27th October 2005, 3:56 PM
Well, the main reason is the backlighting really. But, you really don't seem all that interested in that feature. I'm just saying if you DID suddenly want backlighting, your holding back until now would have had been paying off.
The PS1 memory cards don't use batteries. I believe they were the first to go that route. In fact, I just opened up a PS1 memory card to confirm it, and there's not a battery to be seen. All firmware. These should last as long as the chip itself lasts, and disintegration in a cool dry place tends to take a long time. It should last longer than my body will hold out, and really that's all I need. I can't vouch for the unofficial cards. The Pocket Station (yes, I actually have one of those relics) uses a battery, but not for saved data. It's for the internal clock and running the on-the-go 16x16 resolution games some PS1 games could save onto them. The actual saved data, aside from the clock, is stored in solid state.
As for N64 memory cards, I actually had always just assumed they used flash because it just seemed a logical conclusion at the time. I decided to check to make sure, and lo and behold, my official N64 memory card DOES in fact use a battery, same as anything else... Yes, as you said with the N64 most of the good games used the cart, but Mystical Ninja uses this card :D.
I wonder if the tech was ever upgraded? This is a rather old card. I am not willing to actually spend money at the Nintendo store on a new, more permanent solution until I know whether or not the tech changed.
Oh and, the Sega Saturn actually had internal saved space, just like the Sega CD. Also just like the Sega CD, it uses a watch battery. Unlike ANY other system I have seen before or since, there is a removable compartment right on the back of the system that gives you direct access to easily replace this battery. I recently bought a used Saturn you see, and replacing the battery was the first thing I had to do. I do not have one of those game cartridge sized memory cards the Saturn uses, so I can't tell you if that one used solid state or not. What I can say is the Dreamcast memory units are solid state, and just like the Pocket Station, the VMUs use a battery but only for the internal clock and the on the go mini-games. The Dreamcast itself has no internal memory except for the internal clock, which appears to run on a battery, which I might add died a long time ago, but I actually would have to take apart the Dreamcast to confirm this and replace the battery if that is the case, and honestly, the internal clock just isn't important enough for me to spend the time. If I ever did go about it, I would be mainly motivated by the need to "explore" the system's innards. It's why I eventually take apart everything I own, excepting things like capacitors where personal safety tends to be paramount.
Unfortunatly, my tri-wing screw driver I got some time ago for the OTHER kind of special security screw Nintendo uses has been damaged from overuse... In other words, I can't open my Gamecube memory cards. However, I do believe Nintendo themselves stated the memory was solid state and didn't use batteries. One of my PS2 memory cards is transparent. I didn't have to open it at all. No, PS2 cards are solid state, no battery. The XBox memory cards are screwed a little too tightly. Until I get a small screwdriver with a better grip, I don't want to risk damaging either the driver I already have or the screws.
So there's what I was able to pick up just now.
The PS1 memory cards don't use batteries. I believe they were the first to go that route. In fact, I just opened up a PS1 memory card to confirm it, and there's not a battery to be seen. All firmware. These should last as long as the chip itself lasts, and disintegration in a cool dry place tends to take a long time. It should last longer than my body will hold out, and really that's all I need. I can't vouch for the unofficial cards. The Pocket Station (yes, I actually have one of those relics) uses a battery, but not for saved data. It's for the internal clock and running the on-the-go 16x16 resolution games some PS1 games could save onto them. The actual saved data, aside from the clock, is stored in solid state.
As for N64 memory cards, I actually had always just assumed they used flash because it just seemed a logical conclusion at the time. I decided to check to make sure, and lo and behold, my official N64 memory card DOES in fact use a battery, same as anything else... Yes, as you said with the N64 most of the good games used the cart, but Mystical Ninja uses this card :D.
I wonder if the tech was ever upgraded? This is a rather old card. I am not willing to actually spend money at the Nintendo store on a new, more permanent solution until I know whether or not the tech changed.
Oh and, the Sega Saturn actually had internal saved space, just like the Sega CD. Also just like the Sega CD, it uses a watch battery. Unlike ANY other system I have seen before or since, there is a removable compartment right on the back of the system that gives you direct access to easily replace this battery. I recently bought a used Saturn you see, and replacing the battery was the first thing I had to do. I do not have one of those game cartridge sized memory cards the Saturn uses, so I can't tell you if that one used solid state or not. What I can say is the Dreamcast memory units are solid state, and just like the Pocket Station, the VMUs use a battery but only for the internal clock and the on the go mini-games. The Dreamcast itself has no internal memory except for the internal clock, which appears to run on a battery, which I might add died a long time ago, but I actually would have to take apart the Dreamcast to confirm this and replace the battery if that is the case, and honestly, the internal clock just isn't important enough for me to spend the time. If I ever did go about it, I would be mainly motivated by the need to "explore" the system's innards. It's why I eventually take apart everything I own, excepting things like capacitors where personal safety tends to be paramount.
Unfortunatly, my tri-wing screw driver I got some time ago for the OTHER kind of special security screw Nintendo uses has been damaged from overuse... In other words, I can't open my Gamecube memory cards. However, I do believe Nintendo themselves stated the memory was solid state and didn't use batteries. One of my PS2 memory cards is transparent. I didn't have to open it at all. No, PS2 cards are solid state, no battery. The XBox memory cards are screwed a little too tightly. Until I get a small screwdriver with a better grip, I don't want to risk damaging either the driver I already have or the screws.
So there's what I was able to pick up just now.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)