Sony NWZ-S618F (8GB, black)

Pros: great sound, radio, easy to use with Mac (just drop the songs in), nice size

Cons: The player broke down 3 months after purchase: sound disappeared. Its serial number necessary for warranty repair is printed on a little sticker on the back panel of the player which gets worn or slips away easily in a pocket! Customer service sucks

Summary: I loved this player my wife gifted me for business travels and was absolutely happy with it before its sound disappeared one day. The customer service in Moscow, Russia, was so harsh and unwilling to do its job (after I had spent 70 minutes in a line!) that I had to make a decision to spend no more time trying to get the warranty repair. The service man has told me I lacked the sticker (which is easy to wear off in a pocket) where the serial number is printed on the back panel of player. Isn't that ridiculous to only stick the serial number to the back panel which is always in tension with whatever you carry your player in? Sure mine has slipped away one day and I could not even expect that it may be of any trouble! I have never expected such unwise construction from a reputed company like Sony. What can I do? Besides, the service men were so impolite that it seems of no pleasure to ever meet them again. All that has left me very much disloyal to Sony. My wife has spent money on the product, it has broken down 3 months after and I can't get the warranty service because of a flimsy reason! Nothing as ridiculous in my life before. Hope to never deal with Sony any more.