Sony 1 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Flash Memory Card MSXM1GST

• 1 GB storage capacity with 940 MB available
• Minimum write speeds of 15 Mbps on Memory Stick PRO Duo enabled devices optimized with 4-pin parallel interface
• Included adapter allows compatibility with Memory Stick PRO media enabled devices
• Backwards compatible with most devices that use Memory Stick PRO Duo media
• Designed especially for compact digital cameras and the PSP Handheld Entertainment System

If you have the PSP and a little extra cash, it's pretty much mandatory that you get a Memory Stick Duo card. The 32MB that comes in the PSP Value Pack is just a joke -unless you plan to use the PSP strictly for gaming only, in which case you don't need to buy a larger-capacity memory card.

(I suspect Sony includes a small Memory Stick Duo card in the Value Pack to discourage people from copying movies to the PSP. Just my wild guess.)

If, however, you want to take full advantage of the PSP multimedia experience, a larger-capacity Memory Stick Duo is just a must. Consider yourself lucky, for just six months ago a 1GB Memory Stick Duo (MSD for short) would have made you $300-$400 poorer. Kudos to Sony for bringing the price down to something we mere mortals can afford. But curses to Sony for not using an industry standard format like Secure Digital.

Anyway, you have pretty much two choices when it comes to 1GB MSD cards. Either a Sony, or a Sandisk. Lexar (another company) is supposed to be selling it, too, but I haven't seen theirs in the retail channel, so the choice comes down to either Sony or Sandisk.

As I mentioned many times in my previous reviews, I still have lingering doubts about Sandisk's quality control, as in the past I had no less than two Sandisk flash memory cards fail on me when I needed reliability the most (i.e., a "Kodak moment" for my digital camera). The price difference between a Sony 1GB MSD adn a Sandisk seems pretty small. BTW, if you see a 1GB MSD for over $150 in a store, you'd be overpaying, so come back to Amazon and get it here.

The popularity of the PSP does make both the Sony and the Sandisk 1GB MSD cards hard to find, so maybe you just want to grab whichever one that's in stock. I myself am willing to pay a bit extra for Sony's reliability, but other people have had luck with Sandisk MSD's, so don't let my experience discourage you from getting a Sandisk. It's just that with the Sony memory card, you're unlikely to have any problems, assuming you don't bite or let your dog nibble on the card.

1GB is a lot of memory. Most PSP games use 600KB-800KB for game save data. MP3 tunes encoded at the most common 128kbps bit rate runs about 1MB/minute, so a 4-minute song will occupy 4MB. Video files are harder to summarize since there are so many different encoding bitrates and options (e.g., 15fps or 30fps, mono or stereo or surround sound). I encode at 384kbps/15fps/mono, and one hour of video takes about 150MB. If you want to encode at the more fluid 512kbps/30fps/stereo, expect about 300MB per hour. In short, you should have no trouble fitting more than one full-length movies on this. Feel free to e-mail me at gadgester @t hotmail if you have any questions.

Because this MSD card is also "MagicGate-compatible", meaning it supports Sony's digital rights management technology, you can use it in Sony's digital audio players that take Memory Stick Duo or the full-sized Memory Stick. An adapter is included in the package so if you have Sony gear that only takes the original, full-sized Memory Stick (e.g., most Sony miniDV camcorders and digital cameras), you can stick the smaller Memory Stick Duo into the adapter and then insert the adapter into the gizmo.

Buy Sony 1 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Flash Memory Card MSXM1GST Now

I'm a Sony fan so I own four sony cameras... the newest one the Hi-def HDR-HC1 uses the Memory stick Pro Duo. The great thing about this card is that with the included adapter I can use this in all my other Sony products! I actually noticed a speed improvement using this card in the Sony DSC-R1 Digital camera, the time between shots seems much shorter.

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I decided to purchase this unit over the SanDisk, due to the large number of complaints about it suddenly not working. There are many arguments FOR the SanDisk, as it appears to be faster. However, most people shopping fail to take into account the use of the device. This is not going to be used to store hi-res large file images taken from a digitial camera. The write spead is irrelevant! The small file size of the PSP game saves will exhibit no difference. Transferring a 100MB plus file over USB will offer only negligible speed differences.

So, if you want speed that makes no difference go for the SanDisk. If you want reliability, go for the Sony.

I've had no issues with this card and feel I made the right choice. Only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because these suckers are expensive!

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If you want to be able to have a large amount of data stored on your PSP, not just save games and images, but videos and loads of mp3s, then this is the route you will want to go.

The stick comes with 945mb of freespace, if anyone knows how computer memory works, this would make sense, so don't blame Sony for stealing your last 55mb. With this memory stick you can save a couple of movies and replay them on the PSP, generally encode your movies to around 300-350mb for a hour and a half movie. And all extra space I have used for MP3s which is great as you odn't need to carry your Ipod or Personal DVD player with you anymore, and you have the games to boot.

No problems at all witht this memory card, was worried about the San Disk option, which I would have probably done if the price was that much different, but for $5, it wasn't worth the risk.

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Just bought this tiny beauty for my PSP and it's awesome. If you just bought a PSP and wondering what memory card to get to replace that 32 MB joke they give you, this is the card for you.

Might as well go with this 1GB card because it's just more cost efficiant. The others are just as pricy. I have tons of songs on my PSP now. Only problem with the PSP is that it doesn't play MPEG 3 movie clips only MPEG 4 but look around the internet and there are programs to convert your MPEG clips. Plus tons of room for pictures to customize your background.

I love watching video clips and listening to MP3's and don't forget the great games on the PSP. Great memory card with lots of room. Don't hesitate, buy it now. (unless you want to fork out the cash for a 2GB stick ;-)