ObrenMasic

I have been a fan of MD since it apeared here in Sweden in 97, a Sharp MS200, and STILL (2008) the yardstick by which I judge all portable recorders. Since then I have spent a lot on the format, as well as working through 4 portable and a stationary modell. But now I am begining to worry! How long before Sony cancels the format? There havent been a new modell since the RH1 that arived in 2006. I can live with that. Its a fine machine and a worthy succesor to the MS200, BUT... STILL... And what about all thosew recordings? Or will Sony keep the line slowly trickling to support the few and enthusiastic? Anybody who knows anything???

I feel your pain. I have similar outbursts of SS-hatred too on almost every occasion I try to use the damned thing. Which is why I am here right now: I try to use it (SS), it pisses me off, I google for: "SonicStage replacement" and end up here. And yet. The minidisc could have been such a wonderfull thing if Sony wouldnt hate their consumers so much. So I keep insted, on using my iRiver HD based mp3-player, the H140 a masterpiece, and listen only to "old" stuff on the MD since its such a hassle to put new stuff onto MD. *sigh*

OK folks. We have now decided that the MD is no longer a BestBuy So the question that beckons here at MiniDisc is: what would it take to make the MD a best buy? I happen to believe that the MD could make a comeback if Sony would get it right and made a genuine effort to push it. The necessary improvements: get rid of SonicStage introduce a better replacement for SS, perhaps something like RedChairSoftware's Notmad/Anapod/Irivium software. playing any recognizable format drag'n'drop-ed to HiMD support many more formats, particularly the open formats that wont cost Sony any license fees to implement such as FLAC & OGG design a very sexy looking line of portables retain LineIn/MicIn use removable batteries reduce the media cost to 1/3 or less of the current price develop larger capacity mediaA nice feature would be if Sony would lift the restrictions on Line/Mic recordings made on preHiMD media and allow uppload off such recordings.

That is absolutely true. The latest firmware of the european version of the H140 series they removed the WAV recording capability for LineIn, supporting only mp3-recording, so I found myself "upgrading" to the firmware version before it. The reason for me not upgrading to the H3xx series is because theres no reason to. The H140 can store as much as the H340, I dont need a colour screen nor the USB on-the-go feature and I appreciate the OPTICAL input/output features (missing on the H3xx's) on my H140 all the more. Actually the H1xx's as still for sale in europe. So are the H3xx's too.

OK folks. I was wenting my frustrations with Sony and the limitations they impose on their users. My apologies to "e1ghtyf1ve" and others who feel hurt. For the record: I am not an MD-hater. On the contrary, if youd read my "Ode to the minidisc" over at MisticRiver http://misticriver.net/showthread.php?t=31193&page=2 you will see that I lamentt the failure of the MD to make a hit since it showed such great promise in the beginning. I agree completely with LupinIV and others who have pointed out that Sony is killing the MD with the way Sony is marketting it. That I use MDs and apreciate its strengths shouldnt blind me, or anyone else, to the MDs weaknesses and one ought to be able to admitt that the MD is NOT a BESTBuy. That simple. Also its not only with MDs that Sony behaves badly: I just bought an PSP and enjoy being able to use the various hacks (noo! NOT pirated stuff) developed by talented merry users and which Sony does its best to sabotage with the newer versions of the PSP firmware, the cause of my latest frustration (and previous post) with Sony. When it comes to music players, I am a multiformat person. The only format that I have abandoned is the cassete tape, for obvious reasons. Though I used walkmans of all makes and models for nearly 20 years. I now own/use: - Panasonic Portable CD-player for CDs - RioVolt 250 portable audio-CD & mp3-cd player - iRiver H140 DAP - Sony MZ G750 LPMD-player - Sony MZ-NH600D HiMD-player They all have their uses and also I've invested to much in them to abandon them anytime soon. Given my investment and comittment into the MD format I feel I have the right to voice valid critisism of MD without being accused of being a troll. As to why the iRiver H140 is no longer made, its simple, after a while new models replace older models. After the H1xx's came the H3xx's which also feature a colour screen and On-the-go funtionality. They are still being offered in shops in europe. The only problems with these models is their price: the H140 and its follow up the H340 are quite expensive. In addition the competition from the iPod must be squeezing them so iRiver have gone to make simpler and cheaper models. Though the Philips HDD6330 seems to be promising. Finally its my belief that if Sony would go out of their way to meet the desires of their users the way they now go out of their way to lock-in and DRM-penalize the users they would actually make more money than they do now, as a lot of people who opt out of the Sony-DRM nightmare would be buying Sony instead and that would offset any losses due to copying. The Sony corporations current woes is due to the consumers having voted with their wallets.

Well I think the name says it all. Bets buy is what an MD is not. I bought into the MD back in 1997 on the encouragement of a former friend, (havent forgiven him for suckering me into MD). While its true that the MD had a fantastic potential in the mid 1990's, Sony ruined its chanses. As LupinIV said: "SONY killed the MD". While I do have a HiMD (need it for my old MDs) I prefer my HD based DAP these days and iRiver H140. Check these specs: - 40 GIG HD - built in RADIO - LineIn - Optical IN - Line Out - OpticalOut - BuiltinMic - ExternalMic - Recording in WAV or MP3 from LineIn/OpticalIn/ExtMic/IntMic - Supports also VorbisOGG - USB2.0 - Drag'nDrop transfer of musicfiles over the USB... in either direction! No DRM nonsense. With the Rockbox project I have now also in addition to the official capabilities - gapless mp3-playback - recording from Radio - playback of: FLAC ALAC AC3 AAC plus some more non music related stuff. Shame that a giant like Sony cant pull off something that a small company like iRiver and a bunch of amateurs like the people at Rockbox.org can. Maybe its time for Sony to do the world a favour and go into bankruptsy. LATER EDIT: Above statement is a bit to harsh I've cooled down a bit since I wrote it. But I'm still exasperated with Sony.

Odd! I thought that it shouldnt be necessary to install any other drivers than USB mass storage drivers in order to use the MiniDisc as a mass storage device. Sonic stage is necessary only if you want to listen to music. Ive used my HiMD just like that without installing any drivers, on XP though but still.

Well I sure hope there will be more generations of MD. I got into the the MD format in '97 and have some 300 discs by now. I'd hate losing the ability to use them just because the old player is worn out and theres no replacement to get. Particularly now that the MD begins to be usable. SONY!!! Ditch SonicStage! Give us drag'n drop!!! With ALL discs. Even the old non HiMD ones too. PLeeeeease.

BIG DEAL !!! This software is the SAME old crap as always. Why cant Sony just release some driver DLL:s so that we can access the minidisc as any attachable device that can be manipulated with our favorite software. Also why cant we upload old recordings? I am still kicking myself for buying into this stupid format. The day I buy Sony gadgets again is going to be when all H___ frezes over