This is slightly off subject but inspired by the below email (and
various discussions
I have followed lurking here for the past month or two). Just some
thoughts on the
viability of MD (in the states at least).
I hate to say this.... but I really have to say that I don't think we
are going to
see MD become the cassette of the aughts and tens.... Sony has very much
abandonded
the concept here and is now marketing it solely to us, those people who
will pay more
for quality sound and performance...
It's odd, if you think about it because Sony (and Sharp and JVC etc...)
COULD make so
much more money if they made portable MD players and recorders: 1)
sturdy for actual
use outside of the home 2)easily compatable with computer downloads
(which from my
lurking on this list sounds like its a hard thing to do. (I don't
downlaod now due to
a slow connection)).
I have a Sharp 722 and for the most part, I love it. It records live
shows really
nicely and easily, makes it easy to record my CDs and play them when I'm
out (which
is all I ask, I am not an audiophile by any means) and it is convienent.
Except when
it breaks... and it has now, twice, since December. The first time
something with the
ejection lever's spring went so I couldn't get discs out, and now the
little door
doesn't always close (it does if I smack it a bit).
If they made portables that were truely portable, of semi-decent quality
and, of
course, afforadable(not US$200 or more) MD would fly off the shelves.
They have
sports walkmen, sports CDmen (which, like all discmen is totally clunky
and dumb) ,
and I'm sure I've seen portable, sports TVs.... If they can get a
picture to work in
any portable TV or DVD player, they can make a sturdier portable MD.
Obviously music is going to be downloaded... whatever format can
downlaod is going to
win. Their insistence on not making MDs easily compatible with MP3s is
the begining
of the death knoll for the MD. Money is being poured into MP3 and its
players here in
the states so that is what people know and will buy. No one knows MD
exisits except
those who actually research these kinds of things, and we are in the
minority. What
is available is king. What is convienent and at hand wins and my
friends, the makers
of MD are not making it convient or available.
Sorry, that's kind of a diatribe (and lengthy) but I have a bunch on
mind on this
subject. These ideas are only scratching the surface of my thoughts on
what they
could do to make MD win (combine radio and MD portables) and why it
should (easier to
trade music (which is, of course, it's inherent problem for the
industry) and works
like a useful format to record CDs to and use like CDs for personal
use). I don't
want to be right in my predictions for MD to be right. But I had to say
something...
(God, even my apologies are wordy!)
Charlie
las wrote:
>
>
> It seems that MDs Mommy and Daddy (Sony), after being clueless as to how to
> market MD in the US, have abandoned their child in favor of the "Stick". I have
> a few suggestions as to what they can do with their stick.
>
> There are advantages and disadvantages to both solid state and the MD. But if
> you are buying a portable recording unit to build up a collection of music and
> at the same time be able to take it anywhere, I don't see how that is possible
> with the stick.
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