Pros: Convenient, speedy data transfers. Supports both CompactFlash and SmartMedia
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Simple, speedy tool for getting data off of your digital camera or onto an MP3 player. Supports both Compact Flash and SmartMedia. Nice features, nice value.
howardh's Full Review: Microtech USB CameraMate Card Reader (USB-CFMS)
I have an older digital camera that supports only serial connections with my PC. This is a drag for a number of reasons:
* Serial transfer takes a LONG time.
* The camera has to be on during the transfer