Secure Digital - Market Penetration

Market Penetration

Secure Digital cards are used in many consumer electronic devices, and have become a widespread means of storing several gigabytes of data in a small size. Devices where the user may remove and replace cards often, such as digital cameras, camcorders, and video game consoles, tend to use full-sized cards. Devices where small size is paramount, such as mobile phones, tend to use microSD cards. SD cards are not the most economical solution in devices that need only a small amount of non-volatile memory, such as station presets in small radios. They may also not present the best choice for applications where higher storage capacities or speeds are a requirement as provided by other flash card standards such as CompactFlash.

Many personal computers of all types and personal digital assistants (PDAs) use SD cards, either through built-in slots or through an active electronic adaptor. Adaptors exist for the PC card, ExpressBus, USB, FireWire, and the parallel printer port. Active adaptors also let SD cards be used in devices designed for other formats, such as CompactFlash. The FlashPath adaptor lets SD cards be used in a floppy disk drive.