There is also an implied advantage to the Memory Stick if your house is brimming with other Sony appliances, but how such interchangeability might be useful is still subject to speculation. But the recent announcement of a partnering agreement with Lexar Media, whereby Lexar will manufacture accelerated Memory Sticks, greatly enhances the viability of the fledgling format. Apparently learning from the failure of its closely held BetaMax video standard, Sony has already licensed nearly 50 companies to employ Memory Stick technology. New product announcements are said to be imminent. Just in case you were wondering, there are some also-rans out there, as well.
Solid state is here to stay.
Handy when the floppy was still the ubiquitous storage media standard, these cameras, while still available, are already anachronisms doomed by the floppy's limited storage capacity and the demise of less-stable rotating media. A 512-MB PC Card is soon to be available. Still, the consumer and prosumer markets can safely ignore this standard. Even now CF has begun making inroads into high-end professional cameras. The handwriting is on the wall.