Memory cards are a relatively stable storage medium. They belong to the same ‘Flash’ family as USB drives and MP3 players. They are ‘solid state’ – unlike, say, a computer hard disk spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute, there are no moving parts. They are also ‘non-volatile’, which basically means that unlike computer Random Access Memory (RAM), the data on the card doesn’t disappear when power is turned off. Which is reassuring!
Unlike CDs and DVDs they are also physically durable. As the data is encased, it is not vulnerable to scratches or other damage. Memory cards have even been known to survive a cycle or two in the washing machine, although that’s not a recommended cleaning routine.
But not all memory cards are of equal quality, and as…
