Compact Flash, Smart Digital, etc, Cards.

[Gene K]

Digital Cameras, Camcorders, etc, use small memory cards of about 9-10 types
which can store a large amount of data. Many computers now have input ports
which will read several different types. I have been told that you can buy
Card Reader/Writers which will read 8/9 of the most common types and you can
use the cards and appropriate Reader/Writers to input/output data from
computers. It is said that if you watch sale prices you can buy these small
cards at times very cheaply and thus get a lot of fairly compact, readily
movable, inexpensive storage capability.
Questions:
A. Is the above true?
B. If so, what is recommended Reader/Writer? Some devices say Reader/Writer;
others only say reader? I want to transfer data back and forth to the
computer.
C. What is best or most appropriate type? I would be interested in sizes of
128MB up.
D. Good points; bad points?

 

[Peter]

You may get several opinions onthis that are confusing, because,
depending on which type of stick or card the person is using, they might
prefer it over the others.. The most common type of card is Compact Flash
probably.. This is not the card you will find in most cameras, since Sony
uses it's own proprietary tiny stick and the list goes on from there with
other types of media. So, if you want to use it for transferring data from
one PC to another ONLY, Sandisk makes a device that plugs into your USB port
, whether it's the old USB standard or 2.0, and has slots for several types
of card..If you don't have USB 2.0 capability, the card will work, just
slowerr.
I don't know what 'very cheaply' means to you, but these cards are not
cheap. For example, a 256 meg compact flash card could cost you about $80..
The unit that reads and writes to it, another $40 (approximately) If you
can, i would choose one type of media. Your friends, if they are exchanging
stuff with you might not use the same type so i understand why you would
want a multi card reader/writer.. The devices are all readers/writers. If
you can read with it you can write with it.
yes, you can get 'deals' on those little flash pen drives at 32 megs for
about $29, but what the hell would you do with a relatively meager storage
size like that? I have seen 526 megs going for almost $100 but only with a
rebate.. If you think that is 'cheap' , well, so be it.
I have used compact flash with my PC for transferring small stuff to
friends PCs and they are cool; cheap they aren't. You can carry 'em around
in your pocket, that's cool. Check the Web for prices before you go to
ComPukeUSA and pay their outrageous $.. There are competitive prices..Prices
for most popular types of media are close whether its compact flash or
whatever..Use your computer and do comparisons, that's what your browser is
for, then, you decide.

 

[Gary Tait]

Digital Cameras, Camcorders, etc, use small memory cards of about 9-10 types
which can store a large amount of data. Many computers now have input ports
which will read several different types. I have been told that you can buy
Card Reader/Writers which will read 8/9 of the most common types and you can
use the cards and appropriate Reader/Writers to input/output data from
computers. It is said that if you watch sale prices you can buy these small
cards at times very cheaply and thus get a lot of fairly compact, readily
movable, inexpensive storage capability.
Questions:
A. Is the above true?

Generally. Not terribly cheap, but cheap enough to consider for
portable storage.

B. If so, what is recommended Reader/Writer? Some devices say Reader/Writer;
others only say reader? I want to transfer data back and forth to the
computer.

Either an all-in one, or one for the specific type you choose.
They all should read/write.

C. What is best or most appropriate type? I would be interested in sizes of
128MB up.

CF most likely. Other types if you have devices that use them.

With CF you can get adaptors to use them as IDE drives, PCMCIA
adaptors, and Parallel port readers.

D. Good points; bad points?

The bad point is you will have to carry around the reader/writer, as
well as the memory. The good poit is you will be able to use the
memory in youe multimedia devices, if you choose the right one.

 

[Gene K]

Peter,
Thank you so much for the information. I agree with you that Jump Drives,
Thumb Drives, Flash Drives, etc, [whatever else they may call them] are
probably my best bet and they are dropping in price.

 

[Gene K]

Gary,
Thank you for the help.

--
Gene K

Generally. Not terribly cheap, but cheap enough to consider for
portable storage.


Either an all-in one, or one for the specific type you choose.
They all should read/write.


CF most likely. Other types if you have devices that use them.

With CF you can get adaptors to use them as IDE drives, PCMCIA
adaptors, and Parallel port readers.


The bad point is you will have to carry around the reader/writer, as
well as the memory. The good poit is you will be able to use the
memory in youe multimedia devices, if you choose the right one.