Hi Susan, First. Any media that comes with a fixed memory isn't even worth
discussing,
Second, I'm sure they will or already do make Mp3 recorders that will accept
removable memory, like digital still cameras. But have you seen the prices of
Flash card, Smart Media or Sony's so called Stick??
There is no way that you are going to build up a collection of music when you
have to pay $80 for 32 MB. I see two reasons why the toys like the Rio are
selling. One is the popularity of Mp3 in general. You know that out saying
about food always tasting better if you get it for free. Well if you search
hard enough you will probably be able to find almost every song you want
somewhere on the net.
The second is price. If Sony had the in site to realize that the US market was
not going to pay $500 for a portable MD recorder or $17 for a blank disc they
might have caught on. VCRs moved slowly at first. But as the price dropped,
sales increased. Portable mini disc recorders should have been selling for $200
within two years of their introduction. And Blanks $3 to $5 tops. The price of
recorders dropped way too slow and is still too high.
But Mp3 players are inexpensive and easy to use. Sony should have also made the
MD "seem" easier to use. They should have just had the basic functions as a
tape recorder and then under a flap the "advanced" features for advanced uses
(editing, titling etc.).
In order for a product to have mass appeal is has to be able to be used by an
average moron. Even then you can never make it simple enough. They have tried
everything that they can think of to make programing a VCR as simple as
possible, yet this is one that even "rocket scientists" have trouble with.
How many houses have you gone into and seen the VCR blinking 12:00 12:00
12:00............?? This would be so easy to make automatic. Just hook the VCR
up to a phone Jack. When the first call comes in it will set the time. That's
the way caller ID works. How much could the extra circuitry add to the unit
$5??
But I'm getting off of the topic. Mp3 has one advantage over MD. It is
computer friendly. When the MD was introduced, there was no Netscape or
Microsh!t Internet Explorer. So it was not designed to take advantage of
computer to MD transfer.
There was no USB either. Do you own a digital camera? Have you ever tried to
download your pictures from the camera to your computer using a serial port??
Life's too short. But if your camera has a USB out or for $30 you buy a SanDisk
memory card reader the transfer is so fast you don't even have to to check you
watch.
There is still a place for the Mini Disc. And I think that it could do anything
that the Mp3 player does only better. But it would require making the MD
computer friendly. Capable of transferring Mp3 files directly from your
computer with USB in "computer time" rather then real time and several other
features. While at the same time making it user friendly and much less
expensive.
Actually the MD is much less expensive in the long run if you plan to build a
music collection. 74 minutes (or 150 MB) for $3 vs 32 MB for $80. I know some
Mp3 fan is going to say I can get a Rio for $100 and it is BOTH the recorder and
storage. But what do you do when you fill up your 74 minutes?
I'm really getting kind of long winded here, sorry. But there is one thing that
I wanted to add. I have read here that the sound quality of ATRAC is far
superior to Mp3. I am going to have to take people's word for this. I have a
DVD player that plays Mp3s and most sound pretty good. But I don't have the
time to try AB testing MD vs Mp3.
Finally, unless you have a super system. If you have a CD writer in your
computer and buy a car receiver that will play Mp3 CDs, this is where the MP3
may have it's advantage. Unless you have one of those $10,000 super systems
(you know the ones you see is some 1985 Barracuda with primer instead of paint
on it) in your car the average decent auto sound system isn't going to reveal
the superiority of sound quality of the MD. Plus you have 5 or 7 or what ever
hours of music on one CD.
Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday,
Larry
susan wrote:
> what do u all thnk of mp3 recorders? I see some that store 96mp which would
> be about 102 min of music they say-have u tried them, is this the real
> future? Someone told me that minidiscs would be out of use in a year because
> of direct to mp3 recording--the big disadvantage of mp3 recording I can see
> is if u r away from your computer you might be SOL so to speak--
> susan
> Please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Susan and the Wolves of Suffern, Cory at the Bridge
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