CompactFlash is the world's smallest removable mass storage device. First introduced in
1994 by SanDisk Corporation, CFTM cards weigh a half-ounce and are the size of a
matchbook. CompactFlash cards are designed with flash technology, a non-volatile storage
solution. Like Smat Media cards, they don't need a battery to retain data indefinitely. A
CompactFlash card is different from a SmartMedia card in two important ways --
CompactFlash cards are thicker and utilise a controller chip.
At 43mm (1.7") x 36mm (1.4") x 3.3mm (0.13"), the device's thickness is less than one-half of
a current PCMCIA Type II card. It is actually one-fourth the volume of a PCMCIA card.
Compared to a 68-pin PCMCIA card, a CF card has 50 pins but still conforms to ATA specs. It
can be easily slipped into a passive 68-pin Type II adapter card that fully meets PCMCIA
electrical and mechanical interface specifications.
CF is the ideal storage solution for portable systems that require rugged, high capacity,
removable storage. CompactFlash is available in from 32MB to 256MB capacities. If a higher
capacity CompactFlash is needed, Type II cards are available. CF Type II is the same as CF
with only the thickness increased to 5mm.
|
