--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:32:49 -0500
From: Fred Schaff <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Memory Stick! <fwd>
Sender: Fred Schaff <[log in to unmask]>



>--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
>Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 12:57:53 -0800
>From: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Memory Stick!
>Sender: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>I recently visited the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and saw
>an intriguing new product from Sony. Some of you may be familiar with
>it. After the demonstration of it, which was predictably flashy, I was
>able to try it out in a 'hands-on' way. It's called Memory Stick, and is
>the latest step in the frenzied rush in the miniaturization of media.
>About the size of a piece of chewing gum, each unit is like a miniature
>floppy disk, but with no moving parts. It is fairly universal in its
>writeability, and can receive a wide variety of digital data. For
>example, audio tracks can be downloaded from the Internet onto a Memory
>Stick, which currently comes in 32, 64, and 128 megabyte sizes (soon
>they will be 1 gigabyte) , which can be inserted into a player about the
>size of a disposable cigarette lighter, with CD-quality sound, plus LCD
>screen for program readout, which even displayed song lyrics. There are
>no moving parts in the player, either. Memory Stick also works in
>digital cameras, in computer floppy ports (with adapter), and in
>general, seems to be the 'Next Big Thing.' There is nothing dubious
>about it. Sony is also licensing Memory Stick to over 30 important
>manufacturers, so that gesture alone is an indication of their
>seriousness in ensuring this new product's success, I should think.
>
>
>Good luck with The Future!
>Brian P. Bach
>Maps Specialist
>Documents/Maps
>Central Washington University Library
>400 E. 8th Ave.
>Ellensburg, WA 98926-7548
>USA
>[log in to unmask]
>--- End Forwarded Message ---

        As an owner and user of a Sony Mavica digital camera, model FD-88, I'm
quite familar with the "Memory Stick" and have very mixed emotions about
it's introduction.

        I bought the FD-88 digital camera for three important reasons as follows:
1: It met my minimum resolution requirements of 1280x1024 pixels which
compares favorably with standard 35mm film.

2: It had an 8X optical ZOOM and 2X more digital ZOOM built-in

3: MOST IMPORTANT TO THIS DISCUSSION!! It uses standard 3-1/2" floppy disks
as it's storage medium.

        What the latter item means is the following:
1: At 5-10 cents/disk, the floppy can be used as the permanent storage
means instead of or in addition to storage on a harddisk or ZIP/JAZ disk.

2: It means that, almost anywhere on earth that one runs short of picture
taking storage capability, they can buy more floppy disks.

3: It means that, almost anywhere on earth, a image that has been taken can
be viewed on or transferred to almost any computer anywhere that accepts
the storage medium of JPEG.

        Thus, if SONY changes over to their "Memory Stick", (as they are rumoured
to be doing), for digital cameras, all three options above will be lost as
the "Memory Stick" will cost $30-50 each which makes them expensive as
permanent storage method but, worse yet, if you lose your supply or have
them stolen and/or wish to transfer information to a computer, the
versatility disappears.

        The main advantage for the Memory Stick is that current floppy disk using
digital cameras MUST use JPEG as a data compression means and still can
only store 3-4-5 images per floppy disk at the maximum resolutions. The
resolution loss is minimal as anyone comparing a JPEG-compressed image to
the full resolution image will say. Moreover, if they switch to full
resolution storage, than even a 128megabyte Memory Stick will only store
some 30 1280x1024x24-bit color images, (8-bits/byte), images.

        Thus, the old adage: Beware of what you ask for, you may get it.

Fred Schaff, Spring Grove, PA, USA <[log in to unmask]>
        LAWS OF DISCUSSION
1: In total agreement, there is no net communication possible.
2: In total disagreement, there is no net communication possible.
        JOHN W. CAMPBELL
--- End Forwarded Message ---