Memory Cards Explained
What are the different types of memory cards.
|
USB Pen Drives, USB Flash Drives, USB Memory Sticks
![](/images/standard/DTI-4GB.jpg">Not
a card, but a fantastically popular form of portable memory at prices that allow
you to have enormous amounts of temporary files on hand in a convenient format.
These devices vary hugely in shape, design and dimensions but all can easily be
classed as keychain sized.<p>Designed to connect to a USB port on any modern
computer these devices allow the transfer and transport of data in an easy and
robust way. Many devices include encryption and security to prevent the
unauthorised access of data.</p>
<p><b>Dimensions:</b> (HxWxD) Vary.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><b><font size="4"><a name="compactflash"></a>Compactflash, Compact Flash or CF Cards</font></b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<img src=) The
CompactFlash memory card is currently one of the more popular formats of memory
card along with Secure Digital memory cards. It was designed
specifically for use with digital cameras having a large storage capacity and
being very robust to put up with the rigours of being transported about in
camera bags and swapped in and out of the device regularly.CompactFlash Cards come as Type I and Type II. The difference is, most significantly, that Type II cards are slightly thicker than Type I cards. This allows them to have larger capacities but also means that Type II cards will not fit into some Type I slots. Dimensions: (HxWxD) Type I: 36.4x42.8x3.3mm |
![](/images/standard/SDSDX3-1024-902.jpg"><p>
The rising star of the memory card world, SecureDigital or SD cards are becoming
the most widely used and popular of memory cards. Almost postage stamp size they
are small, they have a large capacity and relatively high data transfer speeds,
allowing them to be used in all sorts of devices from cameras to small mobile
phones and mp3 players. The original SD card format seen here has been joined by
even smaller versions including both MiniSD and now MicroSD cards.</p>
<p><b>Dimensions:</b> (HxWxD) 20x31x1.6mm</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><a name="minisd"></a><b><font size="4">Mini Secure Digital, Mini SD, MiniSD Cards</font></b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<img src=) The
smaller cousin of the SD card, thee MiniSD does everything its big brother can
do but takes up even less room in the device. MiniSD cards are usually sold with
an adapter that allows them to work in the original SD sized devices.Dimensions: (HxWxD) 21x20x1.4mm |
Micro Secure Digital, Micro SD, Transflash Cards
![](/images/standard/SDC2GB.jpg">The
smallest version of the SD card family, this format as so small it is difficult
to handle and easy to misplace. It is popular in mobile phones where it can add
enormous amounts of memory allowing phones to carry as many images as modern
cameras or as much music as modern mp3 players.<p><b>Dimensions:</b> (HxWxD)
15x11.5x1mm</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><b><font size="4"><a name="xd"></a>xD-Picture Card, xD Cards</font></b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<img src=) Similar
to Sony's development of a proprietary card, the xD-Picture Card was developed
by Olympus and Fuijifilm and is used only in their devices. The advantage of the
xD card was its reduced power consumption, saving battery life on the portable
devices it was used in.Dimensions: (HxWxD) 20x25x1.78mm |
![](/images/standard/MC128MST.jpg">Sony) Older Memory Sticks can be
used in the more recent MemoryStick Pro slots not vice-versa. The later Memory
Stick Pro devices also incorporated MagicGate technology which provides content
protection allowing people to record and access secure media such as digital
music.
Dimensions: (HxWxD) 21.45x50x2.8mm |
Memory Stick Pro, MemoryStick Pro
![](/images/standard/SDMSV-4096-E10.jpg"><p>
The second version of Sony)
Older Memory Sticks can be used in the more recent MemoryStick Pro slots not vice-versa. The later Memory Stick Pro devices also incorporated MagicGate technology which provides content protection allowing people to record and access secure media such as digital music. Dimensions: (HxWxD) 21.45x50x2.8mm |
Memory Stick Duo, MemoryStick Duo
![](/images/standard/SDMSH-128-E10.jpg"><p>
The Memory Stick Duo is a smaller version of the Memory Stick and the Memory
Stick Pro and were used in Sony)
Dimensions: (HxWxD) 20x31x1.6mm |
Memory Stick Micro, MemoryStick Micro
![](/images/standard/SDMSM2-2048-E10M.jpg">Smaller
still, Sony have progressed to the MemoryStick Micro. High capacity and small
size make this a versatile card used in Sony) Dimensions: (HxWxD) ??x??x??mm |
MultiMediaCard, Multi Media Card, MMC Card
![](/images/standard/MMC-1GB.jpg"><p>
MultiMediaCards are, like CompactFlash, primarily found in digital cameras. They
are very similar to SD Cards and can be used in SD card devices, however, their
storage capacities are much less than SD cards making them less popular.</p>
<p><b>Dimensions:</b> (HxWxD) 24x32x1.4mm</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><font size="4"><b><a name="mmcmobile"></a>MultiMediaCard Mobile, Multi Media
Card Mobile, MMC Mobile, Reduced Size MMC cards</b></font></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<img src=) Following everyone else in reducing card size and increasing storage capacities, the MultiMediaCard was releases in a Reduced Size or Mobile format. Dimensions: (HxWxD) 18x24x1.4mm |
