----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Allison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: David Lloyd-Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; m100
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; elks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 3:25 AM
Subject: Re: Off Topic MiniDisc/Optical disc
> Unfortunately, while I am well aware of all that you said, and certainly a
> big fan of leaving the mechanical access devices behind, I am still caught
> firmly in the present.
>
> By MD, I mean the MiniDisc audio recording and playback media which is
> rapidly replacing the Compact Disc. While the metaphore is precisely the
> same (except for initial read write capability), the format is much small.
> 74 minutes of stereo (140 min monaural) on a 3 1/4 inch size MO disc in a
> protective, permanent sleeve.
>
> What I am unsure of is whether these cheap and popular MO discs are the
same
> as previously used or if they are a new and different format. And, if
> anyone has examined the possibility of modifying the playback mechanism --
> which is a sophisticated and fast digital read/write device -- for data
> storage.
>
>
> So, while we may all like memory packs to be a mainstay of secondary
> storage, we all still rely on mechanical disks to a great extent. Not
> because we aren't forward thinking, but because they are damn cheap,
> practical and standard.
>
> -Mike
>
>
>
To the best of my knowledge there is a device known by the name of "MD-Data"
drive. You'll certainly find SCSI devices, maybe IDE also. If I were you I'd
log on to Sony's website and look around. Or maybe onto the website of
"compatible equipment" manufacturers such as d2 for example.
BTW, the audio on MD is compressed. It is not CD-quality, and the data media
has a lower capacity than that of a straightforward 12cm CD.
You may be heading for an uphill battle here. Neither the MD-audio nor the
MD-data really took off. With the price of CD writers and blank media
falling through the floor there really was no market for the MD.
There are, however, other MO (magneto-optical) solutions for mass storage -
in 3.5" and 5.25" format with capacities reaching 5.2Gb. If you're going to
look at Sony's website I'm sure you'll find info about them there.
Hope this helps,
G. Stewart.
