Panasonic says 1 TB SD cards could hit this year

Panasonic isn’t wasting any time in cramming as much memory as possible into the smallest space possible. Are you ready for SD cards that can hold 2 TBs of data?

Back in June of 2009 we told you that the SD Association had approved the standards for the SDXC format.  While this new standard would continue to use the familiar physical SD card, the new technology would enable faster data transfer speeds, and it also would allow the cards to hold up to 2 TBs of data, though it may take some time to reach that new storage capacity.

Well, it seems that time will be the early in 2011 according to Panasonic.  Engadget is reporting that Panasonic is showing a road map for the SDXC format at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that says the 1 TB SDXC cards will be released by the end of this year, and the 2 TB cards will come out some time in 2011, but it appears to be early on in the year.  Now, before you get too excited, the pricing may send you into shell shock.

The new SDXC Memory Cards, the RP-SDW64GE1K (64 GB) and RP-SDW48GE1K (48 GB) are Panasonic’s largest-sized GOLD cards with Class 10 speed specification. Featuring new advanced Super Intelligent Controller helps to improve the reliability of the card and extend its lifetime. The new 64 GB and 48 GB SDXC Memory Cards will be globally introduced in February 2010 with suggested retail prices of $599.95 and $449.95, respectively.

Yes … those are the prices for just 64 GBs and 48 GBs, so you can imagine what a 1 TB will set you back.  Of course prices will drop with time, but at first these cards are going to knock you for a loop.

Also, do remember that if your memory card slot is marked as being SD or SDHC, the SDXC cards won’t work in them.  SDXC slots will be able to read the older cards, but not vice versa.

So start saving up those pennies folks, these won’t be cheap for a while yet.

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