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Fascinating. Could you let us know the brand(s) of these discs for our future protection? (Or perhaps the experienced folks will not be surprised.) On the other hand, maybe the seller's MD-unit formatted a part of the disc that was never meant to be touched. Anybody have any information on this type of thing happening before?

Slightly veering off-topic: I'm currently engaged in a quest to acquire equipment to support legacy AV formats for years to come, but I'm skipping some. 8-track I dismiss as an embarrassing era. Reel-to-reel is great, but I'm not getting into that for cost reasons--besides there are enough reel-to-reel enthusiasts for the format to be safely supported for now. Here's my current list on the audio front that I think I would like to support. Cassette - I'd like to find one or two units that support all tapes (including metal) that have superior quality sound. The parts that are likely to need replacing should also be of a standard size that I'll be able to find new stock for years to come. This might be a tall order, but maybe manufacturing tech will advance so that I can order up something custom at a reasonable cost in the future.DAT - I'm still undecided on this one. If something nice lands in my lap that'll be a different story, but it won't be a high priority.MiniDisc - HiMD, MDLP, and NetMD. I'm trying to resist getting older non-MDLP units for preservation purposes, but I have to admit I'm currently bidding on something and my justification is "it'll be awesome for playback of my prerecorded music MDs".CD/DVD/BluRay Family - multiple formats: SACD,DVD Audio, and related formats - What I'd like to know is if current manufacturers are still supporting SACD and DVD Audio. One of my self-directives is to get the latest, highest-quality unit any particular format can support and that I can afford.Vinyl - maybe. Like reel-to-reel there are plenty of people supporting this already. I may just get one of those USB units "just in case".

Don't forget that to use that functionality you also need to add the Context Search plugin from mozilla's addin page. I posted the link above. Also, to finish installing any plugin, including the search plugin I composed, you'll need to exit all instances of your browser and restart.

Just a quick note on how it is useful to always be aware of how the exchange rate effects perception. You can get a very good approximation by using Google's calculation capabilities. Generally you can type in something like: You can replace either with units like gbp, euro, yen, yuan, etc. To see a full list, you can also use the converter on this page using drop-down lists: Google Finance - Currency Converter The approximations are quite good, but I would also be careful not to quibble over minor differences when engaged in an actual transaction. After all, it isn't usually Google's tables that sellers are going by--they are either using PayPal or their own bank's estimate. All in all, though, it's plenty accurate--so if you do this before committing to a transaction you can go into it with full knowledge of what you're getting into. So, just to review what the history off this offer was: The estimate topped out at 70 euros for the unit itself (which is exactly what the final price ended up being) with an estimate for 25 usd for shipping. Someone else mentioned that if the shipping went as high as 40 cad (25 euro) that would not be unreasonable. So the top-end estimate before anyone committed was 95 euros. 95 euros comes to $133.06 USD and $153.89 CAD. No one should have had cause to back out of this based on price. If they simply changed their mind, that's of course their prerogative.

It's particularly hilarious in light of this gem from the not-too-distant past: Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far

I think some dedicated individual should swipe this up. I'm not interested because it strikes out on MDLP, NetMD, and HiMD. I was tempted, though, since it is a very unique unit: sony mzs-r5st portable Minidisc player It has a cool docking station and you can probably do some neat editing. It is pretty neat looking. The equipment browser entry is here: Sony MZ-R5ST We have a review right on site, also: Sony MZ-R5ST Review Says that's an R30 that's plugged into it. So if you already have an R30, this might make a cool accessory, too (plus a backup R30). Good luck!

I don't have a Mac to try this, but you should check under ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/ I think what you'd need to do then is find the profile you use and drill down into that, then create the directory "searchplugins" underneath of it if it doesn't already exist. That would be where you'd put the XML file. It sure would be nice if I could come up with a way for this to install neatly without making people get all old-school. Maybe the next version of FireFox will offer that support.

I thought I remember reading something somewhere about some scientists doing a study and finding people couldn't ultimately tell the difference between a regular CD and a SACD, all other things being equal. The difference we perceive is real but only because of the higher production values that went into the remastering process.

I suggest you hold onto it and USE it. It still has the best sound of any portable out there. Get some nice headphones and you'll be singing the praises of MiniDisc again--guaranteed!

Trust me, I took every UAC related failure into account. As I said, it DID work the first time I ran it. I do keep UAC on, but if I have an application with known UAC incompatibility, I go into properties of ALL the executables and change them so they always run as administrator.

