Sony reveals MS PRO-HG Duo HX, pushes the limit on flash card naming schemes
By Darren Murph 
posted September 5th 2008 3:29AM
posted September 5th 2008 3:29AM
[Thanks, Rob]
posted September 5th 2008 3:29AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
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So when will Engadget stop using the philosophy of "If its broke, don't worry about it" with the comment system??
Please. Kill. Memory Stick.
It's AOL's system, not Engadget's. All they can do I'm guessing is complain to AOL, but we all know how AOL treats its customers.
ive always hated Sony's line of proprietary memory sticks, which is why i choose not to buy any products that use them.
SD and and their mini and micro brothers all the way, none of this MemoryStick or XD card crap
Agreed. I wish that for once, tech companies could just agree on a standard format (i.e., SD).
It is very silly.
IIRC, in the beginning there was actually a point to the MS range - they were far thinner and smaller than competing technologies (i.e. compact flash). However, with the rise of SD they seem totally redundant now. If they had impressive R/W speed or capacity then that might justify their existence, but ~20Mb/s is totally standard for good SD cards (and isn't even half of what the new UDMA compact flash cards can achieve).
Still, whilst they're making their own laptops and camera-corders I suppose there's nothing anyone can do about it.
I've always been a fan of Kodak cameras and hated sony's menu system and use of their proprietary format memory cards... it almost hurt when I purchased my new camera last week.. it's a sony. they've come a long way with the menu system.. the only real gripe I have is that I can't just pull the card and put it in my phone or consoles as easily as my SD cards... so I understand what you mean. It's almost like they had a board meeting and said "how can we possibly alienate and piss of tech savvy people with something basic that's easy to do properly...?" and came up with "come out with a memory card format that SUCKS and won't be used by anyone else and slap it into some very sleek devices that perform well". bastards.
makes me wish that this camera wouldn't have been so awesome.. then I wouldn't be stuck with memory sticks. ugh.
Same here, I don't buy products that use non-standard memory. But then Sony is famous for shooting itself in the foot again and again and again with their attempts to get a monopoly on one format or another.
@prokanda
Some of the new Sony DSLRs use standard Compact Flash Cards.
What is wrong with memory stick?
And what does the author find wrong with sony quoting the transfer speeds in the situation the cards would actually be used?
I think that's b/c they're quoting transfer speeds only when used with the USB adapter and not any actual devices.
memory stick sucks because it is proprietary and useless. SD has much better performance and in some cases is half the price. Dont get me wrong, I love sony cameras. they perform extremely well and are easy to use (both SLR and Point and Shoot), but if I already have 2 4 gig SD cards and two 2 gig cards, why would i go for a sony over a canon when the canon will take the cards I already have? Sony needs to grow up (as well as olympus and fuji with their xD nonsense) and start using SD and CF for the professional stuff.
Its a memory card, who cares. Why do people get so passionate over it. Theres nothing wrong with Memory Sticks and I use them because I have Sony products. Dosent really bother me at all because they do their job, which is to hold stuff. You guys are all losers. These things are cheap enough that if you happen to buy a new device with a different card, go buy one. I along with millions of other Sony owners would be pretty upset to see memory sticks not being made anymore. So why get rid of them? Its not like theyre preventing you from buying an SD card if you need one. The self-centred children that flood the internet these days make me sick.
Also this story really discredits Engadget and its blogging. The childish tone of the blogger is really lame. The whole ending lines of "for those who care" are really getting annoying an unoriginal on Engadget. If you dont care, then why post it?
@D
You need to calm down.
We dont like Memory Sticks because they are proprietary. Which means a company dictates what we get to use them in, and how much to charge for them. It means higher costs for the cards themselves, and extra hardware needed to read them. It means some computers can and some cant read them, the EEE only has a SD slot. It means i cant switch them from device to device, if i needed an extra memory card for my camera for instance. It also gives the consumer UNNECESSARY choice when the differences between the products are nothing.
One format makes it easier for the consumers.
You make me think of those people that watch comedy and will laugh their ass off until something is said that is about them, then they're all offended and up in arms about it.
I'm glad you don't mind getting ripped off by Sony. But for others who generally like their stuff but stay away due to the proprietary Asshatery Sony gives us, give us a break. And calm down dude.
take a look at the K850i uses both micro SD and the M2. I think it even uses the same slot, might be wrong but if they can do it in a phone they should be able to do it with everything. Make all the slots dual and phase it out in a few years.
You just don't get it because you use sound like you are a sheep blindly buying only Sony products. The problem lies in it being a proprietary format, while SD is the standard for most consumer products. When you buy a Sony product, they are forcing you to use their format, which in turns limits what you can actually use it on. With SD I know I will be able to take one SD card and it will just work with whatever I use it with, laptop, point and shot camera, SLR camera, media streamer, digital picture frame, smartphone, PMP player, etc...
When companies decide to use and force you to use a propritary format, the consumer looses. Especially when there is already a product out there that is as good, if not better, that is already the standard.
