antiorario

That's great news, thanks.

Actually, the MZ-M100 original adaptor has an output current of 700mA. I was also thinking about buying an AC-E30A, since I'm in Italy and we have 220V. But I saw that the AC-E30A has a maximum output current of 1000mA and I thought the difference would fry my MZ-M100. I wouldn't see why Sony would sell adaptors that don't work with their existing equipment, but on the other hand, knowing Sony, it wouldn't shock me if they did. Can anyone on this forum provide me with a final, certain, absolutely safe answer? Is there anyone who has actually plugged an AC-E30A into the MZ-M100 and is still alive to confirm that it works? Thanks.

Well, this isn't really accurate: what's on the iPod's HDD is a copy of the music that was ripped from CD or downloaded from the store, whose main copy still resides on my computer's hard drive, so if I lose my iPod (or sell it, like I did with my 4th generation one), all I need to do is plug a new one into my iBook and in a few minutes I'm ready to go again. As I said, once you rip your music you only copy it to the iPod, you don't move it (but this happens with Hi-MD too, so I don't see the big difference here). Plus, there are a few tools out there (easy to find, usually free, for both PC and Mac) to help you extract music files from the iPod. They are very useful, not if you lose your iPod but if you lose your computer. Contrary to what happens with MD and Hi-MD (downside of the format), iPods store actual MP3/AAC files, so if you know where the files are and how to retrieve them, it's very, very easy to transfer them back to a computer. Again, this can't be said about MDs. Well, I know that the new version of SonicStage makes it easier, but still. I'm not fond of the iTunes Music Store either, although I've bough some music from it, but that's beside the point here. Anyway, you can play music bought from the iTMS on as many iPods as you want and on up to five different computers at a time. Way more than the average music/computer geek needs ;-) I used to be very skeptical about HDD-based players, but I have to say that the iPod won me over. I can't comment on other HDD players, of course. With this, I totally understand that different people have different needs and approaches to the way they listen to their music and organize their collection and their data. I still think (I will never say this enough) that Hi-MD kicks ass in many ways, and I won't stop using it, although only for some specific purpose.

I've always enjoyed the sound quality of all my MD players. When I used MDs for carrying my music, I usually recorded in SP (back in the day) or Hi-SP (more recently), so the quality was awesome. With my switch to iPod, I did notice some "flattening" in the overall feeling I get from the sound (using the same Sony MDR-G73 earphones, which I find much more comfortable than the in-ear earphones provided by both Walman and iPod products). This flattening can be in part compensated by adjusting the equalizer settings in iTunes. Also, I started converting my CDs only to AAC (at 256 kbps or higher) because I realized the sound I got out of MP3 (even at 320 kbps) was totally unsatisfactory. Last week, finally getting my ears on my old MDs, I was impressed by the depth I got out of them, which apparently I had forgotten about (again, I guess ATRAC3 sounds better than MP3, but the Hi-MD Walkman also has a good amp). One more thing: I uploaded some old (non-Hi-) MDs to my computer via analog and in real-time, using a combination of a Creative SoundBlaster MP3+ and Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack Pro for Mac OS X, which allowed me to record directly to AAC. The result is that now that music still sounds quite rich on the iPod too, despite the combination of compression and analog transfer it went through. Once again, for music portability nothing can beat a 60 GB iPod, especially considering that (in my opinion, but I know a lot of people would agree) iTunes works like magic (it has a few flaws, but I've seen and used SonicStage, WMP, RealOne, you name it, they all disappoint me in some big way). On the other hand, for my recording needs, Hi-MD still is the top choice.

I hope I'll be excused if this is just a show-off topic, but I've just got a new MZ-M100 off eBay, for what I think is a very reasonable price (US$349.00 including shipping to Italy), and I'm already pleased. The thing that pleases me most is the fact that the unit is apparently charging via USB. I am sure this is not new, but I probably didn't pay attention if someone said this before (I've always been too excited about a Mac-compatible Hi-MD to pay attention to smaller details). I think the OLED display looks awesome, and I'm also very pleased with the sound level in the headphones. But this is probably because all other MD/Hi-MD Walkmans (I don't think the plural is "walkmen," is it?) were European models, thus, as we all know, crippled at birth. In the end, since I became an iPod user last year (which covers all my listening needs), I'm not too worried about the fact that not having SonicStage for Mac OS X limits my possibilities with the MZ-M100. I sill believe in Hi-MD as a great recording device, and, as others have said, I'll stick to it as long as it's functional and convenient. Being a little sentimental, I'll probably stick to it when it's not anymore... Contrary to what others think, I don't want Sony to beat Apple. It would be enough for Sony to acknowledge Apple (which seems to be starting), if not even embrace it.

I've started an auction on eBay for my MZ-NH700. The description there is all in Italian, but here are the basics: the unit is perfect, bought in August 2004, not intensively used. I'm selling it with a RM-MC40ELK remote control, because I crushed the original one in my car door. This is why the starting bid is €149.00. The included Hi-MD disc is a brand-new, unopened one, not the one that came in the box. I include all original accessories, even the original box. Please contact me for any question. The auction is at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=5853389997.

Well, my question is: why did Sony make UMD instead of larger-capacity HiMD? I'm sure there are technical issues with that (won't argue), but with UMD they just put on the market yet another media format. A bit like getting a new lock on your door every time you leave home. (No? Wrong metaphor? Oh well.)

No mp3 support? Big deal. I've got an iPod for that. But this is great news. As soon as the MZ-M100 comes to Italy, my nice MZ-NH700 will be up on eBay.

Ok Idei didn't actually decline. I know this story has benn posted already, but here is a reminder: From Macworld, Sept. 03, 2004. See the full article: Report: Apple offered Sony iTunes deal.

Even worse than that, if I remember correctly. Steve Jobs offered collaboration but Idei politely declined. Grr.

Here's a quote from an article I read on MacCentral News: Maybe I'm just overthinking, but if the PSP can be connected to a Mac, maybe they will take the whole thing further and connect ("Connect," I should say) to Mac OS also the Hi-MD. I imagine it would make sense that Sony expands SonicStage to use with the PSP instead of creating a new, PSP-only program. I know, I know, Sony often does not exactly make sense, but, it's good to be dreaming sometimes.

Uhm, apparently I have to reply to the original post to make it appear on top of the list. Alright -- you're never done learning ;-)

I am sensing that what shiz wanted to know was whether or not it actually makes sense to use the Hi-MD as a mass storage device on Mac OS X. The technical details on how Mac handles the files and folders are exactly the same as for any other file and folder. My personal idea is that using the Hi-MD as a storage device is unpleasant enough on Windows XP, but on Mac OS X (also I am using 10.3.7) is definitely annoying. First, I noticed that on copying files the unit keeps making noises (i.e. the disc is turning) even after the file supposedly has been transfered. Sometimes ejecting the unit (that is, removing it from the desktop) is a bit tricky, since Mac still sees it as being used. In the end, it might be alright to use it for very small files, but for moving larger files I'd suggest using an external hard drive (LaCie makes very fancy and very portable 40GB and 80GB pocket hard drives, powered by the USB 2.0 of your Mac -- at least of my iBook G4). As I've previously stated in other posts, until Sony releases software specifically designed for Mac OS X (which is, most likely, never), I find little sense in coupling Mac and Hi-MD.

[Edited with eBay info] As in the title. It's on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...ssPageName=WDVW or search for item #5754448797. Auction starting at €125.00. Great conditions, bought in 2003 for €365.00 (I know, I know). Used it for uploading to PC through its optical-out port. Awesome machine, I have to say.

Heh. Or, more likely, people are realizing how stupid an idea was to buy a 600 and are switching either to a higher model (700 is decent enough, at least it has input other than USB) or to HD-based mp3 players. Whenever someone asks me what kind of mp3 player they should buy, I say "Go for the iPod if you don't need to record your own music." I still think the MD format is way cool, and as soon as a Hi-MD deck is out I'll buy one, but i also bought an iPod last week, for those times I am not out recording stuff. More practical, and it perfectly matches my iBook G4

