At 11:11 PM 8/2/99 -0400, the almighty god of MD-L wrote:
>Looking at this:
>http://www.nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com/wcs/leaf?CID=onair/asabt/moren/78538
>and the Sanyo announcement it points to:
>http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4-eng/9907news-e/0727-1e.html
>describing a new MO format that's 20% smaller in diameter than MD but
>holds 730MB, leads me to start thinking about MDs successor.
The last thing MD needs right now is a successor.
>Sony has been slow (unwilling?) to introduce a higher density version
>of MD, but in any case it would be only partially compatible with
>current MD audio, and would certainly continue to incorporate a
>data/audio firewall. Given the opportunity, wouldn't moving to iD's
>(iDisc's?) smaller, *completely enclosed* package be a better choice
>in the long run?
Technically, of course, the answer would be yes. But this is a critical
time for MD. It is in transition for a niche prosumer format to a widely
adopted consumer format. There might be a place for high density MD in a
few years, when more is known about the market, and equipment backwards
compatible with the old media safely introduced. But for now, any shake-up
of MD, or the introduction of any comparable MO audio competitor, would be
dangerous. Both would undermine faith in MD.
I think Sony understands this, which is why they are watching and waiting.
MD-Data died in the arse, so MD-HD, technically feasible or not, will
remain a dream of their engineers for a while yet. Besides, solid state may
be all the rage in half a decade. It is sensible to wait and see.
On a personal note, having just started building my collection of MDs, I
hope it is around in quantity for at least another decade.
My 2c,
Kade.
--
Archer
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/6413/
End.
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