DAT tape is as over as eight track cassette.
Edirol is shipping its R4 portable digital recorder.
What's not to love? 40GB HD, 24-bit/96kHz (though we'll stick with
16-bit and 44.1 / 48, thank you), 4-channel recording, and even onboard
effects and wave editor. Connect it via USB 2.0 to your computer and
download files, or even swap them on CompactFlash. It even sync to
cameras for video production, and now supports Broadcast WAV (BWF),
which I hear means something to video people, even if it means squat to
the rest of us.
And, of course, the whole package is much easier, more reliable, and
more portable than toting your 17" PowerBook every time you want to
record. (Hang on, I'm still booting . . .)
Meanwhile, somewhere in the world, a Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder is weeping. US$1600 street, available now.