Get Ready for CompactFlash Memory on Sony Clies

When Sony first announced the NX series, many people were happy to learn that it has a CompactFlash slot. However, their joy quickly faded when they learned that the slot only supports a single CF card, the Sony WL100 Wireless networking Card, and no others, not even CF memory cards.

This is in keeping with Sony's policy of supporting only Memory Sticks on its handhelds. It isn't likely to do anything that supports a rival memory card format.

Users were left hoping that some third-party would develop the necessary drivers. So they waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Soft Pocket Solutions has announced that it is developing a driver that will allow the NX series and the NZ90 to use CompactFlash memory cards. This driver will allow a CF card to essentially act the same as a Memory Stick does.

The company hopes to have a beta ready for testing before the middle of April. No decisions have been made about what the driver will sell for.

Soft Pocket Solutions considered developing drivers to allow the NX series and the NZ90 to use other CompactFlash peripherals but at this point believes there isn't a big enough market for these to justify the development cost.

The Struggle

Many users have been trying since the first announcement of the NX series back in October to get someone, anyone, to develop some drivers for these handhelds.

This effort has been spearheaded by the Sony-oriented site ClieSource which held a contest last year that offered almost $2,000, donated by ClieSource readers, to the person or company that would make a CF memory card driver. Sadly, the contest ended with no one claiming the prize.

Recently, the site has begun a petition drive to urge Sony to develop the drivers itself.

Related Links

• Sony NX70V Review
• Sony NZ90 Review