[bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
- From: "Neal Ewers" <ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 16:06:06 -0600
Thanks John.
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John McCann
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 4:01 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
Neal:
I just bought a sandisk ImageMate "5 in 1" card reader at Best Buy
here in=20
northern virginia, which can handle both type I and type II cards, in=20
addition to XD, memory sticks, and one other kind which I can't
remember=20
now. This ran me $20. What I'm saying is that even the mid and
budget-priced=20
card readers can handle a variety of flash formats any more. I think
the=20
limitation on transfer speed has to do with the controlling
architecture=20
inside the flash memory device rather than the card reader.
John
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Neal Ewers" <ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 4:52 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
> Richard and others, I have a question about this as well. Does one=20
> need a special card reader to take advantage of the speeds offered
by=20
> the Ultra II CompactFlash Cards?
>
> =3DA0=3D20
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
> [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John McCann
> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 3:35 PM
> To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>
>
> Hi Richard:
>
> Thank you so much for sending along the links. I saw your post
seconds
>
> before running off to work, so I simply forwarded your message to my
> email=3D20 account. Ran into work, grabbed a morning coffee, and=20
> accessed the links you=3D20
> sent. Yep, you're right, my sandisk 2GB high-speed ultra II
> CompactFlash=3D20
> card is a type I card. At least I now know what I've got; and hence
am
> a lot=3D20
> more comfortable using it with the book port. Based on the
apparent=3D20
> misinformation I was given by the tech support nebbish at sandisk, I
> was=3D20
> under the impression that they might have developed a type II card
> only=3D20
> 3.3MM thick like the type I card. Now, silly me...I thought that my
> "Ultra=3D20
> II" was, or naturally would be, a type II card; (and yes, that was a
> dig at=3D20
> the manufacturers who are using confusing terminology.
>
> Again, Richard, many thanks for your great research on this; I never
> found=3D20 those particular links, which were most edifying.
>
> Later!
>
> John
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----=3D20
> From: "Richard Benoit" <reb503@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:01 AM
> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>
>
>> Hi John,
>>
>> I should have supplied you with the sources for my statements=3D20=20
>> initially and
>> that would have confirmed part of what I said. As for the
adaptors,
> I=3D20
>> have
>> only had experience with them as card readers and they are not
> really
>> pertinent to this dicussion anyway. My statements regarding them
> were not
>> quite accurate. You were quite correct in saying that a type 1
> card=3D20
>> would
>> fit into a type 2 slot without an adaptor and not be loose. I do
> believe
>> that the thickness defines the type and that, as far as I know,
> there are=3D20
>> no
>> exceptions.
>>
>> Althought we all know that the BP take a type 1, most online
stores
>
>> don't mention which type they are. It can be very confusing.
>>
>> Here are the links to the sources:=3D20
>>
>
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_techspecs_full.php/masterid=3D3D25185
> 35
>>
>> http://www.synchrotech.com/support/faq-compactflash.html
>>
>> Thanks for the response,
>> Richard
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "John McCann" <lists@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 10:30 PM
>> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>>
>>
>>> Hello Richard and list:
>>>
>>> While I generally eschew the practice, if you folks here will
> indulge=3D20
>>> me, I'm going to quote the bulk of Richard's post below, splicing
> in=3D20
>>> my comments and observations.
>>>
>>> [RB]: I guess we are all still a bit confused on this matter.
>>>
>>> [JM]: Yeah, I'd say that's an accurate statement, <smile>!
>>>
>>> [RB]: I do not yet have my BP but in anticipation I did a
little=3D20=20
>>> research on the type 1 and 2 distinction. As near as I can tell
> they=3D20
>>> are the same dimensions except for the thickness. A type 1 is
3.3mm
>
>>> and the type 2 is 5.0mm.
>>>
>>> [JM]: Yes, this is exactly what Larry indicated, and what I also
> saw
>>> again
>>> tonight while conducting a lot of "on line" research about this
> subject.
>>>
>>> [RB]: A type 2 is sometimes referred to as a microdrive,
probably=3D20=20
>>> because it fits into a PCMICA slot without an adaptor.
>>>
>>> [JM]: Well, in order for me to use my existing 2GB sandisk card
> with=3D20
>>> my plextalk PTR-1, (without yet discussing the issue of whether it
> is=3D20
>>> type I or type II), I have to use a PCI adaptor, and the=20
>>> resulting=3D20 mated assembly is significantly longer or wider=20
>>> (depending on orientation) than the
> type II
>>> flash card dimensions specification indicates. Even forgetting
> about the
>>> extra length which the adaptor adds, comparing the business end of
> both
>>> the
>>> adaptor and the flash card itself, the adaptor end is longer.
