I haven't seen anything around here regarding mini-CD mp3 players, such as the Compaq i-paq or other kinds. They seem like MD killers to me since it is quick to record them and the media is even smaller and cheaper than MD media, AND the players are cheaper. Plus, it seems to me you could fit a lot of high-quality mp3s on a mini-CD, at indistinguishable-from-ATRAC-for-most-mortals quality. More than 74 or 80 minutes, at least.

Anyone tried this?

I've seen pictures of these before, but didn't pay much attention to them for two reasons: first off, i never realized that they could play mp3's, and second, I had no idea that the players were so cheap! Thanks for the heads up, this adds to my dilemma: iPod or Panasonic CT790? ...or iPaq?!?

i dunno about the rest of the md users here, but the main purpose of my portable md, is for recording live stuff... which is something those things can't do.

other than that, it seems pretty interesting... i've got a few 3" cd's in my collection somewhere.

"MD killers" no way.
The portables are cheaper but they do not record. So far, at least in Europe the media isn't cheaper either.
Bulkier media the MD might be, but you gain something there. The MDs are PROTECTED against dust and scrathing. You really should try hard to scratch a MD.
From what I've seen the players are slightly bulkier than MD portables.

Faster transfer- are you counting the time to upload and convert your music in mp3 format on your computer? Moreover there are MD portables that allow fast transfer.
What if you don't have CD burner? Do you add this to the cost?
MD comes as a ready to use package, all you need is some sort of a CD player (although it is better if you have one with optical out).
What about the post recording, editting capabilities of the MD format?

All in all, if you ask me that's just another new toy from Philips that will never take off.

I think what I meant to say was: MD killers from those of us who use our MD players like tiny CD players. I forgot that other people use them for more MD-specific purposes.

Quote:



Well, yeah, that's impossible. But then again, I never do that

Quote:



All of my MDs are made from mp3s to begin with -- the reason I use MD is because the player is small and the media is small and cheap. When I bought the MD player (years ago) it was the only type of player using media that was both small and cheap -- I'm just saying: not anymore.

The cost of a CD burner and this item is less than the cost of a good MD recorder, for what it's worth. So many people have them already anyway.

Quote:



Again, that's a feature that I don't use. I just record albums and listen to them. I imagine that there are others who would like the flexibility of smaller, longer playing CD mp3 players.

Quote:



That's what people thought about sony's MD players . . .

Quote:



Exactly, and it took more than 10 years before MD started to sell in large numbers. Even today in the US it is not so poular. And this is provided that the MD had to beat the tape. Now, I don't see how such a gadget will beat the MD in the near future.
For you specifically it may be a suitable toy though.

if you only have MP3s and a CD-burner, it seems like an easier solution than MD.

I have neither and therefor absolutely no interest in those mini-CD players.

nice for people who want a smaller MP3 recorder, but I don't see how it rivals MD.

I think you're right, it is a toy

I think we can all agree that it's an interesting implementation of a technology that is basically gone (3-inch CDs disappeared with pre-recorded MDs, if I'm not mistaken ).

Spice up the old with the new......

I agree with most, however, that MD is simply better - and not a direct competitor.

How many mp3's can you throw on a 3" cd anyway? I believe they go from 150MB to 200MB. If your average MP3 is 4MB, then the most is 50 songs....i don't consider this a MD killer in no way, plus i use my 3" cdr/cdrw's for my digicam.

Quote:



Um, I sure as hell can't record that much to an MD with my MD recorder, 74 minutes is the limit in stereo.

hey vij....

many 3" cd's are still released in asia....in fact almost all japanese singles are released as 3".......theyre still around....just didnt make it big in north america.

Quote:



No, the limit in SP stereo mode is 80 min, just get longer discs.
Second, 4 MB per song= low bitrate= bad quality. With a bitrate to match ATRAC soiund you'll fit no more than 70-80 min on one of these.
Third, have you heard about MDLP? All new MDs have it. In MDLP4 mode you can fit up to 320 minutes of Stereo per disc. This is roughly about 70-80 songs as well, with a quality comparible to 128Kb/s mp3s.

Quote:



That's an EXTREMELY subjective judgement. For me personally, I could fit a hell of a lot more than 70-80 minutes of mp3s into a 180MB space and not be able to tell the difference between ATRAC or even CD quality. That's the reason I brought up this thread.

Clearly MD killer wasn't the right term, but it seems to me there are distinct advantages to using these devices over CD mp3 players, assuming you didn't need to play CDs.

Quote:



Actually, from an objective perspective, standard ATRAC is MUCH better than low bitrate MP3. Where it becomes subjective is that some people cannot hear the difference

If you personally can't tell the difference between low bitrate MP3 and ATRAC, good for you -- I wish I couldn't