1GB write-once SanDisk memory cards to cost $5.99?

Remember how Sandisk was flirting with read-only, cheap-archival storage based on their new "3D memory' back in February? Well, it sounds like they're about to commit. We just received a tip from a SanDisk customer who took a survey about a proposed write-once memory card. The most interesting new piece of information is the price: a 400 photo, 1GB write-once card for a proposed $5.99 as described by our tipster. We can't vouch for his claims -- nevertheless, what he says is consistent with what we've heard and certainly makes sense. We'll break it down for you as we received it:

• The new "memory cards (memory stick)" will be widely available in food, drug, camera, and convenience stores (we already knew that Wal-Mart and Walgreens were involved)
  
• The new format fits your existing camera
  
• Large enough to store at least 100 photos per card (does that mean 256MB cards for $2.00 or less?)
  
• Write-once technology stores your pictures safely for over 100 years (check)
  
• Less expensive than standard re-writeable memory cards (duh)
  

No dates were provided in the survey, but at this point, a near-term launch certainly appears imminent.

[Thanks, Chris G]

[CJ.UK @ Nov 20th 2007 6:46AM]

I'm not really sure i understand the concept.. so my choices are buy a single use card with a 1GB capacity for $6, or buy a 1GB card which i can use pretty much indefinately for nearer to ten dollars, offloading data onto a hard drive and much cheaper CDs / DVDs for backup (where its more useful anyway)?

What's the target market? It isn't like SD cards are ruinously expensive anyway. It just seems like another way to build clutter and waste materials...

[Dave @ Nov 20th 2007 7:33AM]

wut he said.. ^ This sounds dumb. And how much money did they waste developing the tech to write "once"?

[Tony C @ Nov 20th 2007 8:28AM]

The point of write-once is for archival storage, though if it's magnetic, you'd still have to take care of the media. 1GB in the form factor of a postage stamp (if they branch off of SD-card) is a far cry from a 700MB optical CD that has a far shorter shelf life than originally thought or designed for. Even 5 of these is smaller than a 4.7GB single layer DVD -- it's only when you get to a 9GB dual layer DVD or larger (Blu-Ray & HD-DVD, et al) that the data density turns around in optical's favor.

[Homer J @ Nov 20th 2007 8:52AM]

I would guess the target market are people who don't have enough memory with them on a longer vacation. Seems a bit odd to think this is even worth it, but what do I know.

Environmentally, I can't imagine its a good idea....

[Scott @ Nov 20th 2007 9:15AM]

Tony,

DVD-r's can be had for 27 cents a disc. What's the advantage again?

[Scott @ Nov 20th 2007 9:32AM]

I imagine those camera makers would like this. Instead of a useless tiny card (or onboard store) they can bundle in a one way card. Well actually I imagine camera retailers would like this. I could totally see this becoming a requirement to sell a camera in a big box store. Kind of like how printers don't have usb cables so the stores can sell you them (at massive markup).

[Cunthor @ Nov 20th 2007 5:04PM]

How long before there comes a new format (using the same technology) for distributing content? Think about this: if they make a 64GB write once flash card - in whatever form that might be - and load a hi-def movie on it, this could be the beginning of the end of HD-DVD/Blu Ray or any other optical media. Mark my words on that...

To top it off, think about the archival benefits for large corporations that still use tape based storage. Better yet, think how much music stores could save on shipment/stocking of music if it was all in a smaller form factor (granted, you still need the booklets to fit somehow).

Possibilities with this tech is endless, and also a great for photographers like myself who could just run into a supermarket and buy new "film", load it. For sure, you might be able to buy a cheap CF/SD card, but for those of us that got burnt with cheap storage and corrupt files as a result this seems like an ideal solution.

This tech will come soon, and I'm looking forward to it :D

[Chuckles McGee @ Nov 20th 2007 9:08PM]

You're dead on. Heck, you can pick up a $5.49 1 GB rewritable SD card from newegg already...

[Cunthor @ Nov 21st 2007 1:48AM]

And to add another thing, the write once flash memory could be embedded into a disposable digital camera, so you could possibly walk into a supermarket and buy a 5mpx digital camera with 100 shots, waste it, and drop it off to your lab where I'm sure there will be a method of extracting data, printing and burning onto a cd and recycling the camera.

[nak @ Nov 20th 2007 6:49AM]

While we're at it, let's put non-rechargeable batteries in cameras too.

But seriously, read/write SD cards are already pretty close to six bucks (http://www.meritline.com/ridata-1gb-sd-card.html) so what's the point?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Nov 20th 2007 7:35AM]

Well, If it's cheaper from the main maker, woudn't you get it cheaper else where like you're showing excpect with read/write cards.

[Tony C @ Nov 20th 2007 8:42AM]

$5.99 would be "retail" price, so you'd bound to find it for less at a discounter like Meritline. Doing a quick Google search, Pacific Geek sells your same Ridata 1GB 60x "Lightning Series" (SDCR1G-LIG) for $19.99 and it retails for $35.99 according to the manufacturer.

