Sony discontinued HiMD website

[pata2001]

I don't know if you guys already know this, but Sony discontinued their consumer HiMD website: http://www.sony.net/Products/Hi-MD/index.html

Instead, they renew the site under the broadcast and business page, featureing the RH1: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusin...imd/index.shtml

Is this the sign Sony is changing their focus for HiMD?

[Ishiyoshi]

Indeed, I noticed the change a week ago. This is Hi-MD's apparent move to the pro-sumer market as we have discussed before.

[hobgoblin]

so if i want to grab a unit, it looks like i have to shop somewhere else then the local electronics shop...

[RobA]

Sony come on, don't give up. They are giving up on consumers completely. Playback is the last thing on their mind now, it looks like all the new units will gear towards recording for years to come. If 5 years, and both my MD units die out, I really hope I have somewhere to go to.

[jaylen]

If 5 years, and both my MD units die out, I really hope I have somewhere to go to.

For new or used, it's called Amazon or eBay.

[RobA]

For new or used, it's called Amazon or eBay.

I know, but it's a shame to see them give up like this. By then, all the stuff may be completely out of date. Hopefully, sony makes something that will gear towards playback. I wonder why they are shifting gears all of a sudden?

[jaylen]

Yeah, I was hoping for a new Hi-MD deck or player-only unit. We'll just have to see.

[MZ-1]

An upside to all of this may mean that any further machines are built more heavy duty and better -- more metal, less plastic.

[Mikami]

Sony come on, don't give up. They are giving up on consumers completely.

Giving up? I am sorry, but I either do not understand or do not get this "completely" thing? Yes, some of Sony's English HI-MD sites were taken down(reduced), but this is not at all the case with the Japanese site. If you would to know a little bit of why the people behind the newest unit made it the way they did itis all explained in the following online interview, you can use bablefish to translate it too:

Check out the MZ-RH1 creaters'interview here:

http://www.sony.jp/topics/walkman/himd_dev_interview/

Check out Sony Topics view point on the MZ-RH1 here:

http://www.sony.jp/topics/walkman/himd/sasaji.html

ANd do not forget these other great links:

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/himd-rec/

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/himd-rec/Hi-MD/

http://www.walkman.sony.co.jp/products/md.html

As you can see Sony has neither given up on HI-MD for recording or for playing. Some new players came out just last year, and who knows what may happen in the future. This is not over till the people in charge say it's over. Let's be positive.

Edited May 19, 2006 by Mikami

[Tiesto]

as we say over here: "Hope is the last thing to lose"

[Tokend]

If you would to know a little bit of why the people behind the newest unit made it the way they did itis all explained in the following online interview, you can use bablefish to translate it too:

Nothing personal, but I was dubious about this. So, I tried it.

I speak no Japanese myself, but reading and deciphering the translation, would be slower for me than reading a college physics text book.

Consider the following excerpt from a Babelfish translation of this site:

Check out Sony Topics view point on the MZ-RH1 here:

http://www.sony.jp/topics/walkman/himd/sasaji.html

[ First half of first "paragraph" ]

To tell the truth, carrying about MD walkman privately from work separated, it does not do that you inquire about tune it is. While riding in the streetcar, it does not do that first you inquire about music, and, even in the car stereo as for MD being not to have been attached, (laughing), MD to take care with private, it is few when you compare to the general user. It continues to use MD simply, with work directly. The use of MD on work site, in case of me, is limited to one. Doing recording at the studio, you record the last stage of job of that day in MD. Having that in the home, returning, after that you think of job furthermore dubbing it does what and so on. Simply, because I the work handle, music producer, the sound quality of CD focusing on think of phenomenon, the impression, simple sound recording simple playback equipment and material in regard to MD was strong.

Entertaining, but not very informative.