SDHC Memory Guide

The SDHC card is a higher capacity format of the original Secure Digital card. They have a minimum capacity of 4 GB and a max capacity of 32 GB. SDHC cards provide high-capacity storage for many portable devices including cameras, camcorders, PDAs, and some MP3 players. SDHC refers specifically to the SD 2.0 format. If a device is designed within the SD 1.0 and 1.1 formats it will not be compatible with these cards so be sure that a device is SDHC, or SD 2.0 compatible before purchasing an SDHC card. Most newer devices are SDHC compatible.

SDHC cards are about the size of a postage stamp - 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm, the same size a regular Secure Digital card. The high capacity extension to the Secure Digital card format was developed because of the capacity limitations of the original Secure Digital card. Although the largest one currently available is 32 GB, it has a theoretical maximum capacity of 2048 GB (2 TB), so we are sure to see larger capacities in the future as the demand grows. "Secure Digital" is named because of it's ability to copyright-protect content. Their copyright protection system is compatible with the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI).

Many devices use SDHC cards, including digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs, Digital audio players, several game consoles including Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3, GPS systems, digital picture frames, Panasonic plasma TVs have a built-in SD card reader to display images, and PCs (many have built in slots). If your PC does not have a built in slot, a USB adapter can be purchased that easily allows the card to be compatible with most PCs. These are about the size of a small key-chain, so they are easily portable along with the card.