fredpb

Well, as far as MD becoming extinct, blame SONY. Their arrogance and stupidity. 1) Crappy software 2) Dedication to copyright protection, to the extreme. 3) High prices. 4) Hanging on to their precious ATRAC, not giving full MP3 support as Hard drive players or solid state players, at least not until some form of it recently (too late). 5) Poor advertising and product visibility. The vast majority of Americans don't have a clue to what MD is. Why would they buy something that they do not know exists?????? Sony slit it's own throat with it's managerial incompetence. HiMD and MD is a great format. But now I relegate it to uses that need long battery life, like emergencies (long term power outages). I use solid state players with MP3 and MP3 jukeboxes now. I have external battery packs that can recharge my jukeboxes with AA batteries, making even the above reason for keeping MD a non reason. Sony has always tried to create some new product it has total control over. Like the Memory Stick. With all the other good flash memory out there, who needs it? I would never buy a product that uses Memory Stick. Same mentality that doomed MD. An based upon my experience with other Sony products, I just don't buy Sony stuff anymore. The problem with Sony is their high level decision making. They are morons. And cutting "non profitable" products lines won't help the company. The same morons are there making the usual moronic decisions. Just differenct products will soon become "non profitable" after this batch.

I have about 600 songs I want to put on MD, all 60's music. Most with different artists. This would fill up my screen and make it much more difficult to find my classical stuff. I think this is a bummer for MD. I was going to get my brother a HiMD for his birthday, but now, will just get him a HD jukebox or good MP3/CD player.

I want to keep my classical music library completely separate from my other music. How can I have two libraries with Sonicstage? I created another library but the first album listing is still there when I setup the new library. I don't want my classical album listing with my other stuff, and can't figure out how to do it? Help?

Does not seem to work on my WIN98SE system. It gives a "divide error".

Anyone get this to work on WIN98SE? Mine don't.

I thought MO was magnetic and optical in RECORDING, but optical in playback?

WIN98SE not supported. Bummer.

I know Sonicstage 2.3 can write Atrac3plus CD's. But can it read them? I would like to archive my database on CDROM.

HiMD uses a lot of storage for it's file system. You will never get 1gb of data space. I get about 930mb or so for music.

Head to www.head-fi.org for great headphone forums, and www.headphone.com for purchases. Headroom has a 30 day money back trial. I love my Grado SR80's for my portable stuff. They are about $100. At home I use a Maxed Out Home from Headroom (amp) with Sennheiser HD600's and the Grado's.

I just ordered three more online. That 4gb should do me for a long time. Just bought five more 80min ones for HiMD recorder today. I'm set. I also use a Creative Nomad Zen Xtra 40gb player (fabulous sound). I like the MD because you can take it anywhere, especially on long trips without a charger, as they just use one AA battery.

Would not work on home built computer. Installed it on an old PIII WIN98SE machine and everything is fine!!!!!!

I like Windows 98SE. I built the computer primarily for gaming. It was the preferred OS for the game I play (Mechwarrior:Mercenaries) online. I eventually moved all functions from my old computer (networked too new) to the new computer. My WIN98SE is very stable. I rarely get any blue screen or problem. I am quite happy with it. Well, I cleaned up and backed up my old PIII. Downloaded the new version of the software and installed it on the old machine (WIN98SE factory loaded by HP). It works!!!! I had to have my HiMD so I went out and got another 600D. It works! Studied the manual. The manual specifically states it will only work with factory installed OS's. NO UPDATED OS's (i.e. WIN98SE to XP). And it specifically mentions it will not work on home built PC's! So if yours does work, you are lucky, as my home built did not work. I am very happy with the sound at HiLP. I love the 600D. For $150 I can't see buying any of the standard MD units now. Now I need a cheap source of HiMD 1gb disks? Minidisco? Thank you for all comments and support! Fred

I had two problems with my home built WIN98SE system and the 600D and Sony software. Installation seemed normal. No errors. When drivers were installed, Device Manager showed the 600D as a mass storage device and a USB device, both working normally. 1) Sonicstage (supplied on CDROM and update from net) did not work with my DVD writers/CDROMS. Eventually it would see the tracks, but could not get the data off the disks to use with CDDB. Simpleburner would see the CD's no problem. Funny, one of the drives is a SONY. 2) Whenever I plugged in the 600D, Sonicstage would freeze. Same with Simpleburner. I have been a devotee of minidisc for many years, since my EP11 and 310 home deck. But I returned the 600D. After some thought, I have gotten my old PIII 550Mhz HP out of mothballs and it is running fine. Guess I might try HiMD on that. I don't use it for anything else now. But I would appreciate any suggestions on how to get this stuff working on my homebuilt. The homebuilt: Antec case and power supply. AMD XP2000+ processor. ASUS motherboard. 764mb memory (runs fine). Sony DRU500A DVD writer. LG DVD writer. 60gb Western Digital C: drive. 120gb Wester Digital D: drive. Integrated LAN with DSL. USB1.0. USB 1.0 hub. USB 2.0 PCI card USB 2.0 hub. 600d did not like USB 2.0 stuff. Tried it on direct connect to motherboards USB1.0 and hub. Seemed to connect. When I plugged in 600D the usual windows driver install messages came up. I can live without SOnicstage. Simpleburner worked ok except for the freezing when 600D connected. An old regular NetMD player worked fine with this Simpleburner. I tried two cables to the 600D.

The fine print in the MZHD600D insert in the package says you cannot use it with any non-manufacturer installed operating system. It is supposed to work with and factory installed OS (ie, when you buy a store bought Compaq, HP, etc) WIN98SE and above. If you have a home or custom built computer, this is NOT you. I don't know about an upgraded system. For instance, if you got your computer with WIN98SE installed and you upgraded to XP. The XP would not be factory installed. Sony is not clear on this. I have a home built WIN98SE system ( Used complete install WIN98SE CD). Everything for the HiMD did install correctly without errors. But Sonicstage would not work. It would load but would not work correctly with CD (i.e. for ripping). You could not even rip a CD into Music Library. Simple Burner sees CDs ok though. But when you plugged the HiMD unit into the computer any software you are using would freeze (SS or SB). So..........

I have WIndows 98SE. It is not manufacturer installed, It is a complete install from a purchased WIN98SE for a home built computer. But I do have an old computer with manufacture installed stuff. I want it to work on the newer computer. Everything installs fine. SimpleBurner will work with an older MZNE410, but not with the 600D. As soon as I plug in the 600D Simpleburner freezes. Sonicstage is a nightmare. It has major problems reading CD's and getting track information from CDDB. It also will not work when the 600D is plugged in. Any suggestions? I have tried everything. Reinstalled. Upgraded. Different cables. Plugged directly into USB1.0 port. Every thing. HELP!