Memory cards
A memory card is a generic term for a wide variety of data storage devices that are power-free and completely rerecordable. Most nowadays are solid-state and based on flash technology. With no moving parts they are theoretically extremely reliable and durable. Cheap memory cards are already extensively used in most digital devices - cameras, camcorders, phones, music players, PDAs and printers all benefit from these cheap and effective storage devices.
1990 marked the introduction of the first memory cards, called PCMCIA and mainly used in notebooks. Within a few years CompactFlash - a smaller version of the PCMCIA card - and SmartMedia appeared (this type is no longer manufactured), for use in digital cameras.
Since the turn of the century memory cards have developed extremely fast, with increasing growth in both speed and capacity - 1Gb and 2Gb memory cards are now commonplace and 4Gb, 8Gb, and recently 16Gb memory cards are widely available.
Some of the more popular formats are SD cards, Memory Stick and the MultiMedia Card. At the same time, technology has reduced memory cards in size even further to fit ever smaller digital electronic equipment and cell phones. These smaller formats include MMC mobile, Memory Stick Duo, xD Picture Card, Mini SD and Micro SD.
It is likely that within a few years memory cards, in one form or another, will be compatible with every consumer electronic device. And solid state memory units will surely replace all moving-part hard drives completely within a decade.
The range of products being sold as memory cards can be daunting to the average consumer; not only are there many different formats and manufacturers, but there is also a large range of both storage capabilities and speed of transfer.
Make sure you know exactly what you need before you purchase, though all the retailers linked on this site will happily replace what you've bought for something that will actually work in your device if you've made a mistake!
So what memory card are you looking for? Here are the main types.