On Wednesday 26 November 2003 08:53, Fritz wrote:
> I just purchased a cheap-ass digital camera which takes
> either "SD" or "MMC" flash memory in 16MB, 32MB,
> 64MB, or 128MB sizes.  Quick research reveals that
> there are (at least) half a dozen different types of flash
> memory ... and I assume this is just a replay of the old
> VHS vs. Beta (or "DVD+" vs. "DVD-") competition,
> i.e. a strategy to lock-in consumers.  I have two questions:
> 1.)  Of the two flavors that my camera accepts, SD or MMC,
> are there compelling reasons for purchasing either one?
> Has either one established a clear market lead?  What about
> technical advantages?
> 2.)  Is there a good local source for this stuff and what might
> one expect to pay for it?

     Not sure about SD versus MMC but my price shopping for these types o=
f=20
devices have usually ended at CostCo. They tend to have the larger sizes =
such=20
as 128MB and 256MB but not the smaller ones. Those are becoming hard to f=
ind,=20
even at Fry's Electronics.
     Fry's also has adapters so you can plug the various different types =
of=20
flash into your computer, via USB, or via PCMCIA. For the larger capacity=
=20
devices, I think the higher transfer rates through PCMCIA may be helpful =
but=20
if you're working with a workstation box, USB may be the preferred interf=
ace.=20
All the cameras I've encountered store JPG files and are usable (in gimp,=
=20
etc.) without any other conversion.

--=20
Ed Skinner, ed@flat5.net, http://www.flat5.net/