Well actually I don't quite own it permantly yet, more I have paid for it under the condition that I have it on trial for a week.
Very impressed with my local music store that let me do this. They have also thrown in a 64mb SmartMedia card and a stero leads to connector to my audio system!
I have been looking into this unit for about 2 weeks incl posting a few questions to your excellent forum, reading the manual and looking at the associated software etc.
The first thing that struck me was the the size of it. It's sooooooo small! Almost too small I thought with the tiny buttons.
For the first hour I was a little apprehensive it seemd over complicated and difficult to use. Went back to read the manual (always a good idea) It slowly began to sink in, in terms of what you can do with it. Discovering how the sliders control/fade in and out, the various audio/rythm tracks was definately a high point for a novice like me I must admit I am impressed.
Something to note for any potential new owners (maybe it's just me) but it was not clear that the internal mic only works (lights up) if you have a mic effects patch selected. For about half an hour I thought the mic was broken! until I re-read the manual!
The only one thing I whish it had was a USB connection. I have borrowed one of those floppy drive SmartCard readers from a freind and it's a real pain. Maybe I should get one of those external SmartCard Readers that plug into the PC via USB.
Another point for a new owner is that the 8mb card is only any good for keeping a copy of the system files on. I have backed it up to my PC and now put it away write protected.
Could you all confirm that when you format the card in the machine it does not copy the system files onto the card ? If this is true anyone who does this (or corrupts their 8mb card) and does not have access to a PC is in BIG trouble!
I still have lots of fiddling to do trying it more over the weakend but so far I am impresed.
Oh BTW I paid £189 ($271) inclusive for all the above. Considering it was over £300 ($430) here 6 months ago and even more when it first came out, is pretty good
working your way trough the manual is a bit of a drag when all you want to do is make music, but it's essential. You'll want to keep it handy too, cause every once in a while you just can't remember how to do something.
That said, this machine is brilliant, and the more you use it the more you will love it. Get a card reader (about $20-$30 bucks) and you're set.
John
I Agree
January 19 2002, 1:36 AM
Jerry ... I totally agree with big Z ... good advice.
Pit
Buy it !
January 19 2002, 10:14 AM
Buy it and love it !
All you need is the PS02, a SM card >=64MB and a card reader.
USB Smart Media reader/writer a must.
January 19 2002, 4:32 PM
Hi,
I just got a SanDisk ImageMate USB Smart Media reader (it doesn't say on the package that it is also a writer, but it is.) It works great and was only $23 at BestBuy, a large chain store here in the US.
Jarv
Where did you buy
January 29 2002, 6:22 PM
Jerry, where did you get your machine. I am just about to pusrchase. Digital Village have it at that price, but I'd have to pay extra for the 64mb card.
Jerry
Re: New PS-02 Owner
January 30 2002, 2:37 PM
Jarv,
Promised I would not reveal details of which outlet I got it from, see below.
Basically they threw in the 64Mb card because the PS-02 had already been opened and used at one of their other outlets. The manual had been cleary read in detail and was a bit "dog eared". The box also had a 64Mb card in it which obvioulsy someone else had been using, so they threw that in to make up for the opened/used PS-02.
That said you can now buy 64Mb card off the web for approx £30-35 incl posting. Just don't buy them from PC World/Currys/Argos £100!!!
Regards
Jerry
Jarv
Thanks
January 30 2002, 7:12 PM
Jerry,
Thanks, I understand.
I have ordered a PS02 from Digital Village as there are a couple of outlets (www.photoglossy.com and www.mx2.com) that have 64mb card for under £20 inc. postage. They seem to be nearly giving these things away.
(always a good idea) It slowly began to sink in, in terms of what you can do with it. Discovering how the sliders control/fade in and out, the various audio/rythm tracks was definately a high point for a novice like me 
I must admit I am impressed.