[JJMoho @ Nov 20th 2007 6:56AM]

This sounds extremely wasteful. The last thing we need is another technology device that will quickly find its way to landfill. Isn't part of beauty of digital photography being able to delete those photos you don't like on demand?

[johnzilla @ Nov 20th 2007 10:35AM]

Don't limit the discussion to photography.

Think evidence (lawsuits, etc) and archives. I'd love to be able to take 1GB snapshots of my critical data at home a couple times a month and be able to safely store them someplace small, for example.

Plastic media (CDs, DVDs, etc) do not last as long as everyone thinks they do, and can be sensitive to light and other factors, putting your data at risk.

Also, from a legal perspective, being able to prove (assuming this can be done with the media in question) that what is stored on there is the original, unaltered data would be a huge plus.

For example, think crime scene photography. What is better, claiming that the pictures showing some evidence haven't been altered, or being able to prove they haven't been altered because the storage media is write-once?

[Don Park @ Nov 20th 2007 10:49AM]

I agree, this is a recipe for e-waste. Don't like those photos any more? trash the card and buy a new one! the legal analysis doesn't hold up by the way because CD-Rs are read-only as well but the data can be doctored before its written.

[kL @ Nov 20th 2007 2:27PM]

Take photo, alter it, write it to another write-once card. Doesn't help proving anything...

[Trent @ Nov 20th 2007 2:57PM]

All DSLR producers that I'm aware of offer forensic photography kits which watermark the images and checksum the images at production such that you can authoritatively sign off on the photo's as being unaltered. These cards would in theory save the cost of the police departments having to purchase these kits (~$150 on average). But I wager everyone is already using these kits except for maybe very small police departments which are still using film.

[cajie @ Nov 20th 2007 7:00AM]

This is like a deja-vu.
Just a few days back, I was thinking of doing some business shooting pictures of tourists and charging them for it. My idea was to record on cheap but reliable memory cards, and then give the card to the customer.
This would be perfect for this type of job.

[Tony @ Nov 20th 2007 11:43AM]

Are there many tourists who don't bring cameras on vacation?

[Mile @ Nov 20th 2007 7:23AM]

Disposable member cards...hmmmm...fill one up, toss it out and buy another one...could be cool.

I know you're thinking I missed a step (copying them to your PC), but I really haven't. Nobody looks at all these pics we take anyway, so why bother doing that part?

[Wolfticket @ Nov 20th 2007 7:25AM]

If this is actually cheaper to produce than current re-writeable solid state media does it have a chance of eventually replacing optical read-only formats?
Getting films and music on an read-only SD card rather than some variation on a CD would be sweet.

[Fowl @ Nov 20th 2007 7:28AM]

That actually sounds like a good idea. I really really really despise optical media. Can they get the cost down enough though?

[Peter @ Nov 20th 2007 7:35AM]

Now that actually makes more sense than the digital camera use.

[Panq @ Nov 20th 2007 8:13AM]

Jumping on the bandwagon here. Brilliant idea. Even at 1GB, it's over 42% higher-capacity than a standard CD, and FAR smaller. If you could buy albums on 1GB write-once SD cards, then you'll probably see a significant boost in the sales of MP3 players with SD slots (not to mention the plethora of other benefits).

[Jerome Demers @ Nov 20th 2007 8:44AM]

What will then be the price of your Music?

A plastic CD cost penny! More profit! Let say it cost 0.20$ to "burn" a music CD. You sell it 9.99$ you make more money for the artist and all the other crap.
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/entertainment/0101/cd.price/frameset.exclude.html


A SD card = less money = Not interesting!
A SD card could cost around 3$ for the chip

That does not make any sence for the music industry. Not for the moment.

Remember they all want CASH! Nothing more!

[Dave @ Nov 22nd 2007 1:05AM]

You're all missing the big problem with music on this thing. Its data that can be written once... What about the drm? Would you still be able to rip the music off for your iPod or Zune? I doubt it. So what? now we need another friggin player to handle the sd media? Nope.. sorry. Digital downloads are cheaper, easier, and the format already works. This is a bad idea all the way around.

[Fowl @ Nov 20th 2007 7:25AM]

This seems to me like it would need device support, FAT is not a write-once filesystem.

[kL @ Nov 20th 2007 2:29PM]

I'm wondering about the same thing. Maybe they have a few rewritable KB/MB there just to hold FAT?

[Daniel @ Nov 20th 2007 7:29AM]

Or maybe it's for the people that always keep the pictures on thier card couse they don't trust their puter

[eX @ Nov 20th 2007 8:43AM]

Well, that's why SD cards have a write protect switch (kinda like floppies do). For $6 I'd much rather buy a 5 pack of double layer dvd-r's! If I did need a memory card, like someone mentioned above, then I can buy a r/w card for about the same money. Flash memory came down in price a lot. You can buy 2GB flash drives in walmart for around $10 and they still make some money. This card is hugely overpriced for that it offers. If it was a $1 or maybe $2 then it'd make more sense but at $6, heck no.

