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|  | |  | | | Olympus VN-4100PC Digital Voice Recorder | | | | | SKU:
OLY-60606-1 | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | Only 1 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | Olympus Vn-4100Pc Dig. Audio Rec | | | |
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Our Price:
| $189.00 | |
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| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 4.0 inches | | Product Width: | 1.5 inches | | Product Height: | 0.8 inches | | Product Weight: | 0.5 pounds | | Package Length: | 8.7 inches | | Package Width: | 5.9 inches | | Package Height: | 1.8 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 230 reviews |
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| | Features | Robust and versatile digital voice recorder with USB PC linkUp to 144 hours recording time; 256 MB internal flash memoryOrganize and store recordings in four separate folders,25-hour battery lifeSpecify particular point in recording or playback with index marks for easy reference
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 230 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
233 of 235 found the following review helpful:
 An excellent value Dec 21, 2007
By L. F. Smith
The Olympus VN-4100PC is an excellent value. It's perfect for tasks such as recording a lecture or meeting, making verbal to-do lists, practicing a speech or presentation, and so on. Some reviewers criticize it because it's not very good at recording music, and the play-back is monaural, and they're right. It's not really designed for professional-style, stereo recording. As is the case with all machines, you have to live within its design limits.
The VN-4100PC has some very nice features that make it an excellent value. It is shirt-picket small and very light weight. The controls are simple and intuitive enough that you can operate it out of the package, without even reading the instructions. (However, the instructions tell you how to perform important setup functions, so you should read them.) In short, it's a nice, small, light personal audio recorder.
The built-in microphone is actually pretty good, but if you leave the recorder in your pocket while you're recording, you'll get quite a bit of ambient noise. The same can happen if you prop it on a book. There are two ways to work around this limitation, which is inherent to all similar recorders. Either put the machine on something soft on the desk, such as a coat, or buy an external microphone. The external microphone is probably the best way to go; you'll get far superior electronics, and it's easy to clip or place the mic so you can avoid the ambient noise.
This certainly isn't a high-end, professional-grade recorder. It wasn't designed to be one. Rather, it's a convenient, low-cost personal recorder that does exactly what it's supposed to do. It's an excellent value for the money. I'm very happy I bought it, and I'd do it again.
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Added June 9, 2009:
When I bought my recorder in December, 2007, it cost about $50. That's why I called it an excellent value; the feature set at that price was unmatched by any competitive recorder. However, now it's up to $175. Wow! There's no way on earth I'd pay that much for it! For $175, it should be gold plated!
347 of 359 found the following review helpful:
 if upgrading, be careful Jul 21, 2007
By M. Ikemoto
I've owned previous versions of these Olympus voice recorders, for example, the VN-240PC. I wanted the latest model so I could get more recording capacity. Two problems with the VN-4100PC:
1. It lacks a pocket clip. Previous versions had this. The pocket clip prevents the voice recorder from sliding around in one's pocket and preventing that sliding-around noise from getting picked up by the recorder when you move around, walking around giving a presentation, etc. Not to mention the recorder falling out of your shirt pocket when you bend over, or if it's in your jacket pocket and you pick up your jacket, etc.
2. The index button is now toward the bottom of the recorder. In previous versions, it was toward the top. Since this button will be used as frequently or more frequently than the Stop, Play, or Record buttons, it should be toward the top for easier access. Also, if I'm giving a presentation and moving around a room, I'd like to be able to press the index button easily without having to take the recorder out of my pocket or carrying it in my hand. Since the index button is now deeper in my pocket, it makes clicking the index button more difficult.
3. This new model still only allows 10 index marks per recording. This is not enough. If I'm using XHQ mode, I can record over 11 HOURS for one recording, more if I use lower-quality recording modes. Index marks are very helpful for reviewing a recording and going back to particular important points in the recording rather than having to listen to the whole recording or having to search around in the recording for these important points. With only 10 index marks per recording, that's very limiting.
4. The Digital Wave Player software comes with the voice recorder. The software allows you to review a recording once you've downloaded it to your computer. This software is still missing some functionality. For example, a faster-playback mode, double the normal playback speed so you can review the recording more quickly. Since the recorder itself can do this, it would be nice if the playback software could do the same thing to make reviewing easier, especially since you're allowed only 10 index marks per recording :-) .
