Secure Digital storage card

Q: My NEC MobilePro P300 comes with expansion slots for both Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) cards. Now that I need more memory, should I buy an SD or CF storage card?

A: Some PDAs come with both CF and SD expansion slots, such as the Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 and the Cassiopeia E-200.

In general, CF memory cards are much cheaper than SD ones. A quick check with shops reveals that a 128MB CF card goes for about S$87, while a SD card with the same capacity is almost twice that price.

Despite the large difference, there is a good reason you should consider paying more for a SD memory card, so you can save the CF slot for other purposes.

Linksys WCF11 Wireless Network CF Card

Most PDA CF slots are I/O (input-output)-compliant, so they support CF add-ons such as digital cameras and wireless networking cards. The CF slot therefore adds a great deal of flexibility to your PDA, and as such, it may be a waste to use this for additional storage.

SD slots have primarily been used for removable storage but the SD Association ratified the SDIO (secure digital input-output) specification in January, paving the way for more powerful SD-based accessories.

Theoretically, this makes SD cards comparable with CF ones, and suggests that we will soon see accessories in both formats. So far, though, SDIO-compliant devices have yet to make a significant imprint on the market, while CF accessories continue to flood the market.

So, for now, if you intend to soup up your PDA with some accessories, it still makes sense to get an SD memory card, and utilize the CF slot for your add-ons.

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