memory sticks

I picked this up for use with my recently purchased Sony digital camera, and it works great. Unfortunately almost all Sony products manufactured before 2003 cannot use these new high-capacity Memory Sticks.

Another sticking point is that only 460MB is usable on this stick, losing a whopping 52MB to the file system and Magic Gate overhead. I also own a 256MB version, and that has 220MB free.

Write speeds are noticeably faster compared to the older Memory Stick media, as well as read speeds in my USB 2.0 reader. Luckily the price has come down on these, and if your hardware can support it, these new Memory Sticks are worth picking up.

This won't work in pre-2003 Sony devices, as Sony made a design mistake on original memory stick (and kept its consumers in dark). Neither would existing card readers work.

These sticks contain MagicGate protection. This means that you won't get even 488 MegaBytes of actual space from this 512 MillionBytes stick. MagicGate uses up significant space (40MB) and create all kinds of hassles in transfers of things like mp3's.

But wait that's not all, these sticks are kinda obsolete already. These won't work in any SonyEricsson cell phones or smaller Sony devices like Stick Walkman & newer U series Cybershot cameras.

If you want to invest in sticks buy a MS Duo Pro stick, the latest of half a dozen stick formats from Sony. (Soon most cell phones will have a slot for removable flash media) Or you can say no to all Sony devices and buy SD/MMC based gadgets to avoid all these hassles.

Are you kidding me? I don't understand how Memory Stick Pro is not compatible with my current Sony products? The new cards are finally offering me the capacity I need but I can't use them without upgrading product!! Can you spell F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-N-G!! Talk about getting left in the lurch. I have been a loyal Sony product buyer for years, but am thinking about making a switch. I did some research and it seems there are a lot more choices out there that support the same - if not more and better products - and the media capacity is just as good and works with all products available. I checked out a new Panasonic camera and a Palm that supports SD - I'm making the switch.

Don't think Memory Stick Pro format won't last if they keep this up.