A Killer Hi-md Unit?

[L7R]

(first, sorry my endglish)

This could be perfect unit. These wishes are not hard to fulfil and as you see

in history, simple ideas (with low costs) make breakthrough to the masses.

These are my thoughs:

MZ-NH1 with:

#1. Native mp3 (or multicodec) support

#2. Uploading/downloading without (so much) restrictions.

Restrictions will be made to files (you know what I mean? ), not hard/software itself. Like i-tunes or so. Uploading a song to 3 different computers, for example and then the file is getting locked.

#3. Simple Mode/Full Mode.

As you know, here in MDCF we know much about technology, software, computers etc. But if I tell my friends who uses mp3 players what they CAN do with MD's they are absolutely one big questionmark . There are simply too much features (and restrictions) with these Hi-MD units.

All of them mainly wants to download music from pc. But at the same time they say they will be in heaven if they could record their lectures, interviews etc with their players. But they think that's future and they have to wait some years to get that to their players.

Recording on mp3 players will be THE next big thing what we will see "in the future". Today every manufacturer push their efforts to get simple mp3 recorders for the markets. And now you laugh ? So do I. But it is really a fact. We have recorded to MD for ten years!

People are slow to assume new things to their lives. And when they saw things that actually help their everyday life, they need someone else to do (and prove) it first. That's what apple did with their Ipod -siple player for simple people, and then they tell people this thing has every feature that you could imagine. All you need is computer.

But now there is this "ipod shuffle mania". Why? What next? Ipod record? Definitely!

People want quality recorder with easy interface so they could record lectures or learn new languages (recorder will help a lot), or record their bandtrainings or livemusic. And some of them are actually heard about (and towards) minidisc, but are (very) confused and worried if they pay 200-400$ for equipment which is so complicated to use and has so much restrictions and "its own rules" what you can do and what you can't. And when you go to the local store, first thing what salesperson say is: "So you want to record; buy this microcasette recorder." If you tell him about MD, he say: "ahh, you want professional recorder." .....Professional!?

There should be easy learning curve for novices (simple-mode) and when users are getting used to it, then they could switch to Full Mode (features like recording and editing, for example). Now you think: this feature actually is in NH1, but it's not what I mean. Simplicity is hard to implement. Really HARD. Apple make huge efforts to simplify their products to maximum user friendliness. And those players have 1/5 features of MD recorders. I think most future efforts on Hi-MD should be cancelled and that effort should move to make better user interfaces.

Added bonus features to this "new NH1":

- AA adapter

- Recharging USB Stand (sony abandoned this just before NH1 hit markets)

- AC plug in the unit itself

- Color TFT LCD screen (to wiew artist information, pictures, cd cover art etc). Anyway, it's 99,9% sure we will see this in 3rd gen units.

In the future. this could be real All-In-One - One-And-Only Hi-MD player AND recorder.

With these three features (and hopefully with those add-ons), Sony could cancel to evaluate 3rd, 4th (and probably 5th) gen units and price could drop about 100-200$ per one MZ-NH1. All resources could move to make home/carstereo Hi-MD units and to make this "standard" portable unit cheaper. Like Playstation 2 now costs under 1/3 of its start price.

In the future, other manufacturers would have nothing to fear because sony wouldn't evaluate minidisc like Hi-MD last year, or Net md in the past. Remember Sharp IM-DR80? That was too much for sharp and they decided not to make that mistake (or Hi-MD recorder) again. Now, they wait and see how sony do with Hi-MD.

And in the future we would like to see other manufacturers make these "standard" Hi-MD-recorders. Like "Sharp MZ-NH1" with auvi and 4-pole headphone support or panasonic "NH1" with slimmest design & best battery life or Kenwood "NH1" with beautiful design and best remote. These machines will rock the world.

You can't compete Ipod or other mp3 players if you have numerous units/features to evaluate, or you have to make them lower quality (like plastic, (2nd gen units), for example)) and cutted down features. Those Mp3 players uses so low quality parts, you cannot compete with them if you don't have product which sells a lot.

One standardized unit is the way, but you'll have to name it wisely, like ....hmm.....Ipod.

I really wish someone on Sony consider this. Why kill best md-recorder in history, when there's simple ways to develop it to perfect md/mp3 player AND RECORDER?

Please, post comments/suggestions.

This is my first post due to my lack of english. But I've been MDC user since 1999 and many of you guys here are "like best friends" to me. I wanted to write down this thoughts, cause in the year 2010 I don't want to listen "Those were the days " with my MD player.

Thanks for reading this!

---- whoah.., It took me 3 hours to write this with dictionary. Now I have to think good title to this topic?

