I have a Sony digitasl recorder I liked for it's compact size and ease of use but it was a battery hog. Making things worse, it only used two AAA batteries limiting battery life even further, forcing me to use rechargeble batteries which will discarge in about a month, even if unused. If the batteries were allowed to run down without replacement, the data stored in the unit would be lost. I had to carry extra batteries and keep them all recharged at least once a month.

I now use my cell phone's recording feature. It's a pain to get to since I have to go through a few layers of menu which can be distracting when driving (unlike the digital recorder which I could switch on and off by feel). Still, even though my cell phone stays buried in my purse turned off until I need it (I bought it for emergency use when I'm traveling), I find it less hassle to deal with in the long run.

Jeannie