No. I put the blame squarely on Sony components. I remember Googling the error (but I can't remember the exact error at the moment) and other people were getting it trying to run some Sony Entertainment game under Vista. Anyway, it's done. My laptop is XP and if I install it (4.2) there I should have fewer issues. Further, I may start experimenting with the linux project soon. Incidentally, you can probably install (i.e. move manually) the Common Files anywhere so long as its in the path and/or registered. Also, it is very likely you can move the ProgramData off of C since there are easily identifiable points to change where SonicStage points to those in the registry.

Sadly, there are no HiMD decks except the overly expensive ones that Onkyo has issued. You are stuck daydreaming of kludging one together out of a portable (like I do).

The picture is of a unit with Japanese symbols. I would call that good enough. If you need absolute confirmation, I would find someone who speaks the language and have them call Sony for confirmation.

1995 must have been simultaneous release for all markets that it went to. Refer to this page here: Sony My Mail Magazine (via Google Translate) Running this through translation yields mixed results for a variety of reasons. The information you need is extractable even without running it through the translator. See the timeline they post on the right side of the page.

I started with official 4.3 installer and it worked exactly once, then it started crashing every time I tried to start it. (Vista) Then I uninstalled and installed the 4.3 "ultimate" installer found on here. That, too, refused to start without crashing. Eventually I got it working, but only after I gave in and purged all related registry entries, profile data, and I let it install to C:. I was trying to make it work on an alternate drive. This last step seemed essential, apparently. How stupid. I'm still very interested in seeing where the Linux project takes us. I haven't been following it closely, but I wonder if it will bring downloads/transfers/conversions not previously possible (and to other HiMD units besides RH1).

Yes, and even though the pauseplaystop listing wizard mentions has "out of stock" listed for the M200, the RH1 is identical and you can pick up the missing microphone on ebay for practically a song. I should note, though, that the topic starter isn't necessarily trying to deceive. People do overvalue things all the time quite quite innocently. The following appraisal is assuming the pictures are decent and show a "great condition" specimen: So, going from pauseplaystop's price of $300. I would subtract 100 for it being used and another 25 for the missing items, but then I would add 70 back in for the included HiMD blanks, and then another $30 for extra nice packing and overnight delivery: $275 Oh, I realize it was probably a fluke, but you should take note of what's in my signature. Mine is mint and everything included nearly so: the unit itself, manual, factory buds, charger/usb cables, and remote, all for $109 and change. If I didn't manage this coup I probably wouldn't have gotten into MD.

Here's an odd one. I see from searches that A440 might have mentioned this model awhile back: GRUNDIG FINE ARTS CD MINI DISC RADIO SYSTEM UMS17MD Apparently it's a "UMS17MD" component system. Get a load of those speakers. Not my style, definitely. Looks like whoever used it enjoyed it a lot, though.

I realize you aren't singling me out specifically, but I can tell you that I do not make this assumption. That is why I have been focusing on HiMD units. Not everyone is interested in this for the recording capabilities, although that's certainly no small aspect for me. I never assume anything is plug-and-play, but occasionally something works far more smoothly than I expect and I'm pleasantly surprised. I am in total agreement with you there. My recent (first) experience with SonicStage left me flustered and angry. I'm not suggesting that this is necessarily the solution, but I am looking forward to trying out the HiMD transfer software for linux that is in current development. I'm certainly not evangelizing MD as a recording format that can compete with today's alternatives. I am saying it still has an appeal that transcends its technical shortcomings. It's similar to what I hear from detractors of ebook-readers. They want to hold a book. I want to hold a disc. Minidisc is superior to CDs because their cartridge form offers them some protection from the environment. Minidiscs' size and capacity are just the right combination to act as a physical, tactile filing system for audio content. The physical/tactile part of this is a very important part of this equation for me. You should have the picture now that SD/MicroSD don't have these characteristics in my opinion. Just to be clear--flash is not an archival medium. SD/MicroSD is also far too wonky (perhaps I need to buy more expensive cards) for my tastes. Currently SSD offers the best promise of being something I feel I can depend on out in the field. For archiving, I'd like to see them put the next generation of Blu-Ray into a cartridge--maybe even bring the form factor down to MiniDisc proportions. Wouldn't that make a nice ending? [Edit: the BluRay Association claims they've advanced coating techniques that make cartridges unnecessary. Be that as it may, I would still wager there are archivists would would prefer additional assurance.] In conclusion, I'd like to say that my intent here wasn't to challenge, but to bring a new perspective that I hope will put a dent in the cynicism I detect. I promise you, you are safe. I have no starry-eyed naive delusions regarding how MiniDisc is on the verge of making a comeback. I would, however, like to be that person that someone comes to in 20 years with a MiniDisc that they've had zero hope of retrieving the content from before they came to me.

I don't think we should be discouraging anybody, even if it means we're adding one more person to the competition for dwindling stock. You never know--the next person who gets into MiniDisc today might be inspired to create the next great idea we'll be clamoring for tomorrow. I really do think of it as a possible muse for some latent genius of an idea that is just waiting to be born. There are plenty of units that are in barely used or new or refurbished condition out there. One advantage that MD machines have over older tape units is they don't have to worry about rubber deteriorating. With a tape unit, even if it's "NOS" (new old stock), you'll have to replace the belts either immediately or in short order. With MD, it's all gears. If it was a decent unit to begin with and you find one in great condition, it should still have a lot of fun left in it. MD does have built-in editing, but I would hardly call that a super great advantage. As it is with film vs. digital cameras, composition was an art-form with film. Now with the high capacity you get you can take hundreds of pictures and sort it out later and not worry about film or chemical developing costs, etc. Likewise with digital recording. Those ZOOM H2 and H4 series PCM recorders are really a great value for those who need high quality field recording--and you can plug in enormous capacities with a card. I still think with the modern digital cameras and field recorders it's still helpful to keep a notebook so you know what you're looking at when you're sorting it out later. You can do this with MiniDisc too, but at a slightly higher cost. Media is still available and I think is still fairly reasonable (except when you compare it to modern media, of course). I was going to put something in here about recommendations, but I haven't prepared that yet. My bare minimum for a secondary or tertiary unit that I'll actually use is to be able to get data on and off with USB. This seems the easiest way to keep the bridge open with new media.

Koss still makes these inline amp/equalisers for headphones (3-band only). I used to use them back in the 80s and I remember them working so-so. The main thing they helped me with was weak output from a headphone jack. But the bottom line is wiz is correct. the RH1's reproduction is top-notch. If your source recording doesn't have deep bass, then it doesn't have deep bass. If it does and you're not hearing it, you need better cans (Sennheiser or Grado, anyone?) or you have a defective unit. Speaking of which, I've been experimenting with recording with the little ECM-DS70P mic with my RH1, but it doesn't come with a clip or an extension. I realize I need to get an extension because it's picking up the motor on the unit quite distinctly. I think my RH1's stomach is growling I must feed it more.

Of course when I said presentations I also meant classes--but the whole music learning thing...of course! That's brilliant.

You can speed up and slow down playback. If you've ever listened to an audio presentation (or even a video one) you'd know that frequently the speaker goes very............very.....................................verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrry slowly. Now, some people appreciate this--I don't. On the flip-side, therearealsospeakerswhospeakveryveryquicklyandthatcanbenotveryidealeither. With speed adjust that automatically adjusts pitch you can speed up a presentation without getting that "Alvin and the Chipmunks" effect and you can slow it down without it sounding like Lurch from the Addams Family. The primary use, though, is for your own personal dictation. When you're dictating a letter, memo, diary, book, or whatever--you're either mid-thought and you're going "um, um.. and.. scratch that" or you're going very fast and if you want to transcribe it (or someone else wants to) it's helpful to speed things along or slow things down.

I have no idea. I had a bad experience leaving a gadget in a car (one that you're SUPPOSED to leave--a radar detector) during a very hot day in a southern latitude and the LCD was toasted. After that, I never left anything like that in a car again.

Just a little reminder of what you'll be missing if you opt out: Oh, I just noticed something else I will use this for: audiobooks! This unit has speed control with auto pitch adjustment. MZ-B10: Shiny! <- link to equipment page

This unit will initially serve several functions: Primary on-the-go player/recorder when I don't require PCM. Backup unit (all my current and future MD units will serve this function). Shiny--oh wait, that's not a function. I do understand your sticker shock a little. The price ended up being 70 euros rather than 60 and the shipping quote is rather steep. The shipping is probably the main issue. Hopefully it is an expedited fully insured tracked service. For the price, if it isn't, my feedback will reflect that.