I've owned this player for at least four years. And, although I haven't used it for awhile --perhaps six months-- I didn't leave it plugged in and I don't use batteries. So when I plugged in in today, I fully expected it to run. It hadn't been dropped, drenched or otherwise abused, it had just been left hanging on the rail of my treadmill. And the thing won't work. It'll indicate a track for a disc, but then shut down. No sound, no anything. I was going to listen to some jazz while on the treadmill, but now I have to get a new cd player. Bummer.

I bought this CD player about 4 years ago or more. Got to college, gave it to my girlfriend who dumped me after one semester. Really regret it. I bought the newer version and I hate it. I'm buying the older version again. I had the one with the radio built in though, works excellent. I cannot make this CD player skip at all, I've tried. Very heavy duty, relatively water proof. Not concerned about jogging in the rain with it. It has a joystick where I would assume it is more vulnerable but no problems with mine. I'm a 21 year old college student who's buying it again. Even if you don't use the cd player it is a pretty cheap radio with pretty good reception that is comfortable to run or walk around with.

I've owned several CD walkmen, including a Panasonic just like this one.
This one is better because it's easier to program, and the controls are so easy to operate while walking. I also love the resume function where when you stop the CD and you start it again it picks up where you left off. The battery life is also great. Even after a week it was down only one bar. The skip protection is great too. Just like my Panasonic it's very hard to get it to skip. All in all a great product. Great Job Sony!