now, I don't know what will happen to all the NETWORK WALKMAN, or NETWORK MD WALKMAN. They won't be able to download from cds to their walkmans. What will happen to MG Memory Sticks?

Despite what another reviewer said, you can run MP3 on non-Magic Gate memory sticks.

Upon finding this out of production memory stick it has allowed me to continue to use my old Sony camera that I love. The memory stick came in a short time and it works fine.

If you're getting a Sony camera don't forget to get some extra memory and the price worth it.

I've been taking hundreds of pictures with this memory stick. Buy it with your digital camera.

I bought a top of the line Clie recently and all the advertising and paperwork says all you need is a memory stick. WRONG! You need THIS memory stick. Without the Magic Gate addition the MP3 software will not copy any music or sound files to your Clie for use. If you buy any music playing hardware that uses a memory stick make sure it says Magic Gate or the equipment will not work.