SanDisk Introduces 4GB miniSDHC Flash Card

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=3530' target='_blank'>http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/Pr...se.aspx?ID=3530</a><br /><br /></div><i>"SanDisk is now sampling the new 4GB miniSD card to OEMs such as major phone manufacturers and mobile network operators (MNOs). Retail release of the card is planned for 2007. <b>Though standard miniSD and miniSDHC cards look identical in size and shape, only SDHC-compatible products will be able to accept the new miniSDHC cards.</b> Engineering samples will be available for evaluation, as mobile phone makers will need to upgrade the firmware in their handsets so that memory slots can support the new card. OEM pricing has not been determined yet."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060914-minisdhc.jpg" /><br /><br />Note the emphasis placed in the excerpt above. We started off with SD, and then got forced on to miniSD, and more recently, microSD. Then SDHC hit us (admittedly, it still hasn't really taken off), and now miniSDHC. How long before we see a microSDHC? Despite the wonderful fact that the new HC specification benefits us by offering higher storage capacities, we're hardly seeing any new devices that can take them. The memory market is progressing faster than everything else, and quite frankly, we're struggling to keep up. Are any of you almost afraid to purchase a memory card today for fear of it being worthless tomorrow? 8O

[ctmagnus]

I've had a 2GB SD, still in the package, sitting beside me for close to three weeks, while I decide whether I should keep it or send it back, and use the money on a possible future format.

[185driver]

Are any of you almost afraid to purchase a memory card today for fear of it being worthless tomorrow?

I think it kind of depends on whether you're buying a card for an aging device or one recently purchased. My new 4GB SD card works great with my Acer n311 and should hopefully last me quite awhile, though I confess the card didn't take very long to fill to capacity. :wink:

[jornadaholic]

soo does this thing work in my cingular 8125 or am i stuck at a 2gb cap on mini sd cards?

[SteveHoward999]

Right now I don't care. My PDA has SD and CF slots. I currently have 1 1Gb CF and 1 1GB SD card in it. Plenty of space for my normal use plus about 20 Simpsons episodes and a full series of SCRUBS. If I need more capacity I can double it cheaply by moving up to 2Gb cards. OK it would be nice to have more than 4GB capacity, but really I don't NEED it.

Plus, my phone has a 2GB mini MMC card.

By the time I **need** to carry more data than 6 Gb or so, I'll have moved up to newer devices and I can worry about memory format then. Meantime the formats I have to purchase get cheaper every day.

[WyattEarp]

I've been using SD for a while and don't forsee switching to the Mini or Micro format. SD is more stanardized when it comes to using it in different types of devices.

It's one of the the reasons why I don't own an MS Smartphone or PPCPE device. It just makes for to much confusion and to many card formats to carry around. I've got enough toys to worry about as it is.

[WyattEarp]

Meantime the formats I have to purchase get cheaper every day.

Yea, I'm waiting for the 8GB CF Microdrives :drool: to drop in price.

[Darius Wey]

soo does this thing work in my cingular 8125 or am i stuck at a 2gb cap on mini sd cards?

Stuck at the cap. As far as I'm aware, there are no Pocket PCs that are HC-compatible.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Yea, I'm waiting for the 8GB CF Microdrives :drool: to drop in price.

I'd say they're pretty cheap already - I bought a Seagate 8GB (http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?197830) in March, and it's already dropped $40 since then.

[scs_ppc]

Back in June I wrote this post (http://www.mydigitallife.us/2006/07/my_flash_memory.html) on how I was sick of having to buy a new memory card format for every new device I buy when the memory chip itself seem to be similar...

I know technology needs to move forwards however the customer seems to be getting fleeced.[/url]

[DaleReeck]

Back in June I wrote this post (http://www.mydigitallife.us/2006/07/my_flash_memory.html) on how I was sick of having to buy a new memory card format for every new device I buy when the memory chip itself seem to be similar...

I know technology needs to move forwards however the customer seems to be getting fleeced.[/url]

Yeah, when it comes to memory cards, technology isn't moving forward, it's moving sideways.

[follick]

Why bother with 8GB CF Microdrives when 8GB CF flash (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141055) is so cheap?

I'm just happy I still have a device that can use CF. :)

[WyattEarp]

Yea, I'm waiting for the 8GB CF Microdrives :drool: to drop in price.

I'd say they're pretty cheap already - I bought a Seagate 8GB (http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?197830) in March, and it's already dropped $40 since then.

Wasn't aware of that price drop. I haven't checked prices in a long while. Just getting back into the swing of things.

Why bother with 8GB CF Microdrives when 8GB CF flash (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141055) is so cheap?

I'm just happy I still have a device that can use CF. :)

I'm glad I have that option too. For me I just like the idea of having a harddrive of that size in my PPC long with a large SD card.

[SteveHoward999]

I'm glad I have that option too. For me I just like the idea of having a harddrive of that size in my PPC long with a large SD card.

Yes exactly. Manufacturers kind of confused us at first when they gave us CF and SD slots. Now that the memory cards are big enough to truly give us massive storage space and versatility with that configuration, we can only make best use of them if we have discontinued devices.

Ah well - since the hardware improvements are not so hot either yet, I don't feel in any way crippled by staying with my tRusty old E830 :-)

[WyattEarp]

Ah well - since the hardware improvements are not so hot either yet, I don't feel in any way crippled by staying with my tRusty old E830 :-)

As you shouldn't, for a discontinued PPC my iPAQ running WM5 is IMO one of the best compared to even newer ones. Not to knock on Dell but they haven't even fixed their WM5 upgrade yet which sucks for those who have what was great device. Any way the new Palm/Windows Treo is the only thing really catching my eye right now but that may change by the end of the year.

[iant54]

When I order TomTom Navigator 6 from EasyDevices, they suggested ordering a separate SD card at the same time, which I did from the drop-down menu. The card I was sent is a SDHC card, which is rather useless to me!