When I saw that 3DGuy had different results, I decided to retry my testing.  

I used the same USB 2.0 memory card reader with a different PC.  for this 
second test, a Dell notebook 1.4GHz, Windoze XP Pro; versus a 
Dell desktop 1.3GHz, Windoze ME in the earlier tests.  

I chose to use the same 30 files as the source because that would be 1 second 
worth of video at 30 frames per second (30 fps). 

These are the (new) results ...

Lexar 80x 1 GBy CF Platinum II ... 18 seconds

Lexar 12x 256MBy CF ... 31 seconds

SanDisk 256MBy CF ... 48 seconds

Transcend 2GBy SD ... 36 seconds (the original test was on this device: 2GBy not 1GBy)

As you can see, the flash memory I own still isn't anywhere near fast enough 
to record video at 30fps.  

For that matter, I am unable to explain (not to mention somewhat disturbed by) 
the inconsistent results.  

Whenever I wrote computer programs (which is just about all that I ever did in my 
entire working career), they always did exactly what I and the end user intended.  
My, my how the world has changed.  BTW, the programs I wrote ranged among 
business applications, device drivers, compilers, investment banking transactions 
in the secondary mortgage market (CMOs), ... and everything inbetween.  

-- 
Martin

p.s. I think I'll take a liedown and contemplate my ... ... LOL