Pretec releases first 8GB SDHC card

If you're someone who really needs the ability to take several hundred photos (or extremely high res photos) while you're in the field, then you may want to drop the three bills for Pretec's 8GB SD card, the first like it that we've seen so far. Pretec says that its card is the largest SD card in the world and is fully compliant with the SD 2.0 (SDHC) specification, and has access speeds up to 20MB per second. While Pretec says you can order one "for sampling," they won't be mass produced until later this year. Unfortunately, SDHC cards aren't backwards compatible, so it looks like we'll have to stick with classic SD cards for our Treos and cameras. We also noticed while checking out Pretec's site that it'll be releasing a 16GB flash drive tomorrow at the IFA show in Berlin, which the company claims is the biggest in the world (and we know that's obviously not the case). No mention of the price yet, but again, like its little cousin, will be available later this year. Man, just a few months ago that we saw the first 4GB SD cards; anyone figured out the Moore's Law for flash memory yet?

[Via Geekzone]

[Dred @ Aug 31st 2006 11:45AM]

The cards are available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities for $160, $320, and $640. it's no good.

[Dan @ Aug 31st 2006 12:20PM]

For that price, get a handful of 1GB cards ($60 each) for far less ($60 x 8 = $480)... Duh

[quahogian @ Aug 31st 2006 12:27PM]

or better yet 4GB SD cards ($60 each at Newegg) for further less($60x8=$480) for 32GB. Just duck tape em all together and put a wire inbetween :D

[Ladderless @ Aug 31st 2006 12:29PM]

You're still paying $60 for 2GB cards? You can now get 4GB SD cards for that price!

Is my memory tricking me, or was there an announcement a few months ago about 16GB and 32GB SD cards available from a smaller company? I know that they weren't completely SD compliant, and were REALLY expensive (like, over $2K).

Anyone remember those?

[par @ Aug 31st 2006 1:16PM]

no

[mmr @ Aug 31st 2006 1:52PM]

Sure you could lug around 8 1GB cards to get the same effect, but when you are traveling, less is more! Think about it, back in the day you needed a camera, tons of film rolls (36 pics per roll), batteries, etc. And then you needed to keep all of that stuff together without losing it.

Up until recently you could get one hundred or so pics on a digi cam which meant unloading it on a laptop or stocking up on more flash chips.

Now you could basically go on vacation with 1 camera, 1 8GB SD card and one charger and keep several thousand photos on your card. DING, you just eliminated a lot of excess crap to bring along!

There were a lot of things that seemed stupid, but once time catches up with the advances they make so much sense!

[Lionel @ Aug 31st 2006 3:36PM]

Maybe I'll wait until I actually fill up my 1 GB card before I purchase an 8 GB. Seriously, you'll have to be shooting at full res on a 10 Megapixel camera to make a dent into this.

[Eric @ Aug 31st 2006 3:57PM]

Just say "no" to Pretec and their "cutting edge" cards. When they first released a 133-speed 2GB SD card I bought it and when it corrupted all of my data one weekend, they wouldn't do anything to compensate me for data recovery. Their customer service is absolutely horrible.

[Ralph @ Aug 31st 2006 4:53PM]

I'm really enjoying my new Canon S3 IS that I paid $320 for new just recently. I also purchased a 4gig SD 200x High-Speed memory card for $63 dollars, making my new setup cost about $400 dollars.

Does this new format, SDHC warrant such a high price? $320 if I've read that correctly.

[Pete @ Aug 31st 2006 10:09PM]

I think your missing the point. I an a few years these will be $20.

[aws910 @ Sep 1st 2006 11:16AM]

Eric, couldn't you just restore from a backup? You DO make backups, right?

Reminds me of the old SQ3 axiom "Save early, save often!" (or in this case back-up)

[Eric @ Sep 1st 2006 4:39PM]

The SD card was in a camera, like most of these devices are. It's not something I use for long-term storage, so since i hadn't even had a chance to stick it in a card reader yet, the answer is "no, I didn't make a backup". :)

It's not like I erased the pictures on the camera either using some menu command--the file system was completely hosed to the point where I couldn't retrieve anything off it with any utilities at my disposal. It required professional data recovery and Pretec refused to help me in any way.

[hoochie @ Sep 15th 2006 7:12AM]

these cards are so cool, i just wish they replaced cassettes on Mini-systems so that we can record from local fm on them and swap music disks when going to friends house or parties.

[Mike @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:55AM]

8GB SD on eBay under $150
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=8gb+sd

[Reuben @ Nov 12th 2007 2:05PM]

i think your all stupid you can buy 8GB Micro SDHC for like £20(Thats like $40-$45) so your all idiots order them from the UK and ship them over and ull still be saving money a lot of money infact lol

[Dave @ Nov 25th 2007 4:21PM]

Stupid???? do you realize the original post was well over a year ago? besides if you got a '8GB Micro SDHC for like £20' in 'Ripoff' UK on November 15 2007 then you must have got very intimate with the seller. :D

[Mark200sx @ Feb 1st 2008 2:27PM]

You can buy a 8GB SDHC at Newegg.com for $29.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211180&ATT=89-022-032&CMP=AFC-C8Junction