Good points. I found the same lack of quality support with Sony Vaio laptops. Therefore I
won't buy Sony.

As for using Lithium AA's in the camera. There is absolutely NO reason why you should not
be able to use them. Electrically they are the same as any other AA batteries, they just
last longer. I buy mine from Sears at ~$10.00 for 4 x AA batteries (better price than Radio
Shack).

I use them in my Quantaray QTB-9500A external flash module and I previously used them in my
Olympus D460-Z camera (gave camera to parents). I also use them in portable CD player and
other equip't. and they last so much longer than alkaline batteries.

Dave




"unavailable" wrote in message
link.net...
| I bought a Sony Cybershot DSC-W1 the other day. I tested it out, and the
| indoor photos with flash were dismal. I was replacing an Olympus C-3000,
| and at 3.2 megapixles, it blew the Sony away in picture quality. Almost
| every shot I took with the new Sony W1 was soft, and the white balance was
| off, leaving every white wall in my house either yellow or green. I was not
| impressed at all.
|
| Worse than that, I contacted Sony's 800 number to ask them a couple of
| questions about the camera. I found out that they have NO technical
| experience or information whatsoever. They can merely regurgitate what is
| already printed in the manual. I tried to ask them if I can use Lithium
| batteries in the camera (not the rechargeable type, just the energizer light
| blue and silver batteries that are AA lithium batteries made specifically
| for digital cameras,) they said no, you can only use Alkaline or the
| rechargeable NiMH batteries. When I asked them why, they said they don't
| know, and there are no technical resources for them to ask. (Energizer said
| they would work, since they are made to work wherever you would normally use
| alkaline) but Sony said NO, they won't work strictly because that what was
| printed in the manual. I can't figure out why, but the manager of customer
| service for Sony said there was nobody to ask the question to at Sony.
|
| The other question I had for them was can I use a Memory Stick Pro Duo in
| the camera and they also said no. (I found out later that in the manual it
| says you can, but that's not the point.) The point is, they said no you
| couldn't use it because it was a "smaller" memory card and it wouldn't fit.
| I even tried to "teach" the guy at Sony that the whole purpose of the duo
| card is so that you can use it in equipment that takes EITHER size card, and
| that you would use it with the adapter in the W1, but he insisted that you
| couldn't use it in that camera. What an idiot.
|
| The bottom line is that when you call Olympus' technical support, they have
| TECHNICIANS on the other line that are capable and willing to answer your
| technical questions, and if they don't know the answer, they will put you on
| hold and try to find it out. (I imagine that other companies like Cannon
| and Kodak would as well.) Sony on the other hand was UNWILLING to do that.
| They could tell you what was in the manual, (and sometimes not even that)
| and then tell you they can't help you anymore.
|
| That left a very bad taste in my mouth (what would I do if I actually needed
| service on the camera??) and I promptly returned the camera to the store and
| bought the new Olympus C-60 for the same price from Sams Club (but 6
| megapixles instead of 5.) I tested the Olympus out and already my first
| impression is that it is way better than the Sony. I am now very happy.
|
| I just wanted to post this because maybe I can save some of you from making
| the same mistake of buying the Sony W1 camera that I did. It is not a good
| model, and SONY is NOT a good company to buy a digital camera from if you
| would like any kind of customer service or support.
|
| I've always been happy with Sony, and frankly I was shocked at how much
| their company has changed recently with it's customer service, but It will
| be a while before they will regain my trust again. And I was just about to
| go out and buy a Sony 50" LCD Big Screen TV. Now I'm going to consider a
| different company.
|
| Just a word to the wise... STAY AWAY FROM SONY.
|
|