Sony has announced a revised line of Hi-MD recorders. These new
models have some fancy features which Sony thinks will make them
attractive as alternatives to MP3 players like the iPod. All the new
Sony models include MP3 playback. Various models include 1.5 inch
color LCD display, OLED display, built-in low resolution camera, new
colors, and so on. Read about the new models at www.minidisc.org
Unfortunately, the new machines offer few advantages over the current
models for nature recordists. The most important change is lower
prices.
For example, the popular Sony MZ-NH900 Hi-MD recorder has a MSRP of
$300 US. Its replacement MZ-RH910 will cost about $200 and be
available in April, according to Sony USA's announcement.
Otherwise, the two machines have similar recording formats
(uncompressed WAV plus several variations of ATRAC3), inputs (mic,
line, and optical in), and battery life. Unfortunately, the Hi-MD
discs continue to be priced at $7 a disc.
I expect that the prices of current Sony recorders like the MZ-NH1,
MZ-NH900 and MZ-NHF800 will fall in the next few weeks to clear out
inventory before delivery of the new models begins.
--oryoki
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