Will 1994 be the year when the market for the MiniDisc really takes off? Sony thinks so, pointing out that this new digital format is flying off the shelves twice as fast as the compact disc did in its early days.
To prime the pump, the company has just launched a second generation of products in Japan, including the first MiniDisc car player. With its ability to store ten seconds worth of sound in microchip memory (thus providing instant recall in case the pickup temporarily bounces off the medium), the new player is better suited to bumpy roads than compact disc players. So when your pickup (or Honda) jumps, the MiniDisc plays on, allowing the optics time to get back on track before you notice that anything's wrong.
The player comes in both basic and deluxe models. The deluxe features a built-in changer whose magazine holds four discs for a total of five hours of continuous playing time. And it's small enough to fit right into the dash (no more rooting around in the trunk to change discs).
A cute feature is the controller that attaches to the steering column. This allows you to change discs, select tracks, and crank up the volume all without taking your hands off the wheel. It also means that you might turn on Smashing Pumpkins instead of the windshield wipers, but, hey, that's life in the fast lane.
MiniDisc Car Player: basic model Yen79,800 (US$740); deluxe model Yen120,000 (US$1,110). Sony: (800) 848 7669, +1 (201) 930 6432.
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