Memory Cards Tutorial

Memory Stick (MS)

Developed by Sony and used in Sony products, like digital cameras and MP3 players. Only Konica Minolta and Samsung (in just a few models) also use Memory Stick.
Actually there are 5 different types of Memory Stick: Memory Stick, Memory Stick with select function, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo. The three first models have the same size, while the Duo models are smaller, but can be installed in Memory Stick slots by using an adapter.

Figure 2: Memory stick specs.

Figure 3: Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick with memory select.

The PRO models (developed together with SanDisk) are faster and are available with larger capacities, up to 1 GB (technically PRO cards can have up to 32 GB). The device (digital camera) must clearly state it is compatible with PRO models to accept these kind of cards, because even though it has the same size as the original Memory Stick, it has twice the number of pins used in the connection with the camera.
Memory stick with select function provides Memory Stick cards with larger capacities for cameras that don’t accept the PRO model. The card has a small switch on its back were you can choose the “memory bank” you will use. For instance, if you have a 256 MB Memory Stick with select function it works as if it was two separated 128 MB Memory Sticks.
The Duo models were designed to be used in devices that need copyright protection, like MP3 players. The copyright protection circuit is called MagicGate. Memory Stick PRO also has this circuit, but OpenMG Jukebox and SonicStage software aren’t compatible with Memory Stick PRO, only with Duo models.
Main specs

• Available Capacities (Memory Stick): 4 MB, 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB and 256 MB
• Available Capacities (Memory Stick PRO): 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB (technically can have up to 32 GB)
• Average transfer rate (Memory Stick): 350 KB/s
• Maximum transfer rate (Memory Stick): 2.45 MB/s
• Maximum transfer rate (Memory Stick PRO): 20 MB/s (160 Mbps)
• Minimum write speed (Memory Stick PRO): 1.875 MB/s (15 Mbps)
• Voltage: 2.7 V to 3.6 V
• Power consumption: 4.5 mA (average for Memory Stick), 20 mA (average for Memory Stick PRO) and 130µA (standby)
• Length: 1.97 in (50 mm)
• Width: 0.84 in (21.45 mm)
• Height: 0.11 in (2.8 mm)
• Length (Duo models): 1.22 in (31 mm)
• Width (Duo models): 0.79 in (20 mm)
• Height (Duo models): 0.063 in (1.6 mm)
• Weight: 0.14 oz (4 g)
• Operating temperature: -5º C to 65º C (23º F to 149º F)
• Storage temperature: -40º C to 100º C (-40º F to 212º F)
• Shock: 150 Gs @ 10ms
• Vibration: 15 Gs peak to peak 5% to 90% C
• For more information: https://www.memorystick.org/