I have a recent model Sony clock radio with the lovely 7-inch LCD screen and a slide-out drawer for the iPhone. This Sony clock radio comes with a slot in the back that accepts both Sony Memory Sticks and SD Cards.

The whole industry had the fiasco of memory cards...... CF, SD/MMC, MS, SM, XD. To be unfair to Sony, they are the last ones to shift to the makeshift de facto standard of SD.

agreeing with everything you said, nice analogy with MS

No it's not, it's all about Sony noticing that the SD format is THE current standard and, by not implementing it, Sony is loosing market share.
Sony is the last company that cares about "providing consumers with choice". If that were actually the case, Sony would not be hell-bent on locking everything down with its ridiculous DRM fiascoes and user-restrictive options (like region codes, which just about everyone but Sony only pays lip service to).
Sony worried about providing choice is about as likely as Microsoft worried about not adopting open source fast enough. Not bloody likely.

@Jason

Actually Sony is years behind the times on this issue. Laptops have been shipping for years with PDF manuals and user guides. Apparently users are able to figure out where the power button is and use the touchpad or USB mouse without reading the instructions :P

I refused to buy a memory stick for my PSP. Why should I pay extra because Sony (and only Sony) use the MS card format. Much cheaper and more useful to buy a MicroSD and adaptor.

8gb Micro SD With Micro SD to Pro Duo Adapter - £17.38

SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo - £26.08

Is they charge the memory stick too freaking much!

"and the netbook will be shipped without an instruction manual to save paper."

I've been laughing for the past five minutes over this, it's the worst idea I've heard in a very long time. Maybe next they'll make something that uses voice commands, but in only one language for the entire world.

Stupid, stupid, stupid and that's practically a compliment considering how retarded this idea is.

I JUST BLEW $4.50 ON A CR-5400 MEMORY STICK PRO DUO ADAPTER THAT TAKES DUAL MICRO SDHC CARDS FROM DEAL EXTREME .COM FOR MY STUPID SONY CAMERA.
SOMEBUDDY NEEDS TO SLAP SONY UPSIDE THE HEAD?

Alas, if only they gave in on BluRay as well and start building HD DVD player.

Oh well, you win some you lose some.

"...Sony will now start selling VHS video recorders alongside its Betamax VCRs. It'a all about giving consumers more choice"

With the Memory Stick, Sony has again tried and failed to impose one of its proprietary standards.

How long before they drop MS altogether?

I have dissuaded many friends from purchasing Sony Cameras/Camcorders simply due to the Sony Memory Stick incompatibility with all other non-Sony devices. It is long past due for Sony to 'cave' on the SD front.