Though Sony’s Memory Stick technology hasn’t overwhelmed the Mac market as a digital storage media, it is being used in some products such as the Stylus Photo 875DCS.
The Stylus Photo 875DCS, from Epson is an inkjet with a Memory Stick slot that’s designed to offer an easy-to-use printing solution for Mac users who are using Memory Stick cameras and camcorders. It offers compatibility for the Mac via the printer’s built-in Type II PCMCIA card reader module.
The Memory Stick format could grow in popularity as Sony is cutting prices on the proprietary flash memory format to bring its pricing closer in line with competing standards. The Memory Stick now runs from US$24.95 for an 8MB version to $149.95 for a 128MB. By comparison, a 128MB card in the leading competing format, Compact Flash, which is more widely supported in similar electronic devices, retails online for between $79 to $175.95.
The Reuters news service reported Sony’s decision to cut prices. However, no specifics on the cost reductions have been released.
“The Japanese electronics giant has promoted the Memory Stick as a way to win consumer loyalty for its wide-ranging products,” Reuters reported. “The price cut announced on Wednesday comes after a sharp decline in flash memory prices and narrowed the gap between its offering and those of competitors.”
Memory Sticks can be swapped among other Sony products, including digital cameras, laptop computers and handheld devices and used as a way to share files. There are over 70 Memory Stick licensees worldwide developing for the product. Meanwhile, the market for flash media is also ballooning and is expected to expand to 20 million users worldwide in 2001.
Sony is also slicing prices for its Magic Gate Memory Sticks, which contain an embedded chip that protects digitally secured and copyrighted material, according to Reuters. The high-end 128MB Magic Gate stick will now sell for $169.95.