11-10-2010, 08:41 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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How Important is a Removable Storage Card to You?
It's poll time! As you know, Windows Phone 7 devices do not allow for removable storage cards in the traditional sense; even if you happen to find a phone with a microSD card slot that you can access, once you put a card in that slot it will force a hard reset. If you take the card out, it's unreadable on any device but your phone - the data on it is encrypted for speed and security. That essentially makes it non-removable storage. So the question is, does this matter to you? For me, it doesn't - I have an 8 GB microSD card that's inside my HTC HD2, and it literally hasn't been taken out from the day I put it in there. Before that, it was in my Samsung Jack, again never getting removed. For some of you though, this is an issue - you need to be able to remove the cards and use them in your laptop, desktop, etc. Vote in the poll - please generalize; I didn't want to cover every possible time frame - and sound off in the comments. Will the lack of removable storage stop you from buying a Windows Phone 7 device?
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11-10-2010, 08:55 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 33
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Not removable is better.
Have a non-removable card is much better. I come from Windows Mobile and I have to say it is really nice not having to think about were my "stuff" is stored. I love it that Windows Phone merges the two memories together and it just works.
Even on my Windows Mobile device I never removed the card. MicroSDHC cards are too small to be handling anyway...
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11-10-2010, 09:03 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 524
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In WinMo day's I used it often. Since I got my Droid X(I know, I'm posting in the wrong forum but I didn't see this on Android Thoughts) it's very rare.
I used to love having an sd slot so I could take pictures with my point and shoot, take the card out, and review them on my 4" screen Pocket PC. Even with a microSD card slot I had an sd adapter that I would put it in so I could use it in my camera. It was also handy to transfer files to PC's. People often had card reader's around even if they didn't have a mini-usb cable.
With my Droid X I think two major things have changed. It has DLNA which I use to put photo's on my PS3 now. It has an awesome camera! At least for outdoor shots it's excellent! Video too! I can even get good indoor shots sometimes. I use my point and shoot much less and, since I have a good Facebook app, I can easily upload pictures directly to facebook without using my PC or PS3. It was just clunky, at least for me, in WinMo.
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11-10-2010, 09:35 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vector
I used to love having an sd slot so I could take pictures with my point and shoot, take the card out, and review them on my 4" screen Pocket PC. Even with a microSD card slot I had an sd adapter that I would put it in so I could use it in my camera. It was also handy to transfer files to PC's. People often had card reader's around even if they didn't have a mini-usb cable.
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Yeah, I think back in the SD card days, there was a natural device to device synergy - but for me at least, when the switch to miniSD then microSD happened, it basically killed that scenario. It wasn't easy or convenient, so I basically went back to there being no interaction between my camera and my phone.
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11-10-2010, 09:55 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
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I think you're asking the wrong question
I think the real reason people are taking issue with the lack of removable storage on WP7 is due to the low capacities of most of the WP7 handsets. If WP7 is to compete with the iPhone then there should be options available for 32GB or more.
8GB is woefully inadequate and ruled out every phone here in the UK other than the HD7 and the LG which both have 16GB. I went with the HD7 in the end but 16GB doesn't go that far. I'm happy enough with the HD7 but the next generate of WP7 handsets really has to sort this out and increase the capacity to at least 32GB if they're to be taken seriously.
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11-10-2010, 10:48 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iharkins
I think the real reason people are taking issue with the lack of removable storage on WP7 is due to the low capacities of most of the WP7 handsets. If WP7 is to compete with the iPhone then there should be options available for 32GB or more.
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The question was designed to find out which people need to swap cards, and which people don't. The issue of what is sufficient storage is a separate one; if I can solve the problem of a phone only coming with 8 GB of storage (which I agree is pathetic), then that's all I need from a storage card. If I were to muddy the question by introducing the storage factor, it would only confuse the results.
If you're going to take a 32 GB microSD card and put it in the phone and leave it there, then there's a poll answer for you to select. 
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11-12-2010, 04:16 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iharkins
I think the real reason people are taking issue with the lack of removable storage on WP7 is due to the low capacities of most of the WP7 handsets. If WP7 is to compete with the iPhone then there should be options available for 32GB or more.
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My thoughts exactly. Being able to remove the memory is nice, but isn't something I have to have. However, if you aren't going to give me 32 GB to begin with, then, at least let me upgrade myself. I've done this with both the Droid X and now with the Samsung Tab I picked up yesterday. I have about 14 GB of music I like to carry - I'm lazy and don't want to have to sync to change the music on my device. 16 GB does not allow for all my music, app storage, photos and movies I like to have with me.
It just puts WP7 at a disadvantage when you can get a 32 GB device on EVERY other smartphone platform, but no WP7 (at least not officially supported).
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11-10-2010, 10:01 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 123
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I think a more appropriate and relavent question would be "why bother". This hairbrained hard-resetting to upgrade your available storage with memory that is much slower than what could be on-board doesn't make any sense at all. If it's not removable, why bother with a card?
32GB has long been plenty for me, I'd much rather just purchase a device with that much built into it. The purpose of a storage card has always been for the convenience of swapping it out, this isn't likely something Microsoft will be re-defining with the consumer-public.
Hopefully the next generation WP7 devices will be better in this regard, they should just offer them with either 32gb or 64gb and call it a day.
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11-10-2010, 10:52 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by benjimen
I think a more appropriate and relavent question would be "why bother". This hairbrained hard-resetting to upgrade your available storage with memory that is much slower than what could be on-board doesn't make any sense at all. If it's not removable, why bother with a card?
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It's simple: because all of the phone on the market only come with 8 GB or 16 GB. You say that 32 GB is plenty for you, but there isn't a 32 GB Windows Phone on the market today...so the question is very relevant because most of us putting in a card and leaving it there are doing so to get the enhanced storage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by benjimen
The purpose of a storage card has always been for the convenience of swapping it out, this isn't likely something Microsoft will be re-defining with the consumer-public.
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So far 59% of people voting in the poll would disagree with you; the purpose of a storage card is to add storage capacity to your device. The ability to take it out and use it on another device is a secondary scenario for most people it seems - hence the reason why I did the poll.
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11-10-2010, 11:04 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 123
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Call it as you wish, personally, it's lipstick-on-a-pig to most 
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Hybrid Mode