(That
> would
>>> be
>>> the end with the 50 holes.) I believe that a microdrive is just
> that; a
>>> very
>>> small drive (with moving parts), which is significantly larger
than
> any
>>> flash card. The slot on my PTR-1 which now holds my sandisk 2GB
> card in
>>> its
>>> adaptor could also hold a 5GB microdrive, which neither needs nor
> has any
>>> adaptor.
>>>
>>> [RB]: A type 1 will also fit with an adaptor.
>>>
>>> [JM]: See my immediate previous, <smile>!
>>>
>>> [RB]: If the BP is a type 1 slot a type 2 will definitely not fit
> it.
>>>
>>> [JM]: And mine does...without breaking a sweat (never mind the=3D20=20
>>> machine, <smile>; which means...(see below.)
>>>
>>> [RB]: The explanation as to why your 'type 2' card fits is that
> your=3D20
>>> card is in reality a type 1. I checked out the SanDisk Ultra II
> and=3D20
>>> it is a type 1.
>>>
>>> [JM]: Well, that would certainly explain a lot, but where exactly
> did=3D20
>>> you see this, Richard? I don't particularly care that my sandisk
> card=3D20
>>> isn't, or might not be, a type II card, but it would be nice to
> know=3D20
>>> for sure exactly
>>> what the heck it is I've got.
>>>
>>> [RB]: The SanDisk Extreme III is a type 2.
>>>
>>> [JM]: I know I don't have that one.
>>>
>>> [RB]: Your girlfriend's camera could have either type of slot
and=3D20=20
>>> your card would fit. I assume that if the slot is a type 2 that
> the=3D20
>>> type 1 card would
>>> fit a little sloppy. That's the reason for the adaptor I believe.
>>>
>>> [JM]: I don't think so since the adaptor I have is entirely too
big
>
>>> for any of today's digital cameras. I don't have the exact=3D20=20
>>> specification for the type I and type II flash cards before me
now,
>
>>> but I do know that these dimensions are identical, except for
the=3D20=20
>>> thickness. (Indeed, that's exactly what you've written above.)
This=20
>>> being the case, I guess you just
> have to
>>> live with the loseness / sloppy fit when using a type I card in a
> type II
>>> slot. Perhaps there are little springs or some such in the type II
> slots
>>> which address this situation.
>>>
>>> [RB]: Most if not all of the confusion is due to the very loose
use
>
>>> of
>>> the
>>> terminology by the manufacturers and the retailers. They must
> assume=3D20
>>> that
>>> everyone has expertise regarding these matters.
>>>
>>> [JM]: Well, there are legitimate reasons for standards and=3D20=20
>>> standardization, with proper nomenclature to accurately describe
> the=3D20
>>> items at issue. Strange
>>> how the flash memory folks don't seem to understand that, <smile>!
>>>
>>> I think we're working towards a solution / resolution here folks;
> at=3D20
>>> a minimum, a better understanding / grasp of this subject.
>>>
>>> Again, many thanks for your post, Richard, and again, would you=3D20
>>> please pass along your info about my card being a type I, on or
off
>
>>> list.
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Richard Benoit" <reb503@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 8:58 PM
>>> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi John and List,
>>>>
>>>> I guess we are all still a bit confused on this matter. I do=20
>>>> not=3D20 yet have my BP but in anticipation I did a little research
>>>> on the=3D20 type 1 and 2 distinction. As near as I can tell they
are=20
>>>> the same
>
>>>> dimensions except for
>>>> the thickness. A type 1 is 3.3mm and the type 2 is 5.0mm. A type
> 2 is
>>>> sometimes referred to as a microdrive, probably because it fits
> into a
>>>> PCMICA slot without an adaptor. A type 1 will also fit with an
> adaptor.
>>>> If
>>>> the BP is a type 1 slot a type 2 will definitely not fit it. As
> Larry
>>>> said
>>>> a type 2 slot will take either, with an adaptor for the type 1.
>>>>
>>>> The explanation as to why your 'type 2' card fit is that your
card
>
>>>> is in reality a type 1. I checked out the SanDisk Ultra II and
it
>
>>>> is a type 1. The SanDisk Extreme III is a type 2. Your
> girlfriend's=3D20
>>>> camera could have
>>>> either type of slot and your card would fit. I assume that if
the
> slot
>>>> is
>>>> a
>>>> type 2 that the type 1 card would fit a little sloopy. That's
the
>
>>>> reason
>>>> for the adaptor I believe.
>>>>
>>>> Most if not all of the confusion is due to the very loose use of
> the=3D20
>>>> terminology by the manufacturers and the retailers. They must=3D20
>>>> assume that everyone has expertise regarding these matters.
>>>>
>>>> I want everyone on the list to know that I do not have any
special
>
>>>> knowledge in this area and that most of you probably have more=3D20
>>>> experience than I do. If anything that I have said is incorrect
I'm=20
>>>> counting on Larry or
> Rob=3D20
>>>> to
>>>> clarify my errors. I also think that the BP manual should be
very=20
>>>> specific regarding the type of CompactFlash to use.
>>>>
>>>> Richard
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "John McCann" <lists@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 7:19 PM
>>>> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Lary Skutchan wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> As you can probably tell from the slot on the side of the
Book=3D20=20
>>>>> Port, there is no way that thicker card will fit into the slot."
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, I suppose I could readily have discerned that had such
been
>
>>>>> the case with my particular card, but, apparently, not all=20
>>>>> "type=3D20 II" cards are created equal, at least not sizewise,=20
>>>>> <smile>. Based on what Pam Hilton had written about
> using a
>>>>> type
>>>>> 2
>>>>> card, and what Larry wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> "It is true that the pin configuration between type I and type
II
>
>>>>> are the same and a device designed to accept the larger type
II=3D20=20
>>>>> cards also accomodates the type I cards, ..."
>>>>>
>>>>> I took my sandisk 2GB high-speed Ultra Type II CompactFlash=20
>>>>> card=3D20 out of my plextalk PTR-1 and placed it into the book
port.=20
>>>>> It fit
>
>>>>> like a glove, and
>>>>> believe me, I never force anything. I was able to play the MP3
> files on
>>>>> that
>>>>> card. I even called up sandisk tech support who verified that
> their
>>>>> high-speed Ultra Type II CompactFlash cards are the same
> thickness as
>>>>> the
>>>>> type I cards, so, with respect to that particular flash memory
> card, it
>>>>> is
>>>>> compatible with the book port, i.e., appropriate size, identical
> pin
>>>>> configuration.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, I do realize that I'm paying a premium for type II card
> media,=3D20
>>>>> (having a read speed of 10MB and a write speed of 9MB), but I=3D20
>>>>> figure that, on vacations, for example, I can load up my card
> with=3D20
>>>>> reading material, deliberately leaving about 400MB or 500MB
of=3D20=20
>>>>> space free so that I can hand the card off to my girlfriend to
put=20
>>>>> in her Olympus C60 digital
> camera
>>>>> should we want to take a bunch more pictures, <smile>! In short,
> I
>>>>> elected
>>>>> to pay the premium to have that versatility.
>>>>>
>>>>> In closing, Larry, thank you so much for your two posts
> elucidating
>>>>> this
>>>>> whole "memory card" issue.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "LARRY SKUTCHAN" <lskutchan@xxxxxxx>
>>>>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 2:08 PM
>>>>> Subject: [bookport] Re: CompactFlash Memory Cards
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Book Port supports only type I flash cards. Type I cards are
> 3.3=3D20
>>>>>> MM thick and type II cards are 5.0 MM thick. As you can
> probably=3D20
>>>>>> tell from the slot on the side of the Book Port, there is no
way
>
>>>>>> that thicker card
>>>>>> will fit into the slot.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It is true that the pin configuration betwoon type I and type
II
>
>>>>>> are the same and a device designed to accept the larger type=20
>>>>>> II=3D20 cards also accomodates the type I cards, but Book Port is
> designed=3D20
>>>>>> for the type I cards, so the type II cards will not fit.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> lists@xxxxxxxxxx Monday, March 14, 2005 1:50:01 PM >>>
>>>>>> Hey, since Larry's apparently monitoring the list now:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Larry, can you weigh in on the CompactFlash memory type 1 /
type
> 2=3D20
>>>>>> issue? There appears to be some confusion among list members as
> to=3D20
>>>>>> whether there
>>>>>> are any contra-indications to the use of type 2 cards?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>=3D20
>
>
>
>
>=20
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