It's not versus, it's 'and' (FORUM: MiniDisc VS MP3)

Member Name: mgoldman

Product:	FORUM: MiniDisc VS MP3
Date:	23/04/03 (307 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good sound, flexible

Disadvantages: expensive, may fail mechanically

I have been playing with both formats, using one of the Sony net based minidisc recorders. I think is is the 707 bought about 9 months ago from duty free in Stansted.
I am very impressed by minidisc. The sound is great, and the discs have stood up to fairly frequent use. The big disadvantage is that the minidisc player is an electromechanical device, and some day it will fail. MP3 has penetrated the market much more fully and has no moving parts to go wrong.
The problem with MP3 is that it is compressed, and can sound a bit funny. If you have a low bit rate, there is a price to pay.
I have connected my minidisc to computer via USB, and recording is a doddle, and quick. You can edit the table of contents to suit yourself. You can also, with the provided software, burn your mp3 tracks on to the discs. Using the slowest speed, you can have about 5 hours of music on one disc, which is enought for most people for one day. There is a remote control with mine, so there is no showy unit visible for muggers to covet.
I have also connected my minidisc to a DAB radio, and I have to tell you that the quality is wonderful. If you want things other than music, then you can have five hours of spoken work courtesy of the one word channel.
I have not tried downloading DAB onto the computer yet, and that may be a challenge.
Minidisc can handle may formats including MP3, wav, window media player format and plain and simple audi (including optical links). The discs are re-usable, and if there is a failed burn, you just try again

Summary: