Flash Card: When Size Really Matters

Few years back, we never really imagined howcan fit to your pocket just like having a penny. The
memory storage would evolve into flash cards webenefits of flash cards could be seen more popularly
know today. It is ever harder to believe that the tinyon digital cameras where they can sit peacefully to the
rectangular piece of plastic could store thousands ofcamera's size. How about computers? Computers still
pictures, hundreds of songs, and even movies.use hard drives to store memory. And if you want
Remember few years ago when storing files couldsome portable drives, the flash memory sticks are
mean we have to settle for 3.5" and the outrageouslyused. Like flash cards, they are small with large
large 5.25"? You know what I mean right? Those weamount of memory capacity.
have thought the future of memory storage- theYou might wonder how can a single tiny card hold
floppy disks? With the amazing capacity to store assuch large files. Let us put it this way: your file cabinet
much as 1.44 MB of files, these floppy disks are reallycould only store limited amount of files. And large
works of technology.cabinets are big. Big if you are going to store all these
But as we all know technology would not stop tofiled digitally, meaning using electronic codes, you can
evolve. This is the reason why floppy disks are nowstore as much files in one tiny storage just like the
the thing of the past. And as the years go by, weflash card. Another reason is that flash cards have
have received memory storage cards that are as sizeremoved unnecessary components that could enlarge
of post stamps. We even amaze old folks when wethe size of the card.
remove in from of them those tiny card out from digitalThere are several types of flash cards used today
cameras, cellular phones, and computers.particulry on digital cameras. These came in different
One of the earlier flash cards have the memorysizes depending on the device it is designed to fit in.
capacity not far from floppy drives. 2 MB is enoughHere are several types of flash cards used:
considering you have the reference point of 1.44MB.MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS),
Shortly, the 4 MB came out. From then on, severalCompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), SmartMedia
more powerful, smaller, and larger storage flash cards(SM) and xD-Picture Card (xD).
came out. The 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB came out. UpThe sizes also depend on the capacity of the flash
to now, the 128 MB flash cards are still being usedcard against one another. But the bottom line is, flash
although much higher memory cards are now in thecards, no matter what the size is, still carry significantly
market.large amount of files in one tiny square-shaped plastic
Today, several digital devices are using 1 GB, 2 GB, 4card. Who knows, in the future we might se 80 GB
GB, and even 8 GB and 16 GB flash cards. Those areflash drives that can record and store several hours of
the capacity of hard drives just year ago. While hardvideo.
drives are as size of car stereo cut in half, flash cards