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What is Compact Flash Memory?Flash memory is just a rewritable memory chip. Computers have long used RAM and ROM memory chips for storing and processing data. Your ROM memory is built in and contains saved information that remains even when the computer is turned off. The RAM memory holds your programs and other data you are currently using for lightning quick access instead of reading and writing from a hard drive. Flash memory has become a popular storage medium for digital cameras, mp3 players, and much more. Unlike a hard drive which is fragile, has lots of moving parts, and uses a lot of energy, flash memory has no moving parts to break if dropped and uses minimal energy (30 times less than a hard drive). And when you turn off the power, it saves all the information stored in it, and can be easily erased and used over and over. And flash memory is silent - no buzzing, no vibrating, no hiccuping!
Flash memory has the advantage of being very small - if you've seen the iPod Nano, you are looking at up to 4GB of flash memory storage in there - pretty small. Flash memory however is more expensive on a per unit basis than micro hard drives (you might be able to get 30 or 40 GB of hard disk storage for the same cost of 2GB of flash memory storage). There are also a number of interesting mobile storage solutions based on flash memory. You can now plug a flash memory stick about the size of your thumb (called a thumb drive or pen drive or flash drive) into your USB port on your computer and dump 1 or 2 GB of data onto it, the equivalent of 3 CDS full of data. And you can carry it on your keychain. This is a great way for carrying presentation files between home and office, taking digital pictures to your Mom's house, or letting a friend check out 10 or 20 of your favorite MP3 songs.
Flash Memory MakersA number of companies make flash memory chips and storage devices. Some, like Samsung, sell largely to OEMs (companies that incorporate the memory chips into their own products, which they then sell to consumers). Others focus on the consumer market with memory cards for plugging into digital cameras, flash memory thumb drives for transporting data easily, and flash memory MP3 players.
Wireless cell phones also use flash memory and will continue to store more information as MP3 and ringtones continue to proliferate into the world of digital telephony. Intel is a major manufacturer of flash memory chips for this industry. As capacities continue to increase and production volumes skyrocket, prices will continue to fall on flash memory and flash memory based products. Prices fell over 50% during the last year. Samsung has announced plans to release 16GB flash products by next year. It's not hard to imagine yourself a few years out with a terabyte of flash memory in your handheld computer, with enough space for all the songs you've ever heard and a hundred movies to go with it!
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