Memory Sticks
The Memory Stick is a type of memory card developed by Sony for its range of portable devices. Originally a single memory form factor, the Memory Stick now refers to an entire family of flash memory cards. The Memory Stick is almost entirely exclusive to Sony devices, including Sony Ericsson phones, Cyber-shot and Sony Alpha cameras, and the Playstation series.
What types of Memory Stick are available?
The original Memory Stick has been taken off the market, but a number of variations are widely used today. These include:
- Memory Stick Pro: Measures 50mm x 21.5mm x 2.8mm, same as the original Memory Stick. This allows users of older devices to enjoy higher memory in the same form factor.
- Memory Stick Duo: Slightly smaller than the popular SD card, this one measures 31mm x 20mm x 1.6mm and has a maximum capacity of 128MB. It is found in most of Sony's mobile phones and compact digital cameras.
- Memory Stick Pro Duo: An upgrade to the Memory Stick Duo, allowing higher speeds and larger capacities. A 16GB Pro Duo stick was recently released.
- Memory Stick Pro-HG: Released in 2006 in a joint project with SanDisk, the Pro-HG further improves on the Memory Stick Pro. It also works with the Memory Stick adapter which allows cross-compatibility between various stick versions.
- Memory Stick Micro: So far the smallest memory card format, the Micro is roughly the size of a fingernail at only 15mm x 12.5mm x 1.2mm . Capacities up to 8GB are currently available.
Which Memory Stick do I need?
The introduction of the Memory Stick adapter eliminated most of the compatibility problems, so you shouldn't have any problem finding one that works with your device. It's always best to overestimate your storage needs, however. For more information on choosing and buying Memory Sticks, visit our website at MemorySticks.
