Re: [Harp-L] Minidisc may soon become extinct

[Garry Hodgson <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Bobby \" BlackHat\" Walters" <bobby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I am forwarding a note that I received regarding the future of MD.  I know a
> lot of you use MD for practice or to record shows.  Doesn't sound very
> promising.

i can't say i'm surprised.  i was actually a little surprised they
were still being made, back when i started looking into it a few
months back.  they've always been treated like an afterthought.
and sony's ambivalence and obsessive fear of piracy has crippled 
them with proprietary formats, awkward software, and ridiculous 
copy protection schemes.

that said, i'm still glad i bought mine, and would do so again.  suits
my needs fine, was cheap and easy to use.  i'll probably buy a few
more disks (only have the 1 it came with) in case they become hard
to find.  since i only need 3 (at $7 each) to record a 4.5 show in wav
format, and don't use the MD for archive (that's what computers are
for), i doubt i'll ever need more than a few.

by the time this one dies, flash/microdrive costs will have come down
to the point where the microtrack types are competitive, and i'll replace
it with one of those.  i've always regarded MD as interim technology.

----
Garry Hodgson, Technical Consultant, AT&T Labs

Your love, your anger, your kindness, your hate.
All of it creates the future for you and your children.
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