Does it bother you that N5 doesn't have SD card slot?

[JeffDenver]

I bought the meenova SD reader. It works beautifully.

 

[clevin]

No where did I state it was a "common" problem I said it is a possibility and a downside to having an sd card.

sure, lets put that in prospective.

Anything can happen, doesn't necessarily make it a "downside". It's possible the battery die suddenly, the harddrive got messed up, the stereo goes dead, the projector light bulb shatters. I don't call that a "downside" of owning a battery powered device, or a harddrive, stereo or a projector.

 

[Chex313]

No just glad to have 32GB but I managed with the GN and only 16GB...It was just inconvenient. You can always use USB.

USB-Stick Plugin Installation Guide

 

[snookasnoo]

Not at all. I have no use for SD cards conspired to 32Gb of contiguous memory.

 

[Scott7217]

Eliminating the option is the problem, you can have your preference and be happy, why can't others have their preference and be happy too?.

I agree. If a phone has a memory card slot, people don't have to actually put a card in it. The phone can still run on internal storage. On the other hand, if a phone doesn't have a slot, you can't add one after the fact. That's the problem.

 

[Jonneh]

Add me to the people who mind the no-SD-slot much, much less than the non-replaceable battery... I would love to be able to get at my battery so I could replace it when it stops being effective down the road. What do people with sealed phones do in that case? :-/ This is my first experience using a sealed phone. I am used to bulky 3500mAh extended battery fun times after the first year I have my device.

 

[Aquila]

The reasons for not including micro SD card support have mostly to do with data integrity, security and access speeds relative to a split storage solution versus a single virtual drive. There is an obvious side benefit that it appeals to the philosophy of cloud based sync ubiquity and removing the "device" from your interactions with your content. When the 2012 Nexus 7 arrived without an SD card, Jerry wrote a great writeup about it (the actual reasons) that I think is well worth the read. I also do not believe that Nexus devices keep micro SD card readers out to limit costs. I accept the explination that they're able to provide a better experience for more people by not including it.

At the beginning of this year I found that the reason we only saw 64 GB Android devices was due to the limitations to Flash Memory, which were finally surpassed earlier this year. As soon as costs become non-prohibiting I would love to see 128 or 256GB storage options, and I hope someday soon we also move to SSD or similar solutions, away from Flash. Until there are sufficient storage methods to satisfy those who feel they need removable storage, I am glad there are devices that include support. I won't buy them because they also usually include other things that are in direct opposition to my design philosophies, but I like choices for consumers.

All that being said, I just bought a 16GB phone and I'm barely using half of it. 8GB would not be enough for me, I am coming from a 32GB device, but 16 seems to be okay for now. I'd still feel more comfortable with, and am willing to pay for provided the option exists, with more available internal storage.

 

[Aquila]

Add me to the people who mind the no-SD-slot much, much less than the non-replaceable battery... I would love to be able to get at my battery so I could replace it when it stops being effective down the road. What do people with sealed phones do in that case? :-/ This is my first experience using a sealed phone. I am used to bulky 3500mAh extended battery fun times after the first year I have my device.

They're still replaceable in some devices (some easier than others, for example much easier in a Nexus than in an HTC One), but generally that begins to be an issue around the same time as the typical upgrade cycle anyways. It shouldn't be debilitating until long after most people have moved on. Replacing them isn't quite as easy as popping off the back and swapping one you bought from Amazon, but it can be done for relatively low cost and low risk to the device.

 

[clevin]

I accept the explination that they're able to provide a better experience for more people by not including it.

I do not, like somebody posted above, users who don't like SD card can simply "NOT putting one into the slot". The decision is obviously a way to encourage, or promote google's idea that this should be a "always connected" device, which is rightfully good for Google's bottom line.

I like diversity and options, I don't enjoy one company telling me "this is what you SHOULD ENJOY". If I want that, I would have gone epple.

 

[Aquila]

I do not, like somebody posted above, users who don't like SD card can simply "NOT putting one into the slot". The decision is obviously a way to encourage, or promote google's idea that this should be a "always connected" device, which is rightfully good for Google's bottom line.

I like diversity and options, I don't enjoy one company telling me "this is what you SHOULD ENJOY". If I want that, I would have gone epple.

Okay, let me rephrase and say that their explanation is factually correct to the extent that they do explain, however I also agree there may be much more to it. The advantages that they describe of not having storage split and the engineering advantages of a sealed device are real, they're just not necessarily worth the trade off for all users.

By saying, "I accept it", I am saying that the explanation is plausible and that for me as a user, it does make sense. For you it may not, in which case there are other OEMs.

It's the same way that I accept that Dodge sells a 6 cylinder Challenger. I might not want a V6, and some people will only buy a V8, but they say it's better gas mileage and if all I cared about was gas mileage but for some reason hated hybrids or other extremely efficient vehicles, I might consider at V6. As long a V8, a Charger and non Dodge vehicles are for sale, I don't really have an argument that Dodge is manipulating the market, etc. It may not be perfect for me, but there are other choices.

This is only a problem if Google starts to release only one Android phone per year and doesn't allow anyone else to release Android devices. I'd agree that it's also probably a problem if they ban OEM's from including the functionality on their own. Today, they are not taking any steps to prevent users from buying devices that have SD cards, or curved screens, or removable batteries, or TV antennas or anything else people want to have on devices. They're only choosing to not put those things in one device.

 

[Haalcyon]

TBH, with the Meenova mSD card reader readily available I don't even understand why the conversation still exists. ...except in the event that folks aren't aware of the Meenova, and that may largely be the case. It's small, durable, unobtrusive, performs well. It's a great solution for those that want a phone that doesn't have native a native mSD slot but sometimes want to use an mSD card. Now, Google charging $4 for their Nexus Media Importer is seen by me as a male-reproductive-organ move and one I don't agree with at all, especially when they'll release the bloat known as Chrome for free.

 

[ntice_521]

SD slot is great for using a smartphone as an offline media device. You can store music, books, video, whatever, and have a useful device even with no internet connection.

Of course, you can also use internal memory for that purpose. But you have to decide when you buy the phone how much you need, and then you are stuck with the choice. It's less flexible.

Cheap low-end phones need SD slots more than high-end phones, because they have less internal memory, and because a low end phone is more likely to be used offline.

 

[Melinium]

i don't buy a phone without SDCard slot, i have too many music and ebooks to fit in 32G, played a few time with the N5 of my sister and i'ts a great phone but without SD it's a no go for me.

 

[JeffDenver]

SD slot is great for using a smartphone as an offline media device. You can store music, books, video, whatever, and have a useful device even with no internet connection.

Of course, you can also use internal memory for that purpose. But you have to decide when you buy the phone how much you need, and then you are stuck with the choice. It's less flexible.

Cheap low-end phones need SD slots more than high-end phones, because they have less internal memory, and because a low end phone is more likely to be used offline.

Having owned both low and high end phones, I can tell you they are no different when it comes to connectivity. Not in my experience. My offline needs were exactly the same on both.

If anything it's the other way around. I am much more likely to consume local media on a high end device than a low end device.

 

[JeffDenver]

TBH, with the Meenova mSD card reader readily available I don't even understand why the conversation still exists.

Because as good as it is, embedded SD support is still better. The Meenova module is a bandaid, not a cure.

I now own one and love it. But it is not as good as embedded SD support.

 

[JeffDenver]

Okay, let me rephrase and say that their explanation is factually correct to the extent that they do explain, however I also agree there may be much more to it.

And there is. During one of my previous rants on this subject Jerry popped in and explained some of the not-so-well-known reasons they might not have included it. These include complex licensing issues (apparently microsoft owns some patents associated with accessing SD or something), and I think he said it also affects overall performance or something.

The advantages that they describe of not having storage split and the engineering advantages of a sealed device are real, they're just not necessarily worth the trade off for all users.

IMO if left to the end users I am guessing the vast majority would want it, despite the "disadvantages". I think google's motives have more with their push to use the internet than they do with engineering advantages. It is annoying.

This is only a problem if Google starts to release only one Android phone per year and doesn't allow anyone else to release Android devices.

Well, the reason it is a problem for me is because there are no other vanilla android devices with these specs. If products like the Droid 1 were still the norm, I doubt anyone would be complaining.

I also doubt the Nexus would be selling as well though.

I'd agree that it's also probably a problem if they ban OEM's from including the functionality on their own. Today, they are not taking any steps to prevent users from buying devices that have SD cards, or curved screens, or removable batteries, or TV antennas or anything else people want to have on devices.

Not yet anyway.

 

[Haalcyon]

Because as good as it is, embedded SD support is still better. The Meenova module is a bandaid, not a cure.

I now own one and love it. But it is not as good as embedded SD support.

Sometimes all you can do is treat the symptoms when you can't cure the disease.

OptimuS G Pro

 

[moosc]

SD cards are like floppy disk going the way of dinosaurs

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[Chex313]

Add me to the people who mind the no-SD-slot much, much less than the non-replaceable battery... I would love to be able to get at my battery so I could replace it when it stops being effective down the road. What do people with sealed phones do in that case? :-/ This is my first experience using a sealed phone. I am used to bulky 3500mAh extended battery fun times after the first year I have my device.

You can replace the N5's battery in 5 min. Ifixit gave it an 8/10 for repair ability.

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[Shilohcane]

SD cards are like floppy disk going the way of dinosaurs

Sent from Bad Azz VZW LG G2 Cyan Tapatalk

I agree with that. The N5 has 32GB now and phones in a couple of years will have 128GB. Problem is our photos are getting bigger with more megapixels and things like HDR +. Things like Cloud storage and devices will still be needed like SanDisk WiFi Connect Wireless Media Drive will be remote storage servers for both backup and a place to keep all our old pictures that clutter up our phone's galleries. Our phones have already replaced our GPS, iPods, Camera, radio, DVD player and to some extent laptop.