[edited several times]

[AMPlitude]

sorry, buddy, but sony will never build a unit to end them all.it simply wants to keep you on a leash, like the dh10 with a 1.3 megapixel. sony clearly is capable of at least 3 megapixels in that unit, but held back and stuck with the 1.3

[jonny mac]

You should have started that with "I have a dream...". I appreciate the thoughts and it's a good idea but one of the things I don't like about HDD players is that there's only one unit and the only thing that varies is the capacity. It doesn't offer much choice and is no good if you're a bit short on the funds - this hypothetical unit would be expensive. There is no perfect medium for DAPs and until there is there will never be a perfect player.

[L7R]

sony clearly is capable of at least 3 megapixels in that unit, but held back and stuck with the 1.3

I agree, but at the same time they put every imagine thing to PS3 because they don't have to worry if it sells good. It WILL sell like "viagra".

But with minidisc, they could take a risk and push this "dream" to forward.

This risk would be like desicion to make Playstation 1 in the past. Thinking it now, that decision was lifesaver to Sony. I heard that almost every division in Sony, except gaming are unprofitable.

this hypothetical unit would be expensive

I mean, if you could manufacture one product at very high volumes at a long time (like game consoles), the price per unit will be much lower at the time. But this could be somewhat risky. (but isn't every business?)

Now, when they actually have a unit which manufacturer costs were very high in the past (compared to 2nd gen units), it's such a waste to produce yet another different units. If they add those features to this existence unit it saves a lot of money and price should be even lower.

I can't understand they sell NH1 at Amazon.co.uk as low as 109 pounds without making profit? Or at ebay as low as £69!

[Syrius]

I had a dream too. And Hi-MDRenderer made it a reality.

[Breepee2]

And FLAC support!!!!

Or Atrac Lossless....

[betamaxDATminidisc]

Added bonus features to this "new NH1":

- AA adapter

- Stand with USB +recharging through usb

- AC plug in unit

- Color TFT LCD screen (to wiew artist information, pictures, cd cover art etc). Anyway, it's 99,9% sure we will see this in 3rd gen units.

Also others added bonus features to all "new MZ-DH10P, MZ-RH10, MZ-NH1, MZ-NH900, MZ-NH600D" for 3rd generation:

Bluetooth, IrDA and Wi-Fi

DV IEEE1394 in/out in unit from camcorder digital DV and Digital8 or computer

Memory Stick Duo in unit with MP3, AAC, WMA, Atrac, JPEG, MPEG4, MPEG2 and WMV support

HDD in unit

PlayStation 3 portable with UMD and color LCD 3inch screen in unit (double mechanic separate between Hi-MD and UMD and low cost than last model PSP)

Even! But it's much difficult. AMPlitude has reason.

[L7R]

Let's keep this at least somewhat sensible.

But I got good laugh, though.

[sushi]

I'm sure that if Sony put 100% into MD the whole "Walkman" market would be theirs again.

But they prefer to look for restrictions on this and that which provokes hardware and software problems.

Imagine DaVinci painting a masterpiece and then chipping bits off!!!

Sony, you make me wanna just sit down and cry

ps Can we have a Sony smiley that would just be a turd?

[Christopher]

Great first post L7R! Welcome to the forums.

You do raise a good theory I will admit - focusing on a lesser amount of models instead of multiple units would be possibly ideal. I think that with so many variations it becomes a little more confusing for the average folk - but then again it's nice to have something to choose from in differing budget situations. With so many MD units made in the past, it'd be a strange world if there were less MD units released each year.

[Fray Adjacent]

This is all the same song and dance we keep doing, and Sony doesn't respond. It's really rather frustrating to see such a great company keep fumbling around with what could be a great product.

QUIT GIVING US CRIPPLEWARE, SONY!!!

[pirate uk]

This is all the same song and dance we keep doing, and Sony doesn't respond.  It's really rather frustrating to see such a great company keep fumbling around with what could be a great product. 

QUIT GIVING US CRIPPLEWARE, SONY!!!

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Spot on. but......

I have just found this forum, like probably most who have ever come here due to sonys sonic shtty stage. I bet without them there would be no members.

I have just payed good money for a unit, and DISAPOINTED IS NOT THE WORD.

Maybe BETRAYED, FAILED, SCREWED, RIPPED OFF, STABBED IN THE BACK, ANNOYED TO KNOW END, AND PISSSD ALL OVER BY.

They can shove their made in china for a penny sold in UK for 400 quid MD recorder straight up their @$$%$. Its going back for a refund tomorrow.

[petertkalec]

I have just found this forum, like probably most who have ever come here due to sonys sonic shtty stage. I bet without them there would be no members.

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Hehe... I first came here because I couldn't believe how bad SS was. I was sure I was doing something wrong; missing a check box or whatever. Now I check the board at least weekly to see what's going on.