[1] In developing and marketing it, Sony was trying to set the new standard for removable media to replace the 3½-inch diskette it had also helped create.

MD Data competed in a format war with other disks such as SyQuest's EZ 135, Imation's SuperDisk, and the Iomega Zip.

[2] Ultimately neither MD Data nor any of its competitors succeeded in becoming the de facto new universal standard fully replacing the 3.5 inch diskette; with recordable CDs coming closest to filling the role, followed by USB flash drives.

The format was featured in products such as still cameras, a PDA, document scanners, and image storage and editing systems.

Sony's MDH-10 MD Data disk drive, meant for use with Windows and Mac PCs, could also play back audio MiniDiscs.