PNY introduces StorEDGE flash memory expansion modules for the Apple Macbook

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pny-storedge

The PNY StorEDGE is a flash memory card that fits in the SDXC slot of the 13-inch MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Pro with Retina display and provides extra storage without the extra weight or bulk of a traditional USB hard drive or even USB thumb drive. Unlike other solutions that you plug in, use and then unplug, the StoreEDGE is designed to remain in the slot. Just slide it in and forget about it.

“This convenient new product produces a hassle-free option for consumers to easily upgrade the amount of storage available to their MacBook,” said Myra Hines, senior marketing manager at PNY. “Once plugged in, StorEdge appears as an additional drive on your computer; allowing for easy access, convenient drag and drop, and searchable content through finder. With no installation required, users have the added benefit of not having to worry about unplugging or disconnecting, as they would with other storage devices. StorEdge is ideal for MacBook users seeking more storage while keeping their notebook – and their priceless information – ultraportable.”

The small size and convenience comes at a premium price though. The PNY StorEdge is $99.99 for 64GB and $199.99 for 128GB. They are available now from retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, as well as PNY.com

19 thoughts on “PNY introduces StorEDGE flash memory expansion modules for the Apple Macbook”




  1. Gadgeteer Comment Policy - Please read before commenting
    1. @Mikey the PNY cards are smaller than an SD card, so it won’t stick out as far when it’s inserted. Other than that, I’m not really sure of the difference between SD and SDXC. There’s probably a speed difference too…

  2. @Julie, not trying to be a troll or anything but if Apple made the SD slot right, as in normal size card would fit flush, there would be no need for such a product. I have a VERY hard time even thinking of something like this since it would be unable to be used in anything else.

  3. Adding an additional 128 GB of storage for 200 dollars seems reasonable to me. That is a significant upgrade in hard drive space.

    1. @Aryeh I don’t think so. I could be wrong, but the SDXC allows for larger capacities than regular SD cards which only go up to 128GB. The SDXC can go up to 2TB.

      Here is some info I copied from Sandisk’s site:

      SD capacities range from 128MB to 2GB
      Default Format: FAT16

      SD cards will work in all host devices that support SD, SDHC, or SDXC

      SDHC – SD High Capacity (SDHC™) card is an SD™ memory card based on the SDA 2.0 specification.

      SDHC capacities range from 4GB to 32GB

      Default Format: FAT32

      Because SDHC works differently than standard SD cards, this new format is NOT backwards compatible with host devices that only take SD (128MB – 2GB) cards. Most readers and host devices built after 2008 should be SDHC compatible.

      To ensure compatibility, look for the SDHC logo on cards and host devices (cameras, camcorders, etc.)

      SDXC – SD Extended Capacity (SDXC™) card is an SD™ memory card based on the SDA 3.0 specification.

      SDXC capacities range from 64GB to 2TB

      Default Format: exFAT

      Because SDXC uses a different file system called exFAT and it works differently than standard SD cards, this new format is NOT backwards compatible with host devices that only take SD (128MB to 2GB). Most host devices built after 2010 should be SDXC compatible. To ensure compatibility, look for the SDXC logo on cards and host devices (cameras, camcorders, etc.). NOTE: Internal card readers on laptops from 2008 and prior may NOT support SDXC cards. SDXC cards will work in SDHC compatible readers (not SD readers) if the computer OS supports exFAT. For more information on exFat see: Operating Systems that support the exFAT File System.

  4. Julie: the RS-MMC was just a half-sized MMC card. Aryeh is wondering if Apple deliberately made a format incompatible with the standard in order to charge a premium to be deemed compatible by using an SD Card slot only half the depth required to hold the card (thus necessitating the use of half-sized SD cards like this), or if Apple was… placing design over function by making the slot only half the required depth. Surely it’s not due to a measurement error.

    1. @Haesslich I’m not familiar with RS-MMC cards, but my 2.5yr old Macbook Air has an SD slot (not sure if it’s SDXC though) and normal sized SD cards stick out almost .5 inches. I think that was just the way they designed it so that the cards are easier to remove because the slot isn’t spring loaded. These PNY cards were created to be used as a permanent card / pseudo hard drive that won’t be removed… so it’s shorter and fits almost flush with the slot. That and the fact that they come in higher capacities – 128GB are the only benefits over other SDXC cards.

  5. If apple made the slot deeper, nobody would be able to get their SD cards out!..

    I’ve used one of the nifty-fifty kickstarter adaptors for the last six months with a 32GB SDHC card in it for my itunes store and a local backup of my home folder. Sits flush on the rMBP nicely. There are several knock-offs with similar form factor and a LOT cheaper than these puppies

    1. @tivoboy can you share some links? I might want to buy one to use as a backup drive instead of the USB hard drive that I have hanging off my Time Capsule router which has an annoying habit of going idle.

    1. Ah ok, it’s just a microSD card adapter. Pretty “nifty” though. But, microSD cards currently have a max capacity of 64GB. I don’t think there are 128GB cards yet… Anyone know? I’m not seeing any on Amazon.

  6. I haven’t found any 128GB microSD cards yet. I’ve been looking for one so I could double the storage in my daughter’s 11″ MacBook Air. Because the 11″ models don’t have a built-in SD card reader, I put a 64GB microSD into an ELAGO Nano card reader and keep it in one of the USB ports on her MBA. It looks like it sticks out further than this PNY adapter, but it’s still small enough that the Air will fit into a sleeve case with the ELAGO still in the port.

  7. I am always puzzled about this type of comment:

    “Company X make their hardware blah so that they can charge a premium because blah is different from normal blah.”

    That comment doesn’t make sense if company X doesn’t sell any parts that benefit them from blah. There is nothing in Apple’s store that cater to shorter memory card slot.

  8. the shallow SD card slot is perfectly normal, it’s used on card readers and laptops without a spring loaded slot, to allow some of the card to stick out and make it easier to remove. marketing an up-priced shortened card to sit flush in one of these slots seems low though, a cheap cash-in to get more money by associating with a(n alleged) high end product.

    unless these are 50MB/s speed or better cards, fast flash can be expensive, or so I’ve been led to believe..

  9. @Aaron Hebein I think that’s what we call free enterprise.

    I have stumbled across discussions in which people spent their time shaving down standard cards to fit flush with their Mac laptop, so there is a market for it.

    From a manufacturer’s perspective, it does cost a bit more to manufacture, package, display a product that is different from the normal products you are making, and if there is a smaller market, there is more overhead and less profit, so it’s justifiable to charge more.

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