An interesting and potentially useful new product from Sony - a USB drive that allows you to use MD media as storage media. The "PIT-IN" drive is similar in size to an MD player and will be available from May in four colours for approximately 15,000 yen. If only it supported USB2.0...

Sony will release the "PIT-IN", a USB external drive that uses MD media for storage, on 21 May. The drive has no recommended retail price but is expected to sell for approximately for 15,000 yen. Windows 98/Me/2000/XP operating systems will be supported.

The PC drive is similar in size and shape to an MD player. However, standalone MD playback is not supported. Standard MD (~100 yen) and Hi-MD media (~700yen) can be used with the drive to provide 305MB and 1GB of storage respectively.

The maximum data transfer rate is 9.83Mbps for Hi-MD media and 4.37Mbps for standard MD media. The drive uses an USB1.1 interface and is bus powered. As it is recognised as a USB mass storage device, drag-and-drop file transfer is possible. Using the included SonicStage 3.1 software, music MDs can also be created.

The "PIT-IN" drive will come in 4 colours - silver, black, red and green. Dimensions are W86 x D22.9 x H79.3 mm and weight is 100 grams. A USB cable and storage pouch are included.

Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2005/0413/sony.htm

News release:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200504/05-0413/

Product information:
http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/computer/drive/products/index.cfm?PD=21291&KM=DS-HMD1