| If you have ever tried shopping for memory | | | | MP3. |
| cards you know how difficult it can be especially if | | | | USB Readers: You will most likely require a USB |
| you don't know much about them! Here are some | | | | reader for accessing data on your memory card. |
| basic tips to help you buy the best memory card | | | | Today's PCs often come with readers installed as |
| that suits your needs. | | | | standard so that you can insert as many as 5-6 |
| Know the formats | | | | cards at a time. This enables good compatibility |
| There are many different formats available in the | | | | with digital camera memory card formats. |
| market as far as memory cards are concerned. | | | | Compact Flash: These are cheap compared to |
| Having knowledge about these is critical before | | | | many other types of memory card, readily |
| you start shopping otherwise you risk buying a | | | | available and can be used with several different |
| memory card which might be incompatible with | | | | devices. Using integrated ATA controllers these |
| your PC, digital camera or other host device. | | | | memory cards enable file management, I/O, error |
| SD Cards are a highly secure stamp-sized digital | | | | correction functionality etc. Traditionally Compact |
| camera memory card, which weigh approximately | | | | Flash cards have been favoured by Professional |
| two grams. Brands available include Sandisk, | | | | Photographers as they are available in various |
| Toshiba, Kingston and Lexar. SD Cards can be | | | | capacities and have a very high file transfer rate. |
| used in a variety of digital devices, including mobile | | | | To enable many photos to be taken in quick |
| phones, digital music players, handheld PCs (HPCs), | | | | succession. |
| digital cameras, car navigation systems and | | | | MMC: Also known as multimedia cards these are |
| electronic books. SD Cards have cryptographic | | | | the size of a regular postage stamp. They are |
| security for copyrighted data based on proven | | | | easily integrated into different devices and |
| security concepts from DVD Audio. | | | | consume less power compared to other memory |
| SDHC Cards are the next generation of SD cards | | | | cards, so are ideal for devices that need to |
| but offer increased capacities (4GB - 32GB) and | | | | conserve battery power for other functions. |
| faster transfer speeds of up to 6MB per second | | | | They are generally used in digital cameras, MP3 |
| (Class 6). These memory cards are primarily | | | | players and older Nokia mobile phone models. |
| designed to be used in digital camcorders and | | | | Memory Stick PRO DUO is a versatile memory |
| digital cameras. However, their large capacity does | | | | card, suitable for several device types, including |
| allow them to be used in many other devices for | | | | digital cameras, digital music players, digital voice |
| additional storage, such as the new Asus eePC | | | | recorders and the Sony PSP. Memory Stick PRO |
| and other laptops. | | | | DUO is also compatible with all devices that |
| Mini SD: This is available in sizes ranging from 1GB, | | | | accept Memory Stick PRO. Simply use a DUO |
| 2GB and even 4 GB. They are compatible with all | | | | adaptor and the Memory Stick PRO DUO |
| smart phone devices with a Mini SD or SD Card | | | | becomes the size of a Memory Stick PRO |
| (with SD adaptor) slot and even digital cameras. | | | | memory card. |
| Micro SD: These are even smaller than mini SD | | | | M2 Memory Stick Micro, available from Sony, |
| cards. They range in capacity from 512MB to 2GB | | | | Lexar and Sandisk, is approximately one-quarter |
| and are the most common form of mobile phone | | | | the volume of Memory Stick Pro Duo memory |
| memory due to their compact size. They can be | | | | cards, yet only about 1.2mm thick. M2 is designed |
| used as an SD card if inserted into an SD card | | | | as an externally removable memory card with a |
| adaptor, giving you versatility to use them in | | | | controlled eject function to prevent users losing |
| digital cameras and other memory card devices. | | | | their media, providing a secure storage solution |
| Micro SDHC: These cards are the next generation | | | | for music, videos and photos. M2 Memory Stick |
| of Micro SD cards but offer much higher | | | | Micro is also compatible with all devices that |
| capacities, from 4GB - 32GB, and faster transfer | | | | accept Memory Stick PRO DUO or Memory Stick |
| speeds up to 6MB per second (Class 6). They will | | | | PRO. Simply use an adaptor and it becomes the |
| be use in next generation mobile phones to cope | | | | size you need. |
| with capacity hungry files, such as MPEG4 and | | | | |