I really like the idea of easy ROM expansion for portable devices through miniSD or Transflash or even
μcard slots under the battery. As things are now, there isn't enough ROM for all the programs you want, but I've never really felt comfortable installing them to removable storage (what if I need to read a file from the same type of flash card?).
The problem lies in using SD or CF as permanent program storage, when the formats were really meant to hold and transfer transient data. Sticking flash under the battery or in a similarly inacessible location turns it into permanent storage, and easily allows for situations like 128 MB built-in ROM plus 256 or 512 MB add-on, while leaving your CF/SD slot(s) available for pictures, music, movies, presentations, or whatever else you want to carry around with you... not to mention wired Ethernet cards, cameras, GPS receivers, VGA adapters, barcode scanners,
serial and
USB ports,
radio and
TV tuners, or
digital multimeters.
I just pray that none of these lilliputian nightmares replace SD as the small portable flash format of choice. I already have some difficulty handling, inserting, and removing those, but the absolute size tradeoff vs. CompactFlash overshadows the troubles. Anything smaller rapidly approaches unusability, and provides ever diminishing returns (sure, one-third the size of SD
sounds impressive, but is only about the volume of a nickel). And also it will get expensive to include tweezers and a magnifying glass with every purchase. :wink: