We can’t imagine our digital world without it. Whether in smartphones, tablets, digital cameras or MP3 players — memory cards, some of which are only the size of your thumb nail, provide enough space for any amount of data. Read on for details about what types there are and what you need to know before making your purchase.
Your choice of memory card will firstly be dictated by the device that you want to use it with. Standard mobile devices tend to have just one slot. However, laptops and computers may have a multi-card reader. Alternatively you can use an external reader with various slots.
Make sure you know up to what capacity memory cards the device supports. Because even if a device accepts a certain type, it possibly only does so up to a maximum size, such as 32 gigabytes. The data sheet or product packaging will give details about maximum size.
The most important types of memory cards
- Secure digital: The SD card is now available in three versions. The original version (up to 2 GB) was followed by the Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC card, up to 64 GB) and the Secure Digital Extended Capacity Card (SDXC currently up to 512 GB, planned up to 2 TB). SD and SDHC are also available in smaller mini and micro versions.
- Compact flash: This standard is mainly used for digital cameras. There are types I and II, which mainly differ in terms of thickness (3 and 5 mm). CF cards can be up to 256 GB in size.
More information about memory cards is provided in the reicheltpedia.
WiFi-enabled memory cards
Memory cards with integrated WiFi function are provided by some manufacturers for photography purposes. They automatically connect via a wireless network to a PC or notebook.
This means photos can be transferred from the card to a computer without the card needing to be removed and inserted into a card reader or a slot.
Proprietary memory cards causing a nuisance
Device manufacturers have in the past tried again and again to use their own “proprietary memory card formats” to boost the sales of accessories.
Sony created a lot of bad feeling with its own Format Memory Stick, and continued to add to it in 2012: You have to buy a specific Vita memory card for the PS Vita portable game console. The price of this card is quite steep, much to the annoyance of the gaming community.
Memory cards for the Museum of Technology
Of course, with the rapid development of digital technology, memory card types fall by the wayside. For example, hardly any digital cameras nowadays take xD Picture cards, and the Multi Media Card (MMC) has been almost completely replaced by its successor, the SD card.
Photo credits: fotolia/80622167/dmitrimaruta
