Mikami

If you own the MZ-RH1 and Windows 7 you might happy to know that Sony hasn't forgotten you. As of October 6th, 2010 you can download a software update for the MZ-RH1 here: http://www.sony.jp/support/pa_common/x-appli/download/index.html

The MZ-RH! update has arrived! As of October 6th, 2010 you can down load a software update for the MZ-RH1 here: http://www.sony.jp/support/pa_common/x-appli/download/index.html

2010年10月初旬　対応アプリケーションソフトウェアをWEBページにて提供予定 An update will be released on the web page sometime during the first two weeks of October 2010.

Well, I certainty hope that they are not going to update Sonic Stage any more! Hopefully, another way will be found to add Windows 7 support for the MZ-RH1. However, of Tuesday August 17th, 2010 the above mentioned message has been updated to: Japanese: 2010年秋対応予定 Transliteration: 2010 nen Aki taiou yotei English(possible): scheduled for Fall 2010 / To be(scheduled to be) supported in the fall of 2010 2010 年(nen)=Year 2010 秋(Aki)=Fall / Autumn 対応(Taiou)= correspond, Support, interact with, deal with, receive, react 予定(Yotei)= Schedule And, here is the link: http://www.sony.jp/support/pa_common/information/info_win7.html

EFL instructors(and other types, too) here often use MiniDisc/recorders, CD's, and sometimes Cassettes so we are occasional debriefed on the latest news from different providers. For, a while it had been mentioned that Sony was thinking or that they were 「未定」(undecided) if they were going to provide official support for those using the MZ-RH1 with Windows 7. However, recently it was mentioned that Sony would update information for the MZ-RH1 in the middle of August. On, Sony's web site the following post concerning the MZ-RH1 and Windows 7 will be found stating the above information: 8月中旬に情報を更新する予定です。 I was under the impression from threads like this: that some were having difficulty using SonicStage with Windows 7. However, it is encouraging to hear that you and the poster named Stargazer_tom1 are able to use Windows 7 and the MZ-RH1 without problems. When I last visited these forums(actually the older version of them) about two years or more ago it seemed that some here were prophesying the death of the MD format was at hand and that the MZ-RH1 was going to be discontinued and I am happy to see that those predictions have been proven false. It is also interesting to see that more than a few here haven't made the transition from MD to PCM-M10 / PCM-D50. I recall hear/read many complaining that MD recoders usually have small buttons and too many menus, small screens, no built in mic, and no drag and drop ability, however, it would appear that the PCM series has addressed those problems. Yet, people are still hanging on to MD, and that is kind of nice, too.

The following are discontinued: NH 14-WMB NH-WM2AA So, you will probably want to stock up on these, while you can, if your MD player/recorder or other units use these.

If, you use Windows 7 and own an MZ-RH1 you will happy to hear that sometime in the middle of August an update is coming your way. So, in August we should now be able to use MZ-RH1 with Windows 7 without the need for virtualization software to run Sonic Stage.

“Your link to the MZ-N920 is down. Maybe someone bought the last one” No, such luck A440 There is still one MZ-N920 red in stock but more on the way http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%8B...7242&sr=8-2 The Silver MZ-N920 ships in six to ten days http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%8B...7242&sr=8-3 The Blue MZ-N920 ships in three to four days http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%8B...7242&sr=8-4 Bland10000様、 　　おひさしぶりですね！返事が遅れ申し訳ありません。 ”In June 2007, Amazon.co.jp and Amazon.com both posted "no longer being manufactured" on the page selling the MZ-RH1. The alert stayed up for about four weeks time.” Yes, but now both are selling them again. I'm guessing Sony had their factory in Malaysia make a few more. It's probably a “manufactured on demand” type of deal. And, obviously there are still people in the States, the UK, and in Japan buying these units. This is not to say that they are the most popular or the highest selling commodity, but that there are still enough people interested to warrant making a few more. “The portable cassette and CD units today are plastic” I've never seen a portable CD unit made out of anything other than plastic. You, have a point with portable cassette players, on the other hand Sony still makes some of their Cassette players out metal some times. For, example the Sony WM-EX631 was made out of aluminum. “if Sony releases another portable minidisc gadget, I think it will also follow in that same direction.” If next year wasn't the 30th anniversery of Walkman I might agree with, you. However, since Sony is known to release aluminum cassette players for their anniverseries it is hard for me to imagine why they would not do the same for MiniDisc. “I never cared for Neige styling but it is nice to see MD blanks still available on the shelf next to the cassettes at 7-11.” Interesting! The 7/11 nearest to my APT sells Victor 5MD-80LX 80 min and Maxwell CUMD80MIXB.10P The supermarkets(gorcery stores) have sony 10MDW80CCX usually. (Rosen and Inageya) Oh, I can also find floppy disk(Sony MDF-2HD) at these same places!

