4GB Card Review
The Good
Large capacity storage for a variety of types of files; works with a wide range of devices, non-proprietary (does not just work with specific products)
The Bad
Small cards can be lost easy (buy largest possible and keep in device to minimize risk of loss)
The Bottom Line
Overall, if you have a device that supports removable memory, you’re going to want at least a 4 GB card. Larger models are available but the prices can increase exponentially.
Review
With more and more electronics allowing you to use removable memory, the need for purchasing a 4 GB card might seem pretty pressing. However, there are important questions to answer: Is a 4 GB card large enough for your needs? What brand 4 GB card is going to be the best choice? We’ll look at both of these questions below.
First, you need to make sure that whatever device you have can use a 4 GB card. There are a number of types of removable memory on the market, including some proprietary types like the Sony Memory Stick. Not all removable media is going to be compatible with every device so know what you can use before you buy.
You also need to be very careful when searching for the right 4 GB card. You’ll find some that are SD, some that are SDHC, etc. There is a difference between these two types of cards. While some devices do support both, not all of them do.
Now let’s talk about the amount of storage available on a 4 GB card. The most common use for these cards is in digital cameras. Most of these cameras have little or no internal hard drive so you need to use removable memory cards to store all of the photos you are taking.
How much can you store on a 4 GB card? The hard answer is that it depends on the photo quality. If you’re taking pictures at the 8 megapixel level, you’ll be able to store just over 1,000 shots on a single card.
If you lower the picture quality to about 2 megapixels then you could practically quadruple the number of photos that can be stored. Whether that is sufficient space depends on your photography needs.
You’ll also need to decide which brand of 4 GB card to purchase. The best known is probably SanDisk. They make the largest number of these cards and have a strong reputation in the industry. You’ll also find other names, such as Transcend and Kingston, in the market, too.
Although most of the 4 GB card models on the market are going to get the job done, you might feel more confident trusting your photos or other stored data to a name that is well-known in the industry. For that reason, SanDisk or Kingston would probably be the best choices.
Regardless of which brand you purchase, the prices are fairly reasonable, too. Most of the 4 GB card models are going to run you less than $10 to $15.You may want to check out other products on Creative Player and Mp3 Audio Player.