Olympus and Fujifilm released extreme Digital (xD) memory cards in 2002 to a mild reception and few of the advantages of the Secure Digital card, its primary competitor.
Technology has sided with the SD time and time again, and both companies have begun to pull their xD products from the shelves, opting instead to get on the SD bandwagon.
No Compatibility
One of the reasons SD cards are so popular is because they are supported by such a large number of electronic devices. The SD's are compatible with video games, PDA's, video recorders, and of course digital cameras.
On the other hand, the xD card is exclusive to Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras. There are SD cards on the market now that can store up to 32 GB of space. The maximum for an xD card is 2 GB -- hardly enough for most higher end electronics.
As if that weren't enough, xD cards are well known for their problems with software and camera accessories. Hours of difficulty can result, which can turn off many users hoping for a streamlined process instead of having to pull teeth to get their new gear to work.
Image Trouble
Digital cameras are meant to record our important life moments so we can relive them after the fact. The most troubling problem that xD card users have experienced is data corruption, and it's happened so often that more than likely every xD card owner will lose their data at least one time in their use, if not more.
There is no end to the reasons for corruption -- simply hitting buttons while the digital camera is in the middle of a task is enough to screw up images, or sliding out your card before turning off your camera.
Corruption hasn't hit the SD card as hard as it has the xD. It can be a problem in any camera, but the possibility of a customer corrupting files while using an SD card seems to be less than the chances of those struggling to use their xD.
Pricey Product
Even though the xD is inferior to the SD in almost every respect, it is somehow much higher priced. Amazon.com lists a 2 GB Olympus xD card at $17.50, while the SD alternative of the same virtual size is $8.49.
The difference is so stark that it would make sense for a user to buy a new camera rather than gouge themselves on memory cards.
The SD is actually older than the xD -- it originated in'99 -- but it has changed with the times by expanding its storage space and offering more and more compatibility for every type of device in the market today.
Customers will choose SD cards instead of the xD, considering their differences, and Olympus and Fujifilm correctly see that the time has come to make something new.
Technology has sided with the SD time and time again, and both companies have begun to pull their xD products from the shelves, opting instead to get on the SD bandwagon.
No Compatibility
One of the reasons SD cards are so popular is because they are supported by such a large number of electronic devices. The SD's are compatible with video games, PDA's, video recorders, and of course digital cameras.
On the other hand, the xD card is exclusive to Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras. There are SD cards on the market now that can store up to 32 GB of space. The maximum for an xD card is 2 GB -- hardly enough for most higher end electronics.
As if that weren't enough, xD cards are well known for their problems with software and camera accessories. Hours of difficulty can result, which can turn off many users hoping for a streamlined process instead of having to pull teeth to get their new gear to work.
Image Trouble
Digital cameras are meant to record our important life moments so we can relive them after the fact. The most troubling problem that xD card users have experienced is data corruption, and it's happened so often that more than likely every xD card owner will lose their data at least one time in their use, if not more.
There is no end to the reasons for corruption -- simply hitting buttons while the digital camera is in the middle of a task is enough to screw up images, or sliding out your card before turning off your camera.
Corruption hasn't hit the SD card as hard as it has the xD. It can be a problem in any camera, but the possibility of a customer corrupting files while using an SD card seems to be less than the chances of those struggling to use their xD.
Pricey Product
Even though the xD is inferior to the SD in almost every respect, it is somehow much higher priced. Amazon.com lists a 2 GB Olympus xD card at $17.50, while the SD alternative of the same virtual size is $8.49.
The difference is so stark that it would make sense for a user to buy a new camera rather than gouge themselves on memory cards.
The SD is actually older than the xD -- it originated in'99 -- but it has changed with the times by expanding its storage space and offering more and more compatibility for every type of device in the market today.
Customers will choose SD cards instead of the xD, considering their differences, and Olympus and Fujifilm correctly see that the time has come to make something new.
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All xD memory cards can still be obtained courtesy of Olympus and Fujifilm. If you are looking for another memory card, or perhaps you need new quality digital camera memory to start over with, make sure you buy all your storage solutions from recommended retailers to ensure the best quality.
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