Sony Memory Stick Memory Cards

Memory Stick

Memory Stick Pro

Memory Stick Micro M2

Unique in style, shape and size this intuitively designed flash memory is the concept of the Sony Corporation and was released to consumers on October 1998. Memory Stick This specific brand of flash memory was to be used
The original memory stick was available in sizes up to 128 MB, and a sub-version, Memory Stick Select allows two banks of 128 MB to be on the same card. An 8 GB card was unveiled at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but according to Sony the Memory Stick Pro has a maximum potential size of 32 GB.
The Memory Stick is defined in the minds of many by its proprietary nature, as the majority of portable devices that use it are Sony and Sony Ericsson devices. The significant third-party licensees that make Memory Sticks are SanDisk and Lexar. In spite of its proprietary nature (or because of Sony's continuing support for the format), the Memory Stick has outlived almost all other strictly proprietary flash memory formats, and has a longevity comparable only to CompactFlash and Secure Digital (SD).

Types of Memory Stick
Over the years various versions of Memory Stick was released by Sony. There is the original Memory Stick ,Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo and the newest addition to the family. Memory Stick Micro (M2).
Use of Memory Stick
Since Memory Stick is a proprietary standard for Sony, it works in  most Sony products. From mp3 players, cameras, video cameras and the popular playstation 2 and now the playstation 3.
Typically, a Memory Stick is used as storage media for a portable device, in a form that can easily be removed for access by a PC or Mac. For example, Sony digital cameras use Memory Sticks for storing image files. With a Memory Stick-capable reader (typically a small box that connects via USB or some other serial connection), a user could copy the pictures taken with the Sony digital camera off to his or her computer. Sony uses and has used Memory Sticks in digital cameras, digital music players, PDAs, cellular phones, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and in other devices, and the Sony VAIO line of personal computers has long included Memory Stick slots.
Aside from copying image files from digital cameras, a user could also copy any type of file to or from a stick. There are also readers that use PCMCIA, CompactFlash, 3.5" floppy drive, and other formats. In terms of compatibility, older Memory Sticks can be used in newer MS drives (Memory Stick Duo with an adapter can be used in newer drives as well). However, Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Pro Duo are often not supported in older drives. Also, while high-speed Pro or Pro Duo cards will work in Pro drives (Pro Duo needing an adapter), their higher speed may not be available.

Memory Stick Specifications

Storage Size

Memory Stick sizes vary from 16 MB - 4 GB

Transfer speeds

Standard:

  • Maximum write speed: 14.4 (1.8 MB/s)
  • Maximum read speed: 19.6 Mbit/s (2.5 MB/s)
  • Up to 20 MB/sec – 133 X
  • WriteUp to 18 MB/sec – 120 X

Duo/Pro Duo:

  • Transfer: 160 Mbit/s (20 MB/s)
  • Minimum write speed: 15 Mbit/s
  • Maximum write speed: 80 Mbit/s (High Speed Pro Duo)

Micro (M2):

  • Transfer: 160 Mbit/s (20 MB/s)

Physical Dimensions

  • Inches: 50.0 mm (W) × 21.5 mm (H) × 2.8 mm (D)
  • Millimeters

Voltage
Write Protect Switch

 

Advantages

Disadvantages
Since it is proprietary device, it can only be used in Sony devices. This is somewhat disappointing if you use