167 of 183 found the following review helpful:
 Not PC friendly... Slow... Clunky software... Not Mac compatible... Sep 13, 2007
By T. Smith
"T. Smith"
This unit does a poor job of transferring files to a PC. It is a bit slow transferring files. Takes about a full minute or two to transfer a 10 minute recording. Unlike many other similar USB devices, this one does not allow you to access it as a removable USB drive. You can install the drivers but there is no way to access the unit to copy the files directly from the unit. You have to install and use the slow and clunky software. As a stand alone unit it works fine and for that I would have given it a higher rating. However, this unit is specifically marketed as a PC unit and for use with a PC it is a poor choice due to the clunky and slow method to transfer files from the unit. It also is not Mac compatible at all. For the price I'd give it 4 stars if it was not for use with a PC. If you plan to use it with a PC it is a 1 to 2 star unit.
35 of 36 found the following review helpful:
Pitiful software. Feb 07, 2008
By Harrkev
"harrkev"
First of all, the hardware itself is brilliant. The sound quality (in extra-high quality mode) is quite nice, the user interface is well-thought-out, and it is a pleasure to use.
However, the problems occur when you try to connect this thing to your computer (if you don't need to do this, buy the non-"PC" version and save yourself the money). First of all, there is absolutely no Linux support. Of course, this is not surprising, but it would have been nice (and saved me some headaches).
So, I tried to connect this thing to a Windows XP-Pro box. First, I installed the drivers and then plugged it in ... nothing. So, I uninstall the drivers and re-install. Plug in the recorder again, and instant blue-screen-of-death (BSOD). I install the latest update from the internet, and it *finally* worked, and worked well... Until the next time that I try to use it. I plug it into a different USB port, and Windows wants to re-install the driver, which leads to an eventual BSOD again. After a reboot, I plug it into a DIFFERENT USB port, and instant BSOD. So, this thing only works on ONE USB port on my computer without crashing it. I know a *LOT* about technology (I design digital hardware for a living), my computer is virus and mal-ware free, and the XP install is relatively fresh (less than a year old, and I use Linux most of the time). Clearly, their drivers are very fragile.
You might get lucky, it might work well for you. Then again, it might not. You pays your money, and you takes your chances. If you buy one, good luck. My computer-illiterate mother-in-law actually carries this, and I transfer the files to CD for her (yes, I have done this, despite what the FAQ on the Olympus web site says). If I were going to get one for myself, I would look strongly at the Panasonic models and hope that the drivers were better.
24 of 24 found the following review helpful:
Great for classes Feb 07, 2008
By Brandon Solomon
"Nomolos"
I use this recorder for classes and I am happy that I made the purchase. Being able to now convert all the sound files to my computer and then to CD helps out immensly and I can now even sell the lectures that others have missed. This works out for the people who would rather write their own notes vs. copying someone else's often incomplete notes.
The LP quality on the recorder is the worst I have ever recorded under and I learned the lesson quickly (this quality was sufficient on the previous version of this recorder). It seemed that no matter how close the professor was to the device, the sound quality was like he was a million miles away with a paper megaphone in the pouring rain.
Basically, no matter how much time you lose (only with LP do you get the 1134hrs of recording time), dont scrimp on the recording quality or you will only regret your decision later.
On XHQ, the quality is so great that it is no less than amazing. Anything with an 8ft (about 12ft at the maximum) radius of the device is picked up with crystal clear clarity. The only downside for me are people who want to make continuous noise or talk too much. (I cannot tell you how many times I have had to talk to someone about clicking their pen or refusing to shut up).
Other than the clip that used to come with this device not being there anymore, the only other problem that I have come across is the type of plastic used. See, the device doesnt need much of an incline to slide and even something as mild as the incline of a desk will be enough to make the device slide. My suggestion, take something like a yellow kitchen glove, cut it into strips, and then glue one of the strips to the bottom of the device.
All in all, this purchase wont be regretted if you make it.
See all 230 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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