MiniDisc

IMHO, MiniDisc is (a) not a Hi-Fi medium, (b) dying or just about dead.
Have you considered CD-R or MP3 (or even cassette)?

I got my missus a Sony MZ-N710 NetMD (a minidisc that will also play MP3-alikes). I compared it to the MZ-N1, and didn't think the price difference was worth it.

I decided that NetMD was the way to go, as the it's main use was to block out annoying people on the train, so having a wider choice of music was more important than sound quality. If the extra space on a disc is not important to you, normal MDs are cheaper.

I also went for an metal case. Plastic is cheaper, but my missus throws it in her rucksac, so it had to be sturdy.

Lastly, if you are in the US, or find that stuff from the US doesn't get hit by customs, you can save alot of money buying from the US through ebay. Sony don't do MD in the US anymore, so stock is being offloaded very cheaply.

In all honesty, I've only ever used it in it's mp3 mode, so I can't really vouch for its sound quality, but it's super convenient, the software works ok (a few annoyances, but easily worked around), and it looks pretty funky.

I have an MZR-90 (old model I know) which is easy to use, offers decent sound quality etc.

I also have an older portable MZR-30 which is in some respects better. For example, the default input on the MZR-90 is digital - you then have to scroll through menus to change it back to "Analogue" for taping LP's etc.

The MZR-30 had separate inputs for Digital and Analogue.

I also have a couple of home decks, which are more easy to use too. Both are Sony's and one is even plugged through my Naim system (and really doesn't sound at all bad). I sometimes use this to copy LP's onto so that, for example on Prince "Diamonds and Pearls" which is a double LP, I can play it right through without running from end of the house to the other to change it. I also have a Sony Midi System in the kitchen with MD in it, so I can play them in there too.

In case you're wondering why on earth I have all these decks, it goes back to pre readily available recordable CD and I had a part time job which meant carrying around 400 CD's or copy the most used tracks onto MD. OK, not strictly legal in the eyes of PPL but it far more convenient.

One other thing is with MiniDisc, you can move, delete, and add tracks at will. So on a compilation, you can change the running order etc.

You can't do that with CD-R........

My Sony's have all worked perfectly, except the MZR-30 which got slightly crushed during an overseas flight and would no longer record....

Hope this is of some help.

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

sony made some nice uk only home decks and the dacs on board are v.good they are superb for editing and have a lot more options than cdr. i use md to edit live rec etc then burn the rec to cdr via it dig output. great for live concerts off music channels etc.

I have a minidisc player that has had no use since my computers came with CD writers. The only thing they are good for now is for party mixes. I mix up dance music on the computer and then sling it onto minidisc. For portability, Novatech.co.uk now do a USB flash memory plug 128k, that's also an MP3 player, for about £60.

128K, wicked for those 30 second punk tracks.

OK Mekon - point taken