Do we really need more kinds of Digital Memory?

garcons

How many kinds of Digital memory do we already have?

If there were not enough, we now have a new kind of Digital memory called the RS-MMC, just an upgrade to the existing MMC, but this one is called Reduced Size-MMC, just coz it is a little smaller that the earlier one. This one is just the size of a Sim card, and the newer generation of mobile phones will use it starting from the Nokia7610 and the soon to be launched Nokia6630.

My point is, why have so many kinds when you can have just one kind of digital memory used in all applications. If i plan to switch from a Nokia mobile phone to a Sony Ericssion phone, I'll have to buy the memory stick that Sony uses. If i need to switch from one brand of Digital camera to another, I also have to switch my storage type.

Why is there no consistency?

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 337 Location: India

Garcons:

From what i can understand about the Digital memory thing (and correct me if i am wrong) is that different types of memory is dependant on different companies. Nokia uses a diffent memory type from Sony and which they might have done so due to the competition. This might be a part of their market strategy. So if you don't have to buy the specific memory stick that sony uses, they might lose money on that front.

This reminds me of a similar analogy. Consider the ATM's for example. The ATM card which you use to draw money from say a Citibank account would not work on an ICICI ATM. You need to have a separate card to withdraw money from a different ATM. But i have also heard that some banks have thought of the convenience of the customer and thus have come up with only one ATM card which can be used in all their ATMs.

Thus, my gutfeel is that sooner or later the companies will also think from the customer point of view as i believe there are many other consumers like you who would want only one type of storage type to avoid hassles. Then they might come up with something you are asking for... Smile

garcons · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:46 am Post subject:

Charu,

re the ATM, there have never been a scenario where the custoemr could not withdraw funds from another ATM, like a HDGC card would not work in a Citibank ATM. ATM's were always made that way that they can go into any ATM machine, infact if i were to get an Australian bank card, i can use it in a HDFC bank, just that i would be charged a small fee as a commission from the bank.

Coming to digital memory, what you say is right, but if you see Cannon camera's, some of them use a Compact Flash card while some use a MMC/SD, atleast stick to one specification. So if a user is switching between Cannon only, chances are he might have to switch his storage card too.

Actually my main point for the above post was between MMC and Rs-MMC. Nokia phones use MMC for storage and now with the new phones coming up, they have come up with RS-MMC, which is nothing but just a tad bit smaller in size, so what was the point of coming with a new storage type. There are so many users who have bought 1GB MMC's and now coz they upgrade their cell phones, they have to switch storage cards too and 1Gb MMC certainly costs a lot.

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 337 Location: India

Garcons:

I was referring to the ATM machines in India, where a citibank card will not work on an ICICI machine. I am sure in Australia, they had such facility for the customer.

Regarding the MMC vs. RS-MMC controversy, i think the reason might be that they have come up with an upgrade for storage which is smaller in size and costs more. And new technology is always expensive. If you remember the size of the cellphones some 3-4 years back with what are available now you can relate to it. Present day cellphones are much more sleeker and trendy...so in case one wants his/her cellphone to be according to the latest fashion, one might discard the older(perfectly functional) phone and switch to the trendy version.

What is your opinion?

garcons · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:35 am Post subject:

Charu,

I'm sure even earlier, Citibank cards would always work in ICICI ATM's, or maybe I'm wrong, but as far as i can re-collect, you could withdraw money from absolutely any ATM.

re the memory, yes you are right about switching from old phones to new ones even though they are perfectly fine, but there was a huge change fromt hsoe bulkier fones to the now avialable sleeker models but if you see the MMC & Rs-MMC, there is not much of a difference.

I'm not challenging Nokia in any way, I'm sure if they've come out with Rs-MMC, there has to be something about it which we aint aware Wink

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 337 Location: India

No garcons, even now you have to use separate cards for separate ATMs...

Regarding the memory, there might be certainly an upgrade as just changing the memory would amount to a kind of cheating the customers...

garcons · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 11:12 am Post subject:

I'm sure Charu you can use the same ATM card in different machines, just that you get charged extra. Infact i used my Aussie ATM card in HSBC in bombay. I've used my old ICICI ATM card in HDFC, I've used HDFC in ICICI, so i'm sure they all work Surprised

)

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 337 Location: India

ok i will confirm and get back...till then i disagree...

garcons · Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:38 pm Post subject:

Have ya confirmed yet Charu?

I reason i got back to this posts was i bougth a new Olympus Digi Cam and this one supports a XD card so cant use my old MMC. Plus XD cards are the most expensive in the market.

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 337 Location: India

Yes Ritesh, i did confirm it...you can use one card at different ATMs but you have to pay hefty commission for it...i am still not sure whether every bank is allowing this.

By the way congrats for purchasing a digicam...i got a Sony Digicam 2 years back, i don't know which memory it uses...but for sure the technology must have advanced by now Smile