Memory sticks are the size of a stick of chewing gum. They are compatible with any device that is enabled for memory stick media and can also be used with an adapter. Memory sticks come in various storage capacities such as 4 MB, 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB. Each one of those sizes can hold a different amount of data to each. The data that memory sticks can hold are such things as text, graphics, music, and video which will allow you a very quick and convenient way of transferring that data that you have saved on the memory stick to your computer or other electronic device.

Many professional photographers use memory sticks for their digital cameras to save their images and then easily transfer them to their computer to edit and print out. Memory sticks are even making their way into the average household for everyday electronic items such as PDA's, MP3 players, digital cameras, digital video cameras, and they are also starting to take the place of the three and a half floppy disc when it comes to saving documents that may need to also be transferred to another computer.

Memory sticks are highly reliable due to them having a 10 pin connector and a prevention switch to prevent them from being accidentally erased or recorded over. The format and design of the memory stick is so well created that it can be expanded into the future and can adapt to newer devices without having to be replaced with a different memory stick in order to fit lets say a new PDA or MP3 player you may purchase. By doing this it makes it much easier on the consumer and they may be more willing to purchase something that they would not have to upgrade in the future.

The basic dimensions of memory sticks are as follows. They are 21.5 mm in width, 50 mm in length, and 2.8 mm in depth. Their memory type is flash memory. The connector type is 10 pin and the interface is serial. The data transfer rate is 20 Mhz maximum and the access write speed is 1.5MB per second. The access read speed is 2.45 MB per second and the operating voltage of the memory stick is 2.7 - 3.6 volts. The power consumption is on average about 45ma.