Or you know... buy a SanDisk for half the price of the Sony model.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. I agree with the fact this article is rather 'childish', instead of providing information on technology, they are nit picking the whole way.
I laugh at all this Sony hate, simply because... they are a company that produces hardware. I mean... did Sony rape you while you were sleeping or did you just become a follower because your peers, or internet lackies decided for you?
Let's use PS3 as an example. "I Hate PS3"... because...? You can't afford it? I mean, would good reason would there be to hate technology? Is it the existence that makes you angry? Oh well. Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Sony knows best - NOT!
The NOT was supposed to be a link to this: http://blog.techflaws.org/2008/06/19/sony-cdx-gt414u-car-mp3-cd-player/
My W580 cares, thank you very much...only I don't think the 8 gig will work in it
I'm surprised that anyone actually buys Sony-branded memory sticks - they're more expensive than anyone elses but don't appear to offer any added value. Regarding the original Engadget piece, I'm assuming that Sony only produces these "high grade" versions to try and convince people that they're getting something 'special' for the extra money. But does anyone actually fall for this marketing ploy ?
I've no axe to grind, incidentally - I have (numerous) Sony products plus a bunch of (cheaper Sandisk) memory sticks to go with them, none of which have ever failed me.....
Die Sony and your 15 different incompatible memory stick variants, die!
After a laptop? Check out the Sony VAIO JKH-GFVDBJKEFHU, it's much better than the Sony VAIO CDT-YUTRTRESDU but not as slim as their VAIO GXR-YUR^%ERJHBJKBLKJBHJVJ range.
I know they make a variety of models, but seriously?
Also, duplicates names for different products.
I have a Sony UX50. That's a CLIE PEG UX50... a small computer.
Not the Sony UX50, the new one, the VAIO VGN-UX50. They're completely different products.
But my point is that I love Sony product design, but it's too confusing, and they need to not be so high-and-mighty-we-know best. eg if they'd ditched MiniDisc early on, they'd be where Apple is now. How the #$%^ did Sony, the masters of tiny awesome metal personal music devices (walkmans) loose it all to Apple? Memory stick is the same way, they're loosing sales because people want a device that has the same card slots as their own.
I know their gear is much more prevalent in Japan than elsewhere, and fair enough, but focus guys, please. If they did they could wipe the floor with everyone else in time.
Great gear, but too proprietary at times.
Remember, Sony is from Japan, so don't be surprised to see the "MS PRO-HG Duo HX Alpha Turbo Reloaded v2" series next year.
Personally I'll be holding out for the 'MS PRO-HG Duo HX Alpha Turbo Reloaded v2. 32 GB (Magic Gate) - Metal Gear Solid 4 Special Limited Edition (Gun Metal Gray)'.
Yeah.
"since you're so in love"
"a move that is depressingly"
"not at all surprising"
"supposedly"
"Weirdly"
"for those who care"
(no bias in THIS Sony article)
Sony is terrible for proprietary stuff that offers no extra value, and has no merit. I remember having a media player that only supported ATRAC3 for quite some time until they finally released a firmware to support MP3; after considerable complaining by the consumer, of course.
I was all set to buy a sony digital camera this year but ultimately couldn't do it. Why should I have to buy new memory cards when I already have several sd cards? SD cards are also more readily available. If your out on vacation and use up your card you'll have a far better chance at finding an sd card at a local grocery or convenience store.
Sonyr the Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX seems to be the real thing. I will purchase and check it ou. Or could you just send me one to sample. Thanks
HG - is that a reference to that dude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5aXjXath2Y
Ya thats why the are calling is HG Hooooo!!!!
on a side not im guessing this aint gonna work on my psp
During a trip to France last year I filled up my 2GB Memory stick while out in the mountains. We came to a small tourist town where I foolishly tried to find a shop selling them. Of course I found none but during my search I found SD cards for sale everywhere (including a grocery store).
That was when I decided that after 5 Sony cameras over 10 years. that I had had enough of the Memory Stick. I'm now a very happy Canon customer.
Memory Sticks are a disadvantage to the customer in every single way. The only reason for their continued existince is that Sony is trying to squeeze it's dwindling customer base for more cash.
Aww... Does someone hate business?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotape_format_war
Sony, you got Bluray. Now count your blessings and give up on the stupid Memory Stick format and go with SD.
I suppose all those ADAPTERS ot there for 5 bucks and change don't make that dicussion pointless
I suppose you're missing the point! WHY should I need to buy an adapter? Because Sony can't stick to standards and always has to try their own way milking their customers for more cash giving *no* extra value whatsoever? Thanks but no thanks.
memory stick
memory stick select
magicgate memory stick
magicgate memory stick duo
memory stick duo
memory stick micro m2
memory stick pro duo
memory stick pro high speed
memory stick duo pro high speed
memory stick pro hg duo
memory stick hg pro duo hx
memory stick pro duo mark2
^^ forgot "memory stick pro"
Really, you should add "with Magic Gate" to the name, just to make it a bit longer...
Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX with Magic Gate Technology.
Menory Stick as a whole can go to hell as can Sony for inventing the shit.