Does anyone use Mini Discs?

[kelalake1]

Whats the life epectancy of these things? Anyone see people using them or buying them 5-10 years from now or are they going to go out as fast as laser disc movies??

 

[IcemanJer]

I doubt anything that small that can hold 80 minutes of recorded music will go out of style that fast.

 

[serialb]

I have my first minidisc recorded 7 years ago and it still plays without any problem. Chances are your MD players/recorders breaks down before your MD.

serialb

Iceman: The newer recorders with MDLP can now record 4 x 74 minutes on 1 MD.

 

[isekii]

i'm using it..

it has very long life expectancy.. but that all varies by brand too..

I'm pretty sure.. they will think of putting Mp3zz on Minidiscs just like CD's..

which will most likely drive the Memory based MP3 players out of business..

MD costs 1.00-1.50 each about same amount of data as CDR
MMC or CF Cards: 64mb costs about 40-50 bucks stores small amount of music..

 

[yellowperil]

I think they can theoretically be re-written a million times or more. One thing though, when I write over the same track multiple times, it decreases my total recording time each time it's re-written until I erase the entire disc.

 

[VinY]

I don't think Minidisc will never become a standard. It is just another medium.

 

[dc]

isekii: md's do not hold the same amount of data as a cdr.

they only hold ~150megs if i remember correctly.

 

[randomlinh]

MD's still don't have the 100% shock proof. And ram just gets cheaper overtime. I'm not saying i like mp3s more, i'd like to get my hands on an mrz900 or mt877 but its too costly, and i've tried running w/ a 40sec anti skip player (both MD and cd), they will still skip. The 1x recording time is a slight annoyance sometimes too, but supposedly sony is coming out w/ something for some real USB transfer (not this gimicky USB crap they include now.... EVERYONE i speak to regarding MD thinks it will transfer like mp3... gotta tell them it's just a USB->optical cable basically)

with that said, when will MD prices DROP! damn you sony.

 

[NutBucket]

I've got an MZR-900 and that sucker will only skip if the disk itself is soiled. Yes, MD only holds about 150 megs, so its not "true" cd quality. However, the ATRAC3 compression scheme is far superior to MP3 in my opinion. Even in 2x record mode, the output is superior to a 128k mp3 file. These things are wonderful.

 

[Mday]

<< MD costs 1.00-1.50 each about same amount of data as CDR >>



NOT DATA, but music. due to the way frequencies (that we supposedly can't hear) are stripped from recording to minidisc.

since minidiscs are based on MO technology, it can last over 1000 years without data corruption. but most won't because of humidity and such...

--

if someone makes a mp3 player based on minidiscs (data minidiscs exist), i would consider it.

but imation has that data play thing that holds 500MB on a MO based media that is about the size of compactflash. they are releasing a bunch of multimedia devices (camera, mp3 player) as well as regular drives for that media.

 

[n0b7e]

Links to some very good Mini-disc players would be very helpful... i might get one of these....

 

[Killbat]

I sold my Rio to get an MZ-R37, and I have never, ever regretted it.
At this point, I think MD is the superior portable audio system.

 

[aceO07]

I have a Sony MZ-R90. It's great.

Here's a link for more info on minidiscs. Link

 

[Bomberboy]

I have the MZ-G750 ... it is pimptacular... MD owns all.

 

[psteng19]

i think the question asked was whether or not MD technology will last; last meaning MD's being just a fad, or being an accepted standard like cassettes/CD's. not the expected lifetime of the MD player or disc itself.

my opinion is that it will not last, UNLESS other companies other than sony, sharp, etc. adapt it, AND until the price of player/recorders drop. MP3's are just too huge now. everyone knows about MP3's. not true with MD's. i have run into people that have never even seen/heard of MD.

 

[CattyKathy]

Depends where u are, in Hong Kong, it's not EVER gonna go out, in US, I haven't really seen it going IN, so, depends where u are. Different places, different trend.

 

[dc]

yeah, md's are entrenched in asia.

 

[KevinH]

MD prices have dropped. Just not for the latest and greatest but seriously, the older models which still have most of the features of the newer ones can be had for 100-200 bucks (it's better to get an older high end system than a newer low end system anyhow).

 

[n0b7e]

thanks for the link...

so pick a MD over a mp3 player?

any specific good ones?

 

[Antoneo]

n07be: Uhm if you have ~320 to burn you might wanna check out Sony's top model the R900. I am saving up for one of these unless the mp3 player market comes out with something better (cost to featurewise). here's another link: T Station

 

[n0b7e]

thanks man gonna check it out tomorrow when i'm *fully* awake...

 

[Bluga]

mp3 players sucks, i just got and Sony MZ-R900 MD recorder (all metallic case)and it rocks , with MDLP you can record up to 160 minutes of CD quality music and its blank disc is dirty cheap($2), its doesn't skip, with G-shock i shaked for 10 minutes and it still doesn't skip, the only down side is the recording time though. I'm goin to sell my mp3 player soon. Sony is going to release a NET MD soon, which will allow USB transfer.


Features

-MDLP Long time stereo recording (up to 320 min. recording on an 80min disk)
-Includes Digital PC Link Kit - external D/A converter connects between your PC's USB port and the -MD recorder's digital input.: Compatible with any Jukebox/Player application to record all internet audio formats
-G-protection technology: combines three core technologies that move the MD laser pick-up in sync with the MD being played, which actually prevents many skips before they occur
-Personal Disc Memory remember s sound settings for 20 different discs
-&quot;Name Bank&quot; stores 600 most frequently used characters
-Sony's famous Jog Dial
-Redesigned LCD stick remote control
-&quot;One Touch Disc Ejection&quot;
-Digital text dubbing through &quot;Joint Text&quot; function (requires Sony's optional conector: RX-TXT1)
-7 step playback speed control
-Synchronized recording for digital, analog and mic
-Alarm Clock
-40/80/160 second anti-shock memory

 

[RichieZ]

MZ-R900, vastly superior to my old Nomad II

 

[pillage2001]

n0b7e...Mp3 players and MD players cannot be compared. MD players are far superior!

I own a Sony R90 and it has nto given me any problems so far. I'm very sure that 74 mintues is more than enough for anyone. I hardly carry more than 2 discs with me wherever I go.

CattyKathy...Hong kong houses one of the cheapest MD players in the world! I'm sure you know where's Mongkok Street?

 

[Redwingsguy]

Gone through 3 portables and 3 set-tops, currently love my mxr90, but I think I might ditch it if Dataplay becomes rewriteable. But currently need a new battery cover for my mxr90, anyone know where I can get one?