Mini Disc

storage, music A music medium designed by Sony as a

portable replacement for music Compact Discs. In 1994 Sony

announced a data version which can hold 140 MB or about 100 MB

using error correction. These will be competitive with 128

MB magneto-optical disks. Mini Discs may be either a

re-writable or mass-produced read-only type. Sony have also

announced a standard data format.

The transfer rate is similar to CD-ROM which is slow

compared to the current magneto-optical drives (which are

similar to an old hard disk, with writing noticeably slower

than reading). Pre-recorded read-only Mini Discs can be mass

manufactured on a modified CD press - this and the standard

format mean it could take off as a software distribution

medium.

An article in the December 1994 PCW quotes access times of

about 300 ms and data transfer rate of about 150 kb/s (i.e.

about single spin CD rate).

(1994-12-13)