I feel that Sony has been antagonizing Apple long enough, on both the market side and the communication side. Of course a drastic ad campaign and consequent lawsuit would attract interest and, possibly, buyers. (But we must remember that we are talking about products that may not even actually be put on the market -- I'm referring to Apple's flash iPod and/or MP3-supporting Hi-MD from Sony.) What I'm saying is that Sony should start being more accommodating to its competitors, at least to those who might be helpful. Instead of being snotty about the possibility of Apple adding Hi-MD support to iTunes, Sony should see it as a great opportunity to expand its market and jump to it. This of course would be great for many of us, even though I suspect that Sony, in that case, would have to make big efforts to speed up the Hi-MD when connected to a Mac. As far as I've seen on my iBook, even using the Hi-MD as a storage drive is painfully slow, and you always feel as if it might crash at any time and blow up your data. Let's not even mention the VirtualPC+SonicStage combination -- try it and you'll never again complain about SonicStage running on an actual PC... I am very afraid, in the end, that all our talk on the forums will not take us too far, in terms of Sony listening (reading) and realizing our wishes. But at least let's be positive and not risk making Sony even more confined on its ivory tower than it already is. More compatibility is the key, I think. Even Apple has realized it. Just my two eurocents, of course.

Thanks dex for your notes. I still have so much to learn :-| Meanwhile, I've tried Total Recorder, and it seems I could be happy with it. Time consuming, yes, but we don't really have to watch our PC while it works ;-) Only thing, I do have a Vaio but I still can't burn CDs. Maybe that's because my Vaio was shipped with a previous version of SonicStage? I'll try to see what I can do. Again, ideas very welcome.

I should avoid posting stuff too early in the morning. I assumed SonicStage would let me do it simply because when it doesn't, the source- track area is grayed out, while in this case it gives you only the illusion that it's going to burn the CD. So, my apologies to all those who had tried it already for my being so sure of that. And, about my previous note on WinNMD, we'd still need a deck with digital out to make a digital copy. And maybe even that wouldn't work. I am starting to feel that someone (Sony, namely) is seriously making fun of us.

Yesterday I bought a Sony MZ-NH700. Only one store around Bologna (Italy) had it in stock, and it was the only one they had, for €315,00. I am impressed. The features are as anticipated, but I have a few words to say about uploading PCM tracks to PC. First, I've read a few negative comments here and there, due to the fact that when you upload a PCM track, SonicStage turns it into a (PCM) .omg file. What did we expect? Wave? Come on. By the way, OMG is the only way to preserve extra track info (such as artist, date [on the MZ-NH1], etc.) I've read that some people use Total Recorder to record it back into wave, but I'm not sure whether that creates a perfect digital copy or just a good analog one (any knowledge is welcome). My solution (and I know it's a bit more time consuming, but it's what assures a perfect digital copy) would be to use the newly created .omg file(s) to record a CD from SonicStage, then rip the CD into wave. Extra info is lost, but you have your editable tracks. Until, of course, someone writes some plug-in for, say, Adobe Audition, that allows to edit OMG directly. Second, and probably more important, is the rights setting on the original Hi-MD PCM track. I didn't find any info on this before buying, but maybe I didn't look closely enough. Things are very simple: once you copy your PCM tracks to SonicStage, the tracks are still on your Hi-MD, but you can't copy them again. So be careful what you do with your OMG files. This is also a good reason to put them on CD right away. The next time you try to transfer them to SonicStage, they simply get erased from the Hi-MD, so having an extra copy is definitely a good idea. Personal opinion: considering the (currently) high cost of 1GB Hi-MD blanks; considering the fact that they are impossible to find (eBay has some for a ridiculously high price, so... no way); I'd say that very few people will actually keep their PCM recordings on the Hi-MD itself, so making a CD sounds like what I'll do anyway. But maybe, for those who'll do otherwise, (a question follows, rather than opinion) is there any chance that Chris Klukas's WinNMD be updated to support Hi-MD? It would be of great help. That's all for today.

Minidisc walkman/recorder. Year 1997, hardware in good conditions. Doesn't work perfectly, that is to say: playback has no problems, but buttons sometimes don't respond the say they should. Recording sometimes doesn't start when it should, and sometimes it starts when it shouldn't (caution with protecting MDs before inserting). Offer includes: original headphones with remote (without display), soft case, original Li-ion battery, external battery support, Italian AC/DC original adapter and US AC/DC orignal adapter. http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...item=3080659137

I've found somewhere on the net that it was possible to turn SCMS off on a Sony MZ-R50 via setup mode (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Now, since we know that service mode for, let's say, MZ-N707 and alike has been entered, has anyone had the chance to find where the settings for SCMS are? I think maybe we could try and fill in a comprehensive table of the SCMS hack situation on different models -- how does this sound?