Marcello

I already own a MD car deck and looking forward to a Hi-MD unit if ever available. I am deferring the purchase of a bookshelf (since 3 years! Listening to CDs on the DVD player...) because I would like to hve a HiMD bookshelf... I know, there is one already, but it has never been marketed out of Japan. Does this make any sense to Sony?

I take all your points, SS 3.4 is definitely a milestone improvement, but I have a question: why on earth can't I record in MD mode with my MZ-RH10 standalone? Is it a built-in, artificial limitation (like many others, undermining development of a mass MD culture and preventing Sony from making zillions of $$$), or are there any more good (=technical) reasons for it?

Let's think positive, guys and dolls! Let Sony commit suicide by deleting this not (sufficiently) successful product line after having spent zillions of JPY in its development (not excluding the Hi-MD move). What may hopefully happen is that they sell the whole technology and patents to some other manufacturer (Sharp managers, are you connected?) eager to transform this medium in a niche product. At that point, metal cases for portables (bye bye Sony with your SUICIDAL plasticky wave) and a slew of (relatively more expensive) bookshelves and separates could follow. In this fortunate case, I will be happy to give some of my money to the survived technology.

If we are ready to switch to another format, this is what they want us to do. Me, personally will not substitute MD with today's crap like built-in memory MP3 players. The only thing can substitute MD is a player/recorder which uses *replaceable* flash memory instead of MD. I can hardly fancy how will *professional musicians* react to this, given that there are virtually no hard disk portable recorders in sight (am I right?) They will be the professional category more hit by this... Only Britney Spears and the likes (all marketing and hype - no music) will continue to thrive... O alas...

Sad news to come. how did it happen that they do not realize how much money they can make with minidisc? Why they stopped marketing internationally MD products other than portable in 2001 already? Coudn't they sell some in international markets? Even if they thought they would have dropped off the format, they would have made tons of money. There's something that sounds fishy here. Something we'll never know about... BUT: What if we prepare a LONG LONG letter packed with signatures just to let Sony Know HOW MANY we are?

Yes, I agree completely. It's not only walking with my music. I want as well to sit in my living listening to my music on MD. I would like to be able to use a remote and time-record some radio broadcast. These things can be made only with a separate. Some bookshelf have been marketed in Japan (Sony CMT-AH10), but they avoid Europe and even the USA. I waited ages for Panasonic SC-PM57MD in 2002 but it has never been marketed in Europe (nor listed on www.minidisc.org despite my efforts). I cannot understand why a reasonably strong demand for Hi-MD separates seems to be accounted for only in Japan. Any hint, beside the trivial solution that I can always connect my walkman to my home amplifier? Thks Marcello

There's something strange in that no Hi-MD bookshelf piece of equipment has yet been launched on the market. For sake of the truth there is one: the bizarre Sony LAM-X1, a useless unit from my point of view (no multi-cd, no line/mic inputs, needs strict integration with a PC, and not particularly nice-looking). What about a standalone bookshelf with Hi-Md, 5cd, 6x cd-to-md, usb, radio and the other usual features? There is a huge market for it. What are Sony and Panasonic waiting for? Or Hi-Md (whence MD itself) has been deemed to become a portable-only format? Marcello