Words and pictures

Sony has modified its MiniDisc audio recording system to work with video in a
camcorder. The Discam goes on sale in the US next year for $2300. Blank
discs for the system, which look like audio discs but hold four times as much
information, will cost $15. All minidiscs have a magneto-optical coating
that lets the user erase and re-record. And the minidisc gives near instant
access to selected scenes. But even the new quad-density discs can store only 10
minutes of video, or 20 minutes if the data transfer rate is halved, reducing
the resolution of the pictures.