David Looser wrote:
Nobody has mentioned the option of MSF control. Apart from anything else it
avoids the maintenance liability of battery backup, yet self resets after a
power cut.

What's this "MSF control", please, David?

Rang two or three Sony 0870 numbers yesterday for information on the UK
model I'm interested in, to report the Sony website states it has
"Battery backup" and yet reviewers say it hasn't and one Sony shop
assistant I got through to inspected the machine thoroughly and says it
is completely sealed (nowhere for battery replacement). Each Sony
person I got through seemed only able to scroll through exactly the same
documentation as I have on the Sony webpages! Have been promised a
call-back from some tiny-voiced young female responsible for Sony
production enquiries . . . but haven't heard anything yet. It appears
these big corporations make the things, give you the option of buying
them or not, but simply don't make personal specialist expertise
available.

Eddy.