What memory card do I need to buy?

Names can be confusing - Memory cards, flash drives, USB sticks, SD cards, external hard drives. What do they all mean, and which device is right for your particular needs? In this article we will try to give you the information that you need in order to make an informed purchase.

SD Cards 

SD cards are ultra lightweight stamp-sized storage devices which are mainly used to save pictures or video to. They are most commonly found in digital cameras, but they are also used in many mobile phones and tablet computers. They come in Standard-Capacity (SDSC), High-Capacity (SDHC) and eXtended-Capacity (SDXC). These relate to storage capacity, with an SDSC only capable of holding up to 4GB, whereas an SDXC can be as large as 2TB.

If your digital camera comes with an SD card, they are very easy to remove and replace if you want to buy one with a bigger capacity. All the leading digital camera manufacturers support SD cards in their products, so there is no reason to worry whether or not certain brands will have compatibility issues. The main manufacturer of SD cards are Sandisk, but there are plenty of other reputable brands making them.

Click here to see the best-selling SD cards

USB Flash Drives 

Unlike SD cards, USB flash drives are not specifically designed for mobile devices. USB flash drives are commonly used for storage, backup and transfer of computer files. They are the modern day floppy disk. Small and easy to plug in and use, USB flash drives are extremely useful for carrying information between places or computers so that you always have your important files to hand. They have no mechanical moving parts, and are very robust.

USB flash drives are really useful for people who use multiple computers, maybe at home and at work. The drives come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with lots of cool colourful designs. They don’t have the storage capacities of external hard drives, but are much more flexible and truly portable.

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External Hard Drives 

If you need to store lots of electronic data, then you need an external hard drive. These are the kings of portable storage, and are available with capacities of up to 2 terabytes. They are typically wallet-sized or slightly larger, and they normally connect to your computer via USB. An external hard drive is an excellent way to backup all your important files, in case you have problems with your computer or its built-in hard drive.

Robust and built to last, external hard drives are a great way to ensure that you can take everything you need on the move with you. We live in a time where most of us have a ton of digital files which are important to us. Family photos and videos, your music library, your documents, all of this can be lost if it is not properly backed up. An external hard drive is an affordable way to ensure that you keep all of your files safe.

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Platinum 32GB USB Flash Drive Review

This memory stick comes in a cool looking transparent yellow colour. It also has a protective cover which swivels easily to reveal the USB connector. This Platinum USB Flash Drive can store 32GB of data which will allow you to easily transfer and share videos, photos, songs and other files between computers.

Click here to view the excellent user reviews 

Nice looking and easy to use, this Platinum 32GB USB Flash Drive is currently on offer with Amazon. As of this week it is available for £14.82, which is better than half price of the recommended retail.

Duracell Capless 32GB USB Memory Drive

Lots of memory sticks tend to look rather similar, and so if you are looking to stand out from the crowd, Duracell may have the answer for you. Having built up a trustworthy brand from their 80 years in battery manufacture, Duracell have entered the memory market.

This particular memory drive will hold 32GB, is easy to use and has a few handy design features. It has a rubbery, non-slip feel, and also slides open instead of using a cap. This gives excellent protection and means you won't lose your data... or your cap!

Duracell Flash Drives come with a 5-year warranty, and this 32GB model is currently available through Amazon for an excellent price of £16.97.

ByteStor 16GB USB Flash Drive

ByteStor are known for making excellent quality memory devices at low prices, and this 16GB memory stick is no different. USB 2.0 compliant for high performance, this ByteStor flash drive is sturdy and comes with a protective lid. It requires no additional power or software, making it very simple and fast to use.

Many buyers have commented on the products' excellent price and performance, as well as its solid design. As well as blue, the ByteStor 16GB USB stick also comes in red or pink. It is available on Amazon for £9.30.