CompactFlash card

Based on the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) PC Card specifications, CompactFlash measures 43 X 36 mm (about the size of a matchbook) and is available with storage capacities ranging up to 1 gigabyte (GB), with higher capacities corresponding to higher prices. CompactFlash is similar in size to the SmartMedia card, but larger than the newer, postage stamp-sized alternatives, MultiMediaCard and Secure Digital (SD) card. There are two different types of CF cards, of different thicknesses (to accomodate different capacities): Type I CF cards are 3.3 mm thick, compared to 5.5 mm for Type II cards.

Because flash is nonvolatile memory, stored data is retained when a device's power source is turned off or lost. CF cards feature solid-state construction, which makes them much more rugged than most traditional storage devices. The operating shock rating (basically, what height can you drop them from and have them still work) for CF cards is 2,000 Gs compared to a 100-200 G rating for the mechanical drive of the typical portable computing device. This translates to a drop to the floor from 10 feet, as compared to a single foot for the mechanical disk drive.

CompactFlash is a popular card choice for use with personal digital assistants (PDAs) and digital cameras. A high-end version, Ultra CompactFlash, is optimized for more demanding photography, such as a quickly shot succession of high-resolution pictures, or pictures of a moving subject, such as a bicycle race. Ultra CompactFlash provides a transfer rate twice that of SanDisk's standard memory cards, so that data can be quickly saved and the camera can be ready to capture another image.

There are adapters available for use with CompactFlash to enable access through a standard diskette drive, USB (Universal Serial Bus) port or PC card slot. Most platforms and systems that support the PCMCIA ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) standard also support CompactFlash.

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More resources from around the web: - SanDisk has more information on its CompactFlash pages. - Brighthand features SmartMedia in its article, "It's all in the cards." - How Stuff Works provides a flash memory tutorial.

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