32GB MicroSDHC/TransFlash TF Memory Card???

[jebo_4jc]

ShenLun's post (and this entire thread) is about micro SDHC

 

[EarlyMon]

<rubs eyes> OK - a case of seeing what I wanted to rather than what was written.

I recalled 32's going for some $90, so I was surprised when I saw that last night and then again when I looked it up and re-posted it.

In my mind, that title _totally_ said *micro*.

Sorry 'bout the confusion - you're right.

Anyway - I blame Firefox because I never get things wrong.

 

[jebo_4jc]

No worries, we've all been there.

that being said, the cheapest Class 4 Sandisk I saw on Amazon was $90, but Class 2 got as low as $70 IIRC.

The class numbers mainly pertain to write speed, as I recall, so I think my plan is to pick up a brand-name Class 2 chip as soon as it nears $50 or $60. Or, if the stock card in my Evo craps out (I think it might be on the verge).

 

[EarlyMon]

Cheapest I've seen since our chat - Amazon.com: SanDisk 32GB microSDHC Memory Card (Bulk Package): Electronics

 

[JunBringer]

Man I really need them to starting making 64GB and higher MicroSD cards. I have too much music and I really wanna store it on my Evo.

 

[EarlyMon]

I think those will be microSDXC - but I know zilch about form factor or if we even have addressing circuitry for those.

 

[TVCCS]

Latest legit deals on 32GB Micro SDHC...I see people got scammed on eBay buying fake flash with fudged controllers...it's been an eBay issue for years now. Watch out for Kingston and Transcend in particular in what looks like official packaging, but it doesn't match U.S. packaging...often fake.

Dane-Elec 32 GB Micro SDHC Memory Card - Class 2 DA-2IN1-32G-R in Secure Digital Memory Cards at JR.com - $65 shipped

Amazon.com: SanDisk 32GB MicroSDHC Card (SDSDQ-032G-A11M, US Retail Package): Electronics - $69 shipped Class 2

 

[John Jason]

I just picked up a shiny new Atrix 4G this afternoon and have been playing with it. I have a lot of music to put on it so I need a 32GB microSD card. I read here about all the fake stuff on eBay. The following are from Buy.com, and look legit.

Buy.com - Transcend 32 GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC)
Buy.com - Dane-Elec 32 GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC)

Has anyone tried either of these? Does anyone know of a reputable brand that is cheaper?

 

[John Jason]

Buy.com - Transcend 32 GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC)
Buy.com - Dane-Elec 32 GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC)
Has anyone tried either of these? Does anyone know of a reputable brand that is cheaper?

I bought the Transcend, although I bought it from Amazon instead of Buy.com. It is a few bucks more than the Dane-Elec, but it comes with an adapter to regular SDHC, so I can plug it into my laptop.

I had reservations because I just returned a defective Transcend card. But from the reviews I think the defective card was an anomaly. Besides, if it turns out defective it is east to return to Amazon.

Still trying to figure out my Atrix 4G.

 

[jebo_4jc]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[TVCCS]

I bought the Transcend, although I bought it from Amazon instead of Buy.com. It is a few bucks more than the Dane-Elec, but it comes with an adapter to regular SDHC, so I can plug it into my laptop.

As an FYI...the Dane Elec that Buy.com was selling is actually through J&R...and although the pic doesn't show it, the Dane Elec comes with an SD adapter as well.

 

[John Jason]

Let us know how it goes.

OK, this is a long story, but maybe it will help others here and it might even help me.

I have a Thinkpad laptop with a card reader. The laptop has Fedora Linux 14, x86_64.

About the middle of February, in anticipation of getting an Atrix 4G, I ordered a 32 GB Transcend SDHC card, not realizing that it was the regular size, not the microSD size. It arrived on the same day that I got my Atrix 4G, so I quickly realized my error. Nevertheless, I thought I might just keep it and use it with the laptop. Unfortunately, no matter what I tried, it mounted read-only. No utility could write to it, not even as root. Eventually I tried it in a couple of Windows computers owned by friends. One computer couldn't see it at all and the other reported it as defective. So I sent it back to Amazon (still waiting for the refund).

Reading this thread I decided to buy another 32 GB Transcend, but the correct form factor this time. I bought it from Amazon. It arrived today, including an adapter to use it with the laptop.

