On Dec 6, 2005, at 7:10 AM, mike wilson wrote:
At least this time, they may have a point.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?
forum=1000&message=16139935
Their reasoning is a big pile of crap. If you want to stop people
from
confusing two different kinds of battery, make them a different
shape!
They admit what I suspect is the real reason though - locking their
competitors out of the spares market. Or possibly the existence of
spare batteries threatens the "planned obselescence" of their
products...
They have been doing this for years. I don't think I have ever
seen a pattern Sony spare. I can't (easily....) buy genuine ones
because I am not an authorised repairer. My choice is to get all
work done by authorised Sony agents or not buy Sony products.
Anyone care to guess my choice?
Not to be an advocate for Sony...
I had three Sony digital cameras and traveled with them extensively.
They took a Li-Ion battery that I was able to find both Sony and
third party replacements for all over the US, in Japan, in the UK and
Europe. Even on the Isle of Man. Nearly every electronics/video store
carried them.
Godfrey
