Expanding Vaio Z2 storage with SDXC and microSD?

Hi,

Has anyone expanded their storage space on the Vaio Z2 by using the following products below?

Amazon.com: Sandisk 32GB 32G (16GB x 2) Class 4 microSD microSDHC Card with Dual MicroSDHC to Memory Stick MS Pro Duo Adapter for Sony PSP and Cybershot Cameras with Everything But Stromboli Micro SD HC Memory card Reader: Computers & Accessories


Amazon.com: Transcend 64 GB SDXC Flash Memory Card TS64GSDXC10E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]: Electronics

If so, are there any steps I have to do before I use it? Like what format should I format the drives to? etc?? Also if anyone has pics of it installed on their Z2, how far does it stick out? Can you shave the ends off?

 

I use an old 32 GB MicroSD card for work related large files that I need to read occasionally. It frees up the internal SSD on my Z1 for other stuff and since I don't need the speed, they can be stored on the quite slow card. Just be aware that even a fast card, class 10, is still >10x slower than the SSD of a Z2.

As such, I don't think it matters much how you format it, speedwise. but make sure the format you choose supports the file sizes you need.

My microSD inserted in an SD adapter sticks out ~3mm from the SD hole, but still doesn't protrude outside the front of the hand rest. As I said, it's a Z1, but from the pics I've seen, I doubt it would be much different on a Z2.

 

I have a 128GB SDXC card in my SD card slot and 2x32GB microSD in that Dual MS PRO DUO ADAPTER in my memory stick slot. I want to get 2x64 GB microSD but I don't know if they will work in that DUO adapter....anyone try that?

Both cards stick like 2mm...not really noticeable IMHO.

 

would you recommend that I take out a xacto knife and shave off 2mm off the cards? so it sits flush with the body of the z2?

 

Too risky IMHO. 2mm shouldn't be a problem anyway.

 

Wouldn't do that! the wall thickness of those housings is typical thinner than that. unless you want to break the structural integrity of the card, don't cut in it.

 

I also wouldn't cut the cards.

 

If you experimented on a cheap 4GB card and it worked, would that mean the same cut would be ok on the same brand's larger capacity card?

 

The capacity of those cards is doubled whenever the chips inside can be made half the size. Theoretically the footprint of all chips in combined should be the same, but some newer lower capacity cards are filled with 'air' in stead of chips, since the capacity can be achieved with newer and thus smaller chips.
In other words: if that 4GB card was state of the art when you bought it, the space inside is probably completely filled. If it is a newer 4 GB card, it can be filled only half or for a quarter so to say. cutting in a new low capacity card can give you the idea that the new card has lots of physical space left, while it really doesn't have to be for a high capacity card

 

ok i just received the card and inserted it in and reformatted it to NTFS.

Now whenver I try to set the location of my Itunes to the external card and close iTunes it would jsut reset the path. How would I properly have my Itunes mp3s on the card???

 

Thanks for the explanation; makes perfect sense. Hard to imagine they couldn't have spared a few extra mm inside the Z2 so the cards wouldn't stick out. Kinda like: hard to imagine they couldn't have made the audio any better.

 

If you move it even further inside you will undoubtly get complaints about people unable to get the card out

 

Did you go with the 2x MicroSD-to-MemoryStick approach of just one SDXC?

 

i went with one SDXC.

 

So, you're saying I'm a complainer, never satisfied, always find something to criticize, etc? Did my wife tell you to say that?