olympus player pretty good
Overall it is nice piece of gear, but I have two gripes. It is only monaural, meaning you can only plug in your headphones and listen via one ear. I mean, c'mon, we can split the atom, but we can't have sound in both ears? Second issue is that if you download sound files to your computer, it is a .wav file and there is nothing easily accessible to convert it to .mp3 format, which most portable audio systems need. The file will not convert like most do when you try to import it into iTunes. Says I need some sort of codec. The whole point of downloading to your computer would be so you can listen to it with the portable media device of your choice.

Highly Dissatisfied
Unlike other folks with an unfavorable view, I didn't have any real problems installing the Olympus software and connecting the recorder to my laptop -- and this despite running an XP variant that produced a fail for some other reviewers. If this device will work at all for you, I suspect, the main trick is firstly to plug into the USB port and then run the software. Thereafter, if the software runs properly and you yourself are the least computer savvy, you'll work out the rest within a minute.

No, my problem is that the actual physical device interface and the instructions accompanying it are lacking. As others note, you don't get much in the way of a manual/instruction, and what you do get only covers running the recorder in conjunction with your PC -- as above -- and starts with the heading 'The feature of the Digital Wave Player.' In other words, it's rushed, ill-thought-through copy by somebody in China with imperfect English skills.

No big deal, maybe, because I could work that part out. What I couldn't get easily was the actual physical device. I work as a tech/science journalist and 18 months ago I picked up one of these things on the way to the airport and a trip to interview somebody. Once I'd got my boarding pass, I had fifteen minutes to play around with the recorder. The physical interface of a consumer device like this should be intuitive, especially when Olympus supplies no instructions on that side of things. Nevertheless, I struggled all that time just to set the time on the device. Then, I arrived at no explanation and/or got no results with the index function. Finally, although I could record sound and then stop the recording in tests, when I did my actual interview, I found afterwards that the device had simply turned off/failed to save after about thirty seconds into what would be a two-hour interview.

Fortunately, I also ran two tape cassette machines. But I've no explanation of why the device failed, how its index function works (or doesn't), and what exactly I did to set the time. Even if I'm an idiot -- and if I am, how come I got the USB connection, software and file downloading working immediately? -- a consumer device like this should be idiot-proof, especially when no instructions are supplied. Or maybe it wasn't just a matter of me and the interface design, but rather the unit I had was a lemon. Either way, Olympus gets a failing grade from me for this recorder.

Olympus Digital Recorder
I needed a small recorder for a specific job, and it lived up to my expectations. It's small, light weight and very easy to carry. I'm able to carry it with my camera in a small camera case. All that's needed are earphones! I'm pleased with my purchase.

Software Stinks!
The voice recorder works fine. It's the software that stinks! I have Windows XP and most of the time my system will not recognize this device. If I disconnect the voice recorder and then plug it back in my PC reboots itself. I've reinstalled the software and it makes no difference. I called Olympus and they were of no help! If so many users have this problem why can't they update their software??? I will never buy anything Olympus again!

Excellent Digital Recorder
The Olympus VN-960PC is a great digital recorder with excellent clarity, battery usage, memory size, and ease of use. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a recorder. An additional great feature is the voice activated recording. You can leave the recorder anywhere and it will only record when noise or voices are present. You won't go wrong with this one. The software is also good if you don't have any audio editing software already.