Guitarfxr and ZosoIV thanks for the input about the business MD recorder. Actually, I haven't heard or read much about those. (I guess I am taking this tread off topic a little.) But, it is cool that they are still being made. I am a little surpirsed that these units also have optical in and mic as well as having the built in mic. Panasonic used to have a nice on up until a few years ago. I am really tempted to go out and get one. Comedian Dave Jory's favorite gadget is his Sony MZ-810 MiniDisc recorder. http://www.smh.com.au/news/digital-music/m...9359817521.html Using the Sony MZ-B10 MiniDisc Recorder http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/docu/facts/at/fsat05.pdf Laters, Mikami

Excelent question. Okay, the Japan version of Amazon.com/Amazon.co.jp has English pages and you can order MiniDisc products through them. Sadly, they do not usually ship out side of Japan. http://www.amazon.co.jp/In-English/b/ref=t...mp;node=1094656 http://www.amazon.co.jp/s?ie=UTF8&keyw...nded&page=1 楽天Rakuten is just now starting to use English, but this isn't very helpful either. http://event.rakuten.co.jp/en/ Actually, it is interesting that there do not seem to be many good options for importing/exporting MiniDisc products... However, I am going to keep looking there's got to be something.

Apart, from the threads, do you know where on Sony's web site or in writing they said the RH1 was the last? I'd be convinced if someone from Sony(not in an outlet) actually came out with a press statment, printed it on their website, or in one of their catalogs. At the moment I still have no reason to believe that the RH1 is the last of the MD units after tape walkman, radios, and portable CD players are still being made because somepeople(not the populous) is still buying them and I am sure the RH1 in its first few months sold a lot more units than the portable CD players, Tape Walkman, and Radios were selling. None, of Sony's current cataloges mention anything about the MZ-RH1 going out of production or being the last, which is strange if that is what they plan to do. When DAT went out they let us know, why wouldn't they do so with HI-MD, too? Okay more catalog stuff: (1) The Sony, IC Recorder/Tape Recorder/Radio/Radio Cassette combo catalog(2008. April edition) http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/products/catalog/PAV_sou.pdf Only, list The MZ-B10 MiniDisc Recorder probably because it is not a Walkman catalog and the MZ-B10 is a business recorder not a Walkman. (see page 6 of the PDF and Page 11 in the print edition) (2) MD/CD/Cassette tape Walkman Catalog (2008 March edition) http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/products/catalog/WM_sou.pdf Does not list the MZ-B10 MiniDisc Recorder all all because it is not a walk. However, it does advertise the MZ-RH1 on the front cover, on page 2 of the PDF and page 2 and 3 of print edition. The MZ-N920, MZ-EH70, and MZ-EH50 are advertised on page 3 of the PDF and page 4 of the print edition. (Let's all be waiting and watching for the next cataloges) (3) A list of 'many ' of Sony's catalogs, present and past can be found here: http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/pdf.cfm When a print catalog is updated a PDF version will posted as well. I feel pretty safe to say that the MZ-RH1 is still being made and sold at least in Japan. I am aware that some online stores in England and in Singapore said they were no longer being made but this simple does not agree with the evidence I see so far. Until Sony officially in in writing confirms that the MZ-RH1 I think it is a safe bet to assume that the MZ-RH1 is still being pushed, sold, and there most be still some demand for it. If there is some demand for it then that leads me to believe that there may be another, yet, another model. Of course I could be wrong, but I am going to take a lead of faith here until I see some hard evidence. The MZ-B10 is a neat little recorder does anyone here actually have one? I do not own one but since their prices are going down or maybe they will go down if this is actually the end of MiniDisc I'd consider buying one just for the sake of it.

