SD card added all your thoughts.

[DonB]

Just curious, how most of you that have a 16 GB PE device with an SD card, how are you all using your SD card, as internal storage, or portable, and why either or. Just curious on all your thoughts.

I originally had a 8 GB card and was using it as portable, but decided to add a 64GB card and decided to make it internal, not sure what the difference will be until I actually test it for a while, but I can tell you it still shows the SD card as separate and not a whole to internal. My guess also if I decided to removed the SD card to move files to a PC, it will halt my Phone, since it moves some files for apps on it, and until I put the SD card back it, those apps won't work. I was hoping it would of made the total internal memory the full amount, but I guess not.

Anyways your thoughts.

 

[Jfalls63]

I don't try out that many applications and tend to only keep the one's I use a lot. That being said I kept my SD as external storage. Photos and documents saved to SD as well as backed up to Dropbox. Still have over 6 gigs of internal left with the 30+ user apps installed.

 

[svim]

I use my microSD card only as supplemental storage so I don't remove it. Whenever I transfer files I rely on the Airdroid app which allows me to connect to any computer over WiFi.
But you're not alone as far as those who use microSD cards as a way to move files around. The only thing I'd suggest is that whenever you do remove your card, always unmount it first. That applies to your phone and to whatever computer you're using. If you don't unmount it and the operating system is still doing anything, whether it's something you're aware of (i.e. copying a file) or a background process you're not aware of, that could affect the card's file system and corrupt it. It only takes a few seconds to unmount it each time but that could save you from losing important files because the card becomes unreadable.

 

[p zubal]

added a micro SD but when I go into my PC it is empty.
I would like to get my stuff on the PC and do a factory reset.
Any help?

 

[svim]

If your computer is successfully mounting that microSD card and you don't see any files at all, using whatever file manager your phone came with (different manufacturers use different file managers) confirm that there actually are files on that card.

 

[The_Chief]

I'm using it for external storage ONLY. Integrating it with internal storage, to me, is dangerous because if the phone breaks, all my files are gone. With a dedicated external card, I can remove it and rock on with a new phone.

 

[scubaman]

If you format it as internal, it uses a format not natively supported by windows, ext4. If you format it portable, you can use the native android method to move apps to SD card, or an app like link2sd. I was also surprised to find it was NOT a seamless extension of the internal storage - you still have to explicitly move apps. Also, the access to an app of course is not any faster formatted as internal. I do not see a huge advantage at this point. Perhaps some of the system folders like Music, DCIM appear only once and by default on the SD card?

 

[Thom]

I see it as a capability for some devices with small amounts of space on an internal SD card. I don't see much of an advantage for a device with 32GB or 64GB.

... Thom

 

[bcrichster]

I see it as a capability for some devices with small amounts of space on an internal SD card. I don't see much of an advantage for a device with 32GB or 64GB.

... Thom

What'cha gonna do when the phone crashes? Lose your data. With an SD, you can just remove and insert into another device and retrieve what ya like..

 

[psionandy]

What'cha gonna do when the phone crashes? Lose your data. With an SD, you can just remove and insert into another device and retrieve what ya like..

Backup Backup Backup (on a regular basis before it crashes....) SD cards can go wonky as well... so if you only have your information in 1 place then you're messed up however you've got it stored.

 

[bcrichster]

I have backups for sure, but a removable card/SD is priceless when a device takes a crap