Mini CDR Madness: Evolution or Revolution?

1. Mini CDR/CDRW Madness - Evolution Or Revolution?

When we went to COMDEX late last year, the Mini CDR/ CDRW discs were all the rage. Although Mini CDRs have been around for some time now, it has taken a while for these little 8cm/ 80mm discs to enter the mainstream. We think that this has been due, in part, to the fact that the mini CDRs/ CDRWs only offer 185 MB of storage, which isn't too impressive when compared to regular CDRs/ CDRWs, which can offer as much as 700 MB+ of storage. However, the reduced size of the mini CDR/ CDRW discs has led to the development of smaller products which are almost half the size of a normal portable CD audio player.

Right now, most companies that are marketing the mini write-able discs are concentrating on the mini CDR format. Although you can find the mini CDRW media, it currently takes some effort, as the vast majority of the big media manufacturers are not yet making them available for sale. The one exception to this trend is Memorex, a company that is producing mini CDRW discs that are appearing on the shelves of many local retailers. Some generics or lesser-known brands of mini CDRW media are also available.

Yes, mini CDR/ CDRW media is small. At 8cm/ 80mm, these little discs can hold about 185 MB of data. Most of the mini CDR/ CDRW media are featured in the slim line jewel cases, which are already being marketed in a variety of colors other than the standard clear, as you can see. Right now, Memorex seems to have the market cornered on mini CDRW media, as it is the only major company to have the mini CDRW on local store shelves. We are not sure if this is due to a perceived lack of interest in mini CDRW media or some other factor.