The current catalog fron Sony, as recent as last month still mention nothing about any of the HI-MD models being out of production http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/products/catalog/WM_sou.pdf . Or why Yodobashi, Bic camera, many of the stores on Rakuten, Amazon.co.jp, Kakaku.com, and others are in stock. Last Winter Amazon.co.jp was out of MZ-Rh1 for a little while but they are in stock again, now. I am sure that store you are visiting maybe get some more in later but "Zanen desu ne" seem a little harsh for a sales clerk to be saying to a customer. Why not, "Sore-wa zanen desu ne"(that's too bad)? But, that would still be strange. Anyway, just out of curiousity is that what they are really saying? It seems a little bit rude, to me. Who's saying this? Are, you sure you heard them corretly? I am guessing this person is probably a student from aboard or something. It's hard for me to believe a Japanese sales person would actually talk like this lest they were drunk.

I am just a typical English teacher I don't know anymore than anyone else. In fact I might be naive, but I believe Sony is a pretty transparent company and that the MZ-RH1 is still in production or that there is still a lot of back stock of them around. If you want to know why I think this it is basically because of the following that I based my assumptions on: The most recent MD/CD/Cassette Tape Walkman catalog(March 2008) http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/products/catalog/WM_sou.pdf only mentions that the MZ-E520 has been dis-continued (page 5/but page 3 in the PDF form; on the bottom right hand corner). Now, I also find it rather strange that they did not mention the MZ-RH1 unit being discontinued nor the NetMD either? Furthermore, a page with links to interviews dedicated to the MZ-RH1 is still up and running http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/himd-rec/ I think it is safe to say that they are either still in production or that there are enough of them in stock to last until they make a something to replace it. At BIC CAMERA both online and in Kawasaki city, where I live, these MD portable recording units are in stock. MZ-RH1 http://www.biccamera.com/bicbic/jsp/w/cata...I-MD&SORT=2 MZ-N920 http://www.biccamera.com/bicbic/jsp/w/cata...%91%CE%89%9E,,1, The MZ-EH70 and MZ-EH50 are also being sold as well as an MD business recorder. At YODOBASHI online and in Kawasaki, Shinjuku, Yokohama, and other areas in Tokyo-to these portable units are still in stock and selling. MZ-RH1 http://www.yodobashi.com/enjoy/more/i/cat_...4/52246170.html MZ-EH70 http://www.yodobashi.com/enjoy/more/i/cat_...3/45174726.html MZ-EH50 http://www.yodobashi.com/enjoy/more/i/cat_...3/45173289.html Many of the stores on 楽天　Rakuten & 価格.com Kakaku still have stock as well. And, the last time I checked デンコードー(Denkodo) & ヤマダ電機 Yamada Denki have some, too. P.S. Now, just out of curiousity who told that HI-MD were no longer being made? From what you wrote it apears they only said they were still yet to arrive, rather than they are no longer in production. However, if someone really did tell you that were out of production I find that a little distrubing. If that place is any where around Kanagawa-ken, or from Tokyo-to to to the top of Tohoku in Aomori-ken could let me know. I travel around those areas sometimes and I might like to stop by or have a friend of the family stop by the store(but only for curiousity sake I have no feeling either way about this). Do you happen to know the store clarks name who said this? It can be Yodobashi or Bic camera because nobody at those places are authorized to say anything like that, I would guess. Regards, Mikami

You write well, but 'sorry'; that was simply not true! The truth is Sony is still manufacturing: The MZ-RH1 (Silver&Black editions) The MZ-N920 (Silver, Blue, and Red editions) The HI-MD player models MZ-EH70 and MZ-EH50(all color/colours) are also still being manufactured as well MD/HI-MD decks and boom boxes.

Sadly, yes. But, then again there is always internet shopping for those with paypal/cerditcard and internet access.