Manufacturers Olympus and Fujifilm are finally deciding to phase out their line of xD flash memory cards after years of customer complaints, unacceptable compatibility issues and the onslaught of the more efficient SD memory card technology. There are even xD card readers that come with SD adapters, which is pretty much the manufacturers admitting xD’s shortcomings.

Irritated customers all over the country will say this has been a long time coming. The xD memory cards have caused a lot of people a lot of grief. Let’s take a look at some of the most reported issues that consumers have had with their xD memory cards.

Files Corrupted, Data Lost

One of the biggest issues customers have reported with the xD memory cards is their tendency to corrupt stored data. Considering these cards are used almost exclusively in digital cameras, losing irreplaceable memories to data corruption is an unforgivable offense. Corruption can occur for almost any reason: using low batteries or turning off the camera while processing or pushing unnecessary buttons while taking pictures.

The Very Short Life Of xD Memory Cards

Memory cards released today use “wear leveling,” which is a special technology that tracks the number of blocks of memory on a card and thereby extends the lifespan of a memory card. As memory cards continue to become smaller and smaller, this technology will become more and more important.

The manufacturers refuse to address this issue, choosing instead to continue releasing xD memory cards that do not utilize wear leveling technology. As a result, xD memory cards wear out before their SD equivalents.

Limited Memory And Speed

The xD memory card was initially released with 512 MB. These days, the manufacturers have increased this number to 2 GB, which, although it’s definitely a step up from the first number, it’s nowhere near what is necessary to store much of anything, particularly if a digital camera is used for recording video. The SD card, by comparison, is available in sizes up to 32 GB. The xD memory cards are also much slower than the competition.

Low Quality Meets High Prices

Most xD memory cards don’t hold much storage space, have more problems with data corruption, are slower than SD cards, and have short lives. Seeing as how they are inferior to the SD cards, it would make sense if they were also cheaper, but the 2 GB xD card is actually twice as expensive as a similarly sized SD card. In fact, there are some larger SD cards that are still cheaper than that 2 GB xD memory card.

Last Thoughts: xD Memory Cards Cost Too Much For Too Little

Today’s economy dictates that consumers must buy what hurts the wallet the least. It’s no surprise then that the xD is failing and Olympus and Fujifilm are starting to pull the product. If they are not going to make an effort to improve what they’re selling, then there is no reason for customers to stay loyal or new customers to make an effort to find them.

Smart media cards or an Olympus xD memory card will give you the space you need to enjoy the electronic gadgets of your choosing. Do you want to try one today? Only purchase memory cards from trusted online vendors for the most up-to-date products.

Technorati Tags: consumers, Digital Camera, Digital Cameras, digital equipment, digital memory, digital memory cards, digital storage, electronics, entertainment, family, home, memory cards, product reviews, shopping, technology

Tags: consumers, Digital Camera, Digital Cameras, digital equipment, digital memory, digital memory cards, digital storage, electronics, entertainment, family, home, memory cards, product reviews, shopping, technology

After releasing the extreme Digital (xD) memory cards back in 2002, Olympus and Fujifilm have struggled to keep up with the advantages of the competition’s flash memory card, the Secure Digital.

Technology has sided with the SD time and time again, and both companies have begun to pull their xD products from the shelves, opting instead to get on the SD bandwagon.

No Compatibility

SD cards have influenced the world over thanks to the fact that they are compatible with so many devices. For example, they are perfect for PDA’s, camcorders, and digital cameras to name a few.

The xD, meanwhile, is exclusive to Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras. Some SD cards can store up to 32 GB of space. The most an xD can handle is 2 GB, which is certainly not enough to power anything near what the SD can offer.

On top of all this, the xD cards have garnered a bad reputation for compatibility issues with certain software and camera accessories. This can cause a lot of problems for some users, who end up with a drawn out mess instead of the simplicity promised by xD’s advertising.

Issues With Corruption

The entire reason a user takes pictures with a camera to begin with is to remember moments that will never come again. Therefore, it’s incredibly frustrating when the camera corrupts the xD card data — a major error that will more than likely happen at least once to a user over time, if not more often, due to any number of reasons.

Some of the more common activities that will trash your stuff include buttons being pushed in the middle of a camera load, for instance, or removing your card without first turning off your camera.

An SD card isn’t an exception to data corruption, but it’s mentioned far less often than the xD. Corruption can screw up any camera’s output, but the xD’s number of complaints is bordering on the legendary.

Difficult Pricing

Even though the xD is inferior to the SD in almost every respect, it is somehow much higher priced. Amazon.com lists a 2 GB Olympus xD card at $17.50, while the SD alternative of the same virtual size is $8.49.

The quality differences are so extreme that it is not surprising that more and more consumers are buying devices with SD memory card compatibility rather than the xD.

The SD card started up in’99, and it has continued to change with the times, offering more space and compatibility for any electronic device on the shelves whether they’re small or large.

Customers will choose SD cards instead of the xD, considering their differences, and Olympus and Fujifilm correctly see that the time has come to make something new.

Fujifilm and Olympus still supply xD memory cards for the time being. The xD digital memory card format is still available at normal pricing, so buy one right now if you’re in need of more digital memory. There are numerous varied digital cameras to look at as well, so shop for all your storage device needs at a trusted website today.

Technorati Tags: Digital Camera, Digital Cameras, digital memory cards, electronics, gadgets, photography, shopping and product reviews, technology

Tags: Digital Camera, Digital Cameras, digital memory cards, electronics, gadgets, photography, shopping and product reviews, technology