Which Solid State Medium Is More Portable?

An Anonymous Coward on the go asks: "Like many Slashdot readers I have multiple computers with multiple types of storage media: I have an older PowerMac tower with Zip, CD-RW, and Jaz; I have an AMD tower with CD-RW, DVD-RAM, Zip, and the oh-so-anachronistic floppy drive; I also have a Visor Platinum; and I will soon get a digital camera and a PowerBook G4. The media I have are not generally suited for portable devices, and I wish to minimize the type of media I need on hand. In looking at digital cameras I've found a number of different styles of storage media, Compactflash, Smartmedia, Memorystick. They all seem comparable in price/MB and in interfaces to computers (USB and PCMCIA are common). Before I choose a camera I'd like some advice on which media to get. I want something that will be compatible with the various devices and operating systems (MacOS, Linux, PalmOS). Also something that won't become relatively expensive and rare like my Jaz has become. I'd also like something that would handle digital audio as well, since I'll probably want to get a portable and/or car based digital audio player before too long."

Comments

smartmedia

[grammar nazi]

Now that the prices are finally coming down, I would suggest smartmedia flash memory. It is the most compact form of any of the solid state memory storage chips. If size isn't what you mean by portability, I also recommend it because it works on many different cameras and MP3 players. I can use the same smart media card in my camera as I can in my MP3 player (after formating).

Finally, smart media is cooler, because the company that licenses Compact Flash does animal testing on Penguins... er.. so I heard.

Re:smartmedia

[Helix150]

I think smartmedia is one of the worse choices. Yes it is small, or more notably thin, but that impedes capacity. A quick search of buy.com will show a 64mb card (thats the biggest I saw) for around $80.

I like CompactFlash for a number of reasons. Yes the card is bigger, its about the size of 3-4 SM cards stacked. So thicker is more of what it is. Prices are around the same, a 64mb card starts at ~$75. However, it gets bigger. for $144 you can get 128mb. $230 gets you 192MB. $315 for 256MB. $473 gets 384MB. $630 for 512MB.
And then you get Microdrives.
If you're willing to have the card eat power like popcorn, you can get 1GB of Microdrive for $475. Yes, its a teeny hard drive inside a CF card.

Another advantage of CF is that theres a ATA controller on the card. SM has the controller in the device, so although the cards can be cheaper, some older devices wont work with newer larger cards. Another advantage of having a ATA controller is that the card cannot be easily reformatted like SM cards, so they will always work in all devices, no formats required. I could pop a CF card out of my digicam and pop it into a MP3 player. Then put it in my Jornada organizer and check out the pics, as well as copy some new MP3s I just downloaded. With SM, I would either have to get two cards (one for MP3 format, one for digicam format) or use only one at a time.

Also because of the ATA chip, CF cards can easily be plugged into PCMCIA slots. All thats needed is a $5 adapter to match up the right wires.

And one more.
Because CF is so close to PC Card, the two can be used for similar functions. For example, most Pocket PCs have CF slots. But as well as memory, you can plug in a CF card modem. Or a CF barcode scanner. Or a CF cell phone adapter. The CF slot in a PDA can be used for expansion cards as well as memory. Many such devices exist.

SmartMedia cards do LOOK cooler. The curved line across the contact surface has definate geek appeal. But any true geek would go for functionality over style. Although the CF has a recessed female connector (like a PC card), it also has a metal case. Which means that they are much more durable. And not having exposed pins means they're much less vulnerable to static.

To sum this all up,
SmartMedia isnt that smart. CompactFlash is superior in almost every way, including reliability, standardization, capacity, and versatility.

Friends dont let friends buy SmartMedia or use AOL.

Re:take care with SmartMedia and audio devices

[Helix150]

this only affects smartmedia. SM cards have no controller, the controller is in the device. Thus they can be prone to this defect, although it breaks the SM spec. Another problem with having the controller in the device is that when newer larger cards come out, the old controllers wont work with them.

CF cards on the other hand have a ATA chip built in them. They cannot be fuxored with in the same way as SM cards. Also they do not have upgradability or future-proofing issues. Since it started, CF has undergone only one change... CF type 2. This basically means a thicker card and a power connector on the side like a PC card. CF2 slots are 100% backward compatible.