The memory cards vary from computer to computer. If you are going to purchase this as a gift, and you want to get them an extra card, buy the kind they use for their camera. It is always easier to only have to deal with one type. Most people like you described have the capability to dock the card into their laptop or and external accessory that you can copy/paste/delete pictures on to the card as if you were browsing your documents. The card would actually show up in your Windows Explorer or My Computer as a drive letter. Hope this makes sense.