Access to the Internet is generally somewhat slow. But transmission time has to be reasonable nevertheless. Voice reproduction ranges from poor to good. However, the performance of coding algorithms can improve, transmission speed on the Internet will probably accelerate and storing media are increasingly smaller, capacitive and affordable. As well, if a new coding format is developed and meets more closely our quality requirements, it is very easily conceivable to distribute to users a decoding plug-in via the Internet, as if it were an update of the playback software.
Microcomputers are powerful enough nowadays to allow software-based decoding.
It would thus be appropriate to refrain from over-standardizing the encoder for PC playback systems. It is even possible that any flexibility regarding the choice of recording type, transmission speed, and so on, be beneficial. The design of this device is largely dependent on the coding type used. The CD-ROM can allow the transmission of a large volume of data, but not the Internet. Consequently, it is possible to use a coding scheme offering less compression and better audio quality.