[Aaron @ Nov 20th 2007 7:30AM]

This is brilliant news! Smaller than a CD, with greater capacity, will produce less heat and costs just a little bit more. I've been waiting for this sort of thing for ages.

[Scott @ Nov 20th 2007 9:15AM]

And it only costs 5,000% more!

[Aaron @ Nov 20th 2007 9:19AM]

Hmm, not here :P

[Beholder @ Nov 20th 2007 7:33AM]

1GB write-once mem card costs you 6$..

While 1GB SD card costs you only 10$ with the capability to sustain up to 1 million times of write.

WTF....?????????????????

[Alan @ Nov 20th 2007 8:00AM]

You would be surpised at the number of people who have digital camras, who don't have a computer or don't know how to put it on there computer. They just use a card till it's full, and then get a new one.

[ShortFuse @ Nov 20th 2007 11:21AM]

But at least they know how to erase pictures. The delete option on the digital camera would be useless. Those sound like the same people who take 40 pictures on the floor or their hand.

[Marshall @ Nov 20th 2007 12:00PM]

Actually, they don't know how to erase the pictures. These cards sound perfect for this group, as they are usually drawn to the cheapest option and will never miss the features that were available for a few dollars more.

It is a shame about the digital waste though.

[Mark Richardson @ Nov 20th 2007 8:16AM]

Wait, so someone tells a completely uncorroborated story about taking a survey for SanDisk, and it gets reported?

[Jack @ Nov 20th 2007 8:20AM]

next it will be write once hard drives! this is madness!

[Anoldcarsnickname @ Nov 20th 2007 10:52AM]

This is .. SPARTA!

[Ellianth @ Nov 20th 2007 11:06AM]

Madness? This is.. oh nevermind, that movie is really old now :'(.

[Georgi @ Nov 20th 2007 8:20AM]

Wow, the number of smarty pants around this site seems to only increase. Before trashing a product,
think about when you are at Disney World, you filled up both of your trusty rewritable 2GB SD cards,
and did not bring a computer to the week long vacation. What do you do? Just jump to the nearest convenience store (there are few inside Disney World and their prices are normal), and get a gig for $6. It saves you time going though your cards deleting photos you "think" you don't want and risk deleting something you wanted in the process.

[mattclarkie @ Nov 20th 2007 8:34AM]

That is flawed argument,why would't you buy a re-writable card from Disney World. That way it would have more use, or if you don't need it, sell it on.

[Georgi @ Nov 20th 2007 8:43AM]

Cause it's cheaper? While you can find 1GB cards on-sale for around $10,
that's not the price you pay at the gas station or the nearest Drugs store,
and you don't even know if they are going to carry a SD card at all.
However, with this new write once card, the biggest advantage is the assurance that you
can pretty much find it in any store even if that kind of store don't usually carry any kind of SD cards, or may carry 128MB card from 4 years ago for $25.

In summary, this new card is promising you the following 2 advantages that we do not have right now with rewritable cards.
1. $6 for 1GB at anytime, no need to wait for sale.
2. Available almost anywhere, no need to order online and wait for UPS, just drive to the gas station and pick one up, perfect for when you are away from home.

Another great use I can think of is for Digital photo-frame that you might giveaway to grandparents that do not have computer. You throw around 1000 photos (re-size since they don't need to be 10 mega-pixel) on a $6 card and send it away. When the pictures get old just send them another one with 41 cents 1st class mail and they just have to swap the card.

[Paul @ Nov 20th 2007 9:05AM]

For one thing, at Disney world disposable cameras cost around $10-15 (at least they were that much 3 years ago), so I am willing to bet they would charge about $20-30 minimum for something like this.

If you dont have a laptop, there are external hard drives that can copy data off SD cards for around $80, and you get one heck of a lot more storage.

[Georgi @ Nov 20th 2007 9:21AM]

re-read my post, there are convenience stores inside Disney world selling items at regular price.
Also Disney World was just an example, you should be able to buy it anywhere.
The $80 device might be a great idea but trying buying that when you are on your vacation, where are you going to find it?
Also if you are going to buy $80 device just for that you could buy 2 4 GB cards at $40 each before your trip

Again, the advantage of this is that you can buy it anywhere for cheap.
Of course I'm assuming that SandDisk keeps its promise and makes it available anywhere for $6.

[Aaron @ Nov 20th 2007 9:20AM]

I agree completely.

[mattclarkie @ Nov 20th 2007 9:39AM]

Well you defeat your own argument. These well priced stores selling the ROSD for $6 would likely also be selling a standard RWSD for $10, they wouldn't see a difference between the two products.

[Georgi @ Nov 20th 2007 9:43AM]

No, I did not, they are selling 128MB cards for $25 because that was the retail when they got the stock 4 years ago and they don't know any better.
For this new card, the retail is $5.99.
Think before you post because you might just make fool of yourself :)

[sarchi @ Nov 20th 2007 8:41AM]

will it need a juke box