I tried mounting it in the laptop first (using the adapter), where I got exactly the same problem as with the first Transcend SDHC card. It automounted fine, but read-only. Nothing can write to it, format it, or touch it, whether as root or otherwise. gParted reported it as formatted vfat, the same as the first Transcend card. Since it is vfat it can't be a permissions issue.

Then I put it in the phone. When I inserted it the phone emitted a ringy tone, and I could open a browser to see the device. However, being unfamiliar with Android, I was unable to figure out how to copy files to it. I tried to connect to the phone with the laptop via Bluetooth, but Bluetooth could not send any files to the phone. It was also unable to browse the phone.

Finally, I connected the phone and the laptop with the USB cable. This time the phone appeared on the laptop as a storage device and I was able to see the microSD device with a file browser on the laptop. However, I was unable to copy files to it from the laptop. The error messages were that the device did not exist, even though the Fedora file browser saw it and opened a file browser window.

Then I gave up on seeing the device with the computer and decided just to concentrate on making sure it was read-write on the phone. But when I went back to the phone I was unable to open a browser window to see the device any more. I even powered down the phone and restarted it, but the device no longer mounts at all. I still get a ringy sound when I insert or remove the card, though.

Is the problem that yours truly is an idiot with Android? Quite possibly. Is the problem that the card is defective? Also very possible.

Should I have bought the Dane Electric card or the Sandisk card mentioned above? Well, I have never heard of Dane Electric, but I have definitely heard of Sandisk and the company leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A couple years ago I bought a Sandisk USB flash drive and discovered that they had put a rootkit on it so that it would always pop up a file browser when inserted. The file browser has Sandisk plastered all over it with lots of hype about how lucky you are that you bought a Sandisk device. You cannot remove the file browser even by reformatting the drive. I don't know if other Sandisk products still have their rootkit file browser on it, but any company that thinks their desire to plaster you with their advertising is more important than your need to use the device is not a company that I want to do business with.

So before I send the second Transcend card back to Amazon, does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Note that informing me that I am an idiot will not help, as that is pretty understood already. What might help are suggestions for things to try to see if I am just doing the wrong things to get the card mounted, on either the Atrix 4G or the laptop.

It would also be helpful if anyone here bought the Dane Electric card and has it working (or not). Or any other 32GB microSD card.

And thanks for reading this long story of my travails.

 

[John Jason]

I just discovered that the Transcend microSD card works in the phone. At first it did not, but after reinserting it several times I was able to see it from my Fedora laptop via the USB cable. I copied 32 GB of mp3s to it, and it continues to work.

Mounting it directly in the laptop with the included adapter mounts it, but always read-only. I still have no solution for that. But since it works in the phone I will not return it. I just wanted to post that it does sort of work, although you may experience difficulty getting it properly seated or recognized.

 

[OldeSkool1]

Android newbie here. I almost fell for the eBay 32gd micro sd scam. The Kingston card was priced at a "buy now" price of $38.69 which I thought was too good to be true so I did some research and became discouraged with the stories of eBay scams concerning this particular item. Thanks.

 

[asia121]

ok

 

[VegasTouch]

Fry's in their ad yesterday had a class 10 32GB Micro for $69

 

[shywoman4599]

Exact same thing happened to me. Card won't work, found out company was pulled on ebay......now trying to get a refund on my credit card !!! Always excitement.

 

[xiaoneitie]

I have been seeing a few post on the dual 16 gig card or something. Not sure what it is called. Wondering if someone can point a link to one of these 32gb that is being called 16gb x 2. Thanks. Sorry to cut in on this thread. Brian

 

[CenturionB]

please tell me where you can get that. I'll probably buy one right now.

anywhere, just use "buy sd class 4 *your city*" in google-find

 

[Slug]

just use "buy sd class 4 *your city*" in google-find

...is the wrong answer, but thanks for playing.

Never buy memory cards sight-unseen unless you are 100% confident in the seller.
Whenever possible, buy from a real-life store that you can return to if the card is defective.
Always verify the card with SD Insight on receipt.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Agreed, too many fakes out there even from major sites. It happens on Amazon usually with 3rd-party sellers, and of course Ebay is always a crapshoot.
Fortunately the person who he was responding to hasn't been on the site for 5 years.