Hi Mark,
I would suggest two avenues of approach. The first is to stay with Sony
(with their memory stick format) all the way, to include their cameras and
other devices that use the memory stick. With the computers built in slot
you should be able to use a Memory Stick in Windows Explorer as you use the
USB flash drive. A stand alone reader / writer shouldn't be needed.
The second, and far more versatile, would be to go with a multiple (all in
one) format card reader / writer. For example, most new cameras use the
Secure Digital card except for a couple manufacturers (Fuji for one) that
use their own design like Sony. Some still use the Compact Flash format and
a few cameras are still around that use the SmartMedia format. They are
widely available online and elsewhere, here is one example:
Kodak 6-in-1 Card Reader $19.83 + tax (WalMart)
http://tinyurl.com/6cjjg
Right now in terms of availability and cost per MB, the Secure Digital card
is the way to go for general use. The Compact Flash card is cheaper but it's
physically bigger and is losing the war with the Secure Digital card. One GB
cards are available in both formats. At the store you'll find the Memory
Stick is roughly 40-50% higher in price than the same size Secure Digital
card.
In my case I have three Sony cameras (two still, one camcorder) that use the
Memory Stick. Each came with a small capacity Memory Stick (16 MB I believe)
but I use a Lexar 256 MB card in all of them. They are interchangeable and
compatible with any device that uses the Memory Stick. Then I have a HP
camera that uses the Compact Flash card.
Unless it's an extremely large transfer where I would use an external hard
drive, for transferring programs, data, etc., between computers I use a
Lexar JumpDrive Trio. I use three Secure Digital cards with it. It also
accepts the MultiMedia card and the Memory Stick. You can find it online for
around $16-18 and at WalMart for a couple bucks more.
Lexar
http://www.lexar.com/readers/trio.html
Lexar JumpDrive Trio $17.50 + $.99 shipping
http://tinyurl.com/38dwx
I'm sure you'll enjoy the Sony Wega...
Sven Swanson, Sr.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rode" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 12:59 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Memory Stick Compatibility?
I just bought a Sony Wega. It has a slot for, and supports a Memory Stick
of up to 1GB, and can play back jpgs and even mp3. The Wega has a interface
for viewing pictures, sideshows and playing music. I have a number of the
USB2 Flashdrives, but I don't have a digital camera with removable memory
yet, and I know nothing about the memory sticks.
The Wega manual says the slot will support both standard and compact
versions of memory stick, but <will not> support high speed transfer.
Memory Stick Compatibility =
MagicGate
Stick Media
Stick Duo Media
Stick PRO Media
Stick PRO Duo Media
Stick Media with Memory Select Function
Of course, Sony will not support any memory stick except for it's own, nor
any computer formatted memory stick, basically anything not produced by a
Sony device.
I have been looking around, Sony stuff is expensive. The Sony read write
USB2 device is 50 bucks at Circuit City, but these Ebay read/write USB 1
devices are 4 bucks which would probably be fine for my use. Any reason why
I shouldn't get the cheap one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43452&item=3833636577&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Anybody know of a inexpensive USB2 read/write memory stick device?
The Sony Memory sticks are also expensive relative to say, Lexmar. Is there
any difference? Are memory Sticks, like flash drives, interchangeable? Are
memory sticks so wide spread that I can I just buy what I want, and not
worry about compatibility?
Thanks
Mark Rode
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