SD / CF Where for What?

[jwtango]

All--

Great site with incredible info...thanks in advance from a newbe. Here's my issue: I've read several reviews touting huge CF with rather small SD cards and I suspect it's due to the type of programs currently operating. Is this true? If so, here's some more:

I'm looking to buy the 4GB SD card...is it best to put only programs/OS stuff/other minutia on this?

I'm also looking to buy the 8GB CF Flash Card via many great threads here (outta stock at Newegg). So, I assume it is best to put music, files, movies, etc. on here. Is this true?

If true to all the above, why get so large an SD card? Obviously, I don't have that much experience and appreciate the in-the-dark answer, you won't offend me. This will all go into my soon to be delivered 51V....and BTW, thanks DELL for raisin' the freakin' price as of today!

Thanks.

[thedakr]

I would certainly recommend that you get the 8 GB CF card, but plan on leaving it in the axim - it is bulkier to move around than the SD. If you have 8 GB on the CF, you may have enough space - I personally function on just 2.5 GB between the cards I have (1 CF, 2 SD). If you really want space then go for both cards, but there is no real reason to go for the 4 GB SD until you are sure you will be needing more than the 8 GB on the CF.

One quick note, if you have a case that has holding slots for the SD cards, get some smaller ones - some of the smaller (1-2 GB) are pretty cheap after rebates these days, it would be more cost effective and only require switching them out a little.

[PocketBrain]

If you get a MicroDrive, view Tips from the Trenches (link in my signature) for a couple of tips.

[jevans64]

If you are looking at getting a 4GB SD and/or an 8GB CF card, then it isn't going to matter where you put your music/movies/maps/etc.

I have both a 4GB SD and CF and put my A/V stuff on one and the GPS stuff on the other just to keep it organized. I guess SD is a little more convenient since they are smaller and most of the aluminum cases have slots for extra SD cards. I don't think there is much difference in speed; although, I have read several posts in which SD is slightly faster than CF in the Ax.

The SD cards will probably be a bit cheaper than CF cards ( comparing same size and speed ) since a lot of point-n-shoot digicams are using SD now for storage instead of CF.

[thedakr]

For myself, I would recommend that you get a larger CF (like the 8 GB you are looking at) and then get your 4 GB SD. After you have those and know how they work for you, you can get more SD cards, maybe another 4 GB or perhaps an 8 GB, depending on your needs. Having multiple CF cards is simply not convenient because of size, in my opinion.

[PocketBrain]

From what I have heard, SD can be significantly faster if you format it FAT instead of FAT32, making it better for running programs. Max. practical volume size for FAT is 2GB though, 4GB if formatted under NT-based Windows, but I don't know if the Ax would support it.

[jevans64]

You CAN format a 4GB FAT16 by using 64K clusters ( I have done so.) You can either use a PC formatting utility or use the DOS format command in a WinXP Command Prompt window. You have to have a card reader to do this.