>
New Topic
>
Reply<
Esato Forum Index
>
General discussions >
General
> Why do manufacturers limit memory card capacity?
Bookmark topic
I've always wondered this and I've tried to Google it, but can't find an answer. I'm talking about for example the Sony Ericsson C901, that has a memory stick limit of 8 GB. Why would they do that?
I have heard about these limits being what a manufacturer guarantees to work, while larger cards could work as well, but on the other hand I've also heard about some mobile phones becoming very slow when reading larger capacity memory cards than their limit or about those cards not working at all.
I find it especially odd that a 2009 mobile phone like the C901 has a memory stick limit of 8 GB, while a PSP that was released in 2004 has no limit at all (though it did have it, but was removed through firmware). Even while 1-2 GB was quite a lot back then in 2004, PSP's can handle 16 GB Memory Sticks just as well.
So what's the reason? Do companies put it in their firmware to only accept certain sizes? Is it so that they can sell newer phones with larger capacities later? If so, there should have been at least one company that does not add such a limit? Or is it really about the hardware being too slow to handle high capacity memory sticks?
--
Posted: 2009-09-09 12:42:49
Edit :
Quote
So, I guess either nobody cares or nobody knows the answer?
--
Posted: 2009-09-11 11:39:00
Edit :
Quote
Where did you read that it had a 8GB limit? I wasn't aware there were limits.
--
Posted: 2009-09-11 13:56:17
Edit :
Quote
c901 will take more than 8gb.
ive got a 16gb in a k850. works fine.
the limit stated is usually the largest card which is available on the market!
with micro sd's, the phone needs to support sd 'hc' (high capacity) to have cards higher than 2gb. most newer phones do though
--
Posted: 2009-09-11 14:15:48
Edit :
Quote
Thanks for your replies.
Well, I read about it on the official Sony Ericsson Memory Stick page, see here:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/memorystick/
And it's not always the highest available. I believe C903 / C901 were announced at the same time, while C903 can handle (according to the chart) 16 GB and C901 can only handle 8 GB.
But I'm happy to hear that it doesnt seem to be a 'hard' limit, but why do all manufacturers list those maximum capacities then? Why would they do it for all mobiles, but not for PSP for example. It's not just SE, it's also Nokia and Samsung that do this. And mostly it's lower budget mobiles (however new they are and even if there are bigger cards available) that get a lower maximum than higher budget mobiles. Is it just marketing?
--
Posted: 2009-09-11 22:57:30
Edit :
Quote
Its to trick your average user into thinking that if they want more memory they must get a better phone.
--
Posted: 2009-09-12 13:26:04
Edit :
Quote
New Topic
Reply
