lamewing

I agree completely. I have seen plenty of Sony commericals. "Like no other..." is pretty common on TV,radio, and print, but I have only seen two MD commercials (MD and NetMD): one from Japan with Hamasaki Ayumi and another one with a drive-thru setting in Australia. NOTHING in the U.S. and I have been using MD since my first MZ-R70. Joe

Yep. I thought the camera idea was a gimmic at first, but after a bit, it began to sink in. This is a really nice idea for tourists and such, IF only it has a mic input to record field notes. As it was designed you might as well carry a regular camera and a regular minidisc unit to snap photos and record your voice information. I would have even forgiven Sony if they hadn't included optical and line in options. BUT, the lack of a mic jack really hobbled an otherwise FINE IDEA!!! Unfortunetly, as businesses do, they will drop the idea due to poor sales versus updating the machine and making it into what is should have been.

Yes, they said more products would come when the money flows. I don't believe that for one second. Sony is assuming a great deal. They assume that the old, tired model of cutting jobs and closing plants is the solution to loss of profits. Any they brought in new managment just to come up with that idea? <shakes head in disgust>

And since they don't understand why it happened, the same thing will happen to their HD DAPs....quote me on that.

How about we email everything to Kurisu or anyone else who wants to handle this and they can put the emials on a HiMD disc and give it to Sony. - PLEASE realize this was a joke...but the irony cannot be ignored. No, it would be ironic if Sony didn't have any HiMD units to read the disc!!!

I am confused Kurisu. How can we speculate and help keep the product evolving if you think we should leave Sony alone for a while? I guess we folks are going to end up like all the retired engineers at the HP museum website....talking about outdated technology we still love and use even though the rest of the world has moved on withouth realizing they missed out on great products. (I am referring to the older model HP calculators and Minidisc). I guess I need to get a betamax to go with my minidisc and HP 15c/HP 27s. Maybe I can reocrd their serial numbers on my Atari 800!!!! /cry

It would seem to me that Sony should stop chasing Apple for the number one spot regarding music players. For the near future, Apple (unless the screw up or stop innovating) holds that title. Sony needs to accept the fact that they aren't number one and instead make a solid product, market it, and provide solid support for said product. Are they SO concerned about being number one? Hubris is not a good thing when it comes to business. Sony has been just throwing HiMD after HiMD and DAP after DAP to the market hoping something will compete with Apple. I don't know what I will do in this situation. Maybe buy a couple of HiMd recorders, maybe a player and just keep them for the next five years. AFter that...who knows. I am really upset with Sony in any event.

My main question is somehting Kurisu might be able to answer, though. Okay, Sony wants to dump MD/HiMD. Did all the other companies pass on HiMD or did Sony keep it for themselves...and destroy it in the process? How about they stop making crappy low end players and give us a coupe of nice units versus the low end junk aid squarely at the consumer market. I have already paid $400.00+ on more than on occasion, I would keep doing it if there was a solid product.

I am sorry if you think I am "harassing" Kurisu. That is totally incorrect. I was raised to tell the straight-honest truth. If I cannot provide the truth, I won't say anything about a subject. What I mean is I would simply hold my information until I could speak the truth without dishonoring myself or anyone who may have taken me into their confidence. My apologies to to Kurisu, and anyone else if my too-direct way of speech has put folks off. It seems I suffer from being an American AND a Texan.

If only Sony would have sold this a premier recording device instead of a cheap, plasticy (many models) ipod competitor saddled with DRM. So, does anyone know why the late HiMD was never liscenced to others...no interest or just plain GREED?

If you have insider info which you say you cannot break confidences over, why even mention it to us in the first place? What I mean is why get everybody so concerned about it until something is announced? It is pretty obvious that Sony is abandoning the technology. My question is this, why the heck didn't they just lisence the format early on and allow it to grow when HiMD first came out. Keeping the format to themselves seems to be one of the reasons that HiMD has failed to catch on. Or, did Sharp, Kenwood, etc just not want to deal with HiMD? Any ideas?

Kurisu, Not to be rude, but what are you basing your statements on? If you know something specific why won't you just provide us with the information? So is Sony dropping all but cell phones, TVs (many parts from China now), video games, HD based DAPs, cameras? Was home audo components included? I hope Sony doesn't fumble again with Blue-ray when Microsoft and Intel (plus others) are supporting HD-DVD.

HD this, Blu-ray that....

It seems you are right. Unless someone asks the question...when will we know.? It doesn't look like we will find out today. A nice waste of all our afternoons.

15 Products dropped? I wonder.... TV parts from China? Hmmmm.... And the Sony Strategy is.....baited breath..... I don't see HiMD... And the Hammer Drops.... PS3 in the Spring of 2006 - OH DEAR GODS, my internet went down for a couple of mins!!! Connect doesn't show any HiMD units on the slide They aren't going to tell us which products are dropped. Give me a break!!! Also, they are falling for the fire people saves money mentality. Bad Sony.

It would make sense for Sony to make a HD based PSP. Look at the new Cowon A2. Nice machne. I have their X5L for carrying anime with me. This could really provide a good opportunity for Sony, but they would probably put so many restrictions on it.....sigh

Just added my comments to survey...from Texas. I hope it helps. Joe

I agree. Currently my audio devices at home consists of a Tivoli table top radio connected to my home computer and a Yamaha A2070 DSP amp connected to a 15 year old pair (still sounds WONDERFUL) of NHT speakers. I also have a Proton D540 preamp/amp in the bedroom. I have owned nothing under $1000.00 that sounds better than my Proton D540. The government can take my guns, my liberties, but not my Proton! Once we upgrade out TV to a HD system (2 more years) we will upgrade to a full featured 5.1 system, but right now I am perfectly happy with stereo.

I decided I wanted the U.S. Warranty for now, so it is the ugly silver. I am working a deal with a friend in Japan for the red model - if I like the silver one. Thanks for the linky.

Well, I just couldn't resist the Sony Hi-MD MZ-DH10P. Well, I could when it was sold for $499.00 at the local Fry's (and I wonder why they have been sitting there for six months or so). I broke down and bought one from J&R and if all goes well, I will have it on Monday. It seems that there are quite a number of these MD players floating around. I am sure that wouldn't have been the case if Sony had included recording capabilities. Oh well, that is what my NH1 from audiocubes will be used for. I had bought a new, sealed on on ebay, but the seller won't respond and I was forced to file a refund request (400+ ebay transactions and NOW I get a bad one /cry) with paypal. Luckily it was charged to my credit card, so all is well, but this sure shakes my belief in human honesty and fair play. Joe

No Kidding!!! Why do we always get the crappy colors?!? More importantly, I looked on the Sony Style japan site for the Red Model and couldn't find ANY MD units at all. My japanese is pretty poor (ony 100 kanji) so I am hoping somebody with better skills could confrim this. If you can find it, let me know. I have a friend in Japan who could buy the Red model. Thanks. Joe

Well, I can see Sony dumping everything as they seem to constantly be making big mistakes. Take a look at this website. http://www.pcvsconsole.com/news.php?nid=3109 Intel and Microsoft are both backing the HD-DVD while Sony (alone?) supports Blu-ray.

Yep, While I do like some of Apple's stuff, I have never appreciated how they spoon-feed their customers just enough to keep them coming back. I realize this is their business model, but when others think they are the cutting edge, it really bothers me. It seems to me that Apple is very good a cleaning up a product, adding flash, and repackaging the product. The iPod is a prime example. Creative was first on the scene, but the Creative players was butt-ugly; I owned one of them. The first 5gb iPod did the same thing as the Creative, but so much better. Everyone (ahem Sony) basically ignored this upstart DAP and look at it now! It is too bad that whle the iPod is now very popular, that is lacks SO many features - features that accessories can match. I am sorry, but I (how about you folks) need all of these 3rd party extras? Cables and cases sound good, but so much extra is just junk.

Are you telling me no one here has any clues or opinons in regards to this....????

I just decided to "stick it to the man (right!)" and say no to the iPod. I just started picking up extra discs and players/recorders to last me the next 15 years. By then I will have my own portable jet pack and will have more important things to do then worry about MD.