yabukitutti wrote ...
I'm trying to rig a live and portable recording apparatus for
documenting 1-2 hour performances in CD quality. I currently have a
Powebook G3 running OSX with an M-Audio Firewire 410 interface. I need
help deciding between the following:

1) ProTools M-Powered for 24bit/96Khz laptop recording ($300)
2) Marantz PMD671 24bit/96Khz Compact Flash Recorder w/ MP3, MP2, BWP &
WAV support($1000)
3) Sony Hi-MD RH10 Minidisc Recorder w/ LinearPCM, Altrac3plus & MP3
encoding ($300)

1)Pros: Post-recording waveform editing
Cons: For optimal CPU use, I can't run other music apps like Reason
and Live at the same time

For just recording and waveform editing, you could use something
like free Audacity ($0). Concurrent applications seem more like a
limitation of your current computer than of the recording hardware
or software.

2)Pros: outboard recording reduces CPU overload and
chances of computer crash,

"Reduces" it to zero since it is a standalone product.

rugged exterior for confident ease of use, professional
recording quality, USB connectivity, onboard XLR & digital connections,
convenient memory cards
Cons: expensive
3)Pros: Affordable, extremely portable, long recording time capacity,
easy to program, excellent audio quality, digital ins/outs
Cons: Doesn't have XLR connections, included software does not
support Mac and doesn't run well on Virtual PC

Even the MD fans are mourning the imminent demise of MD.
I would not invest any money in that format. Even if it weren't
dying, Sony has "queered the pitch" (look it up). Only if Sony
continued the Hi-MD format with DRM-less digital inputs and
ouputs could they have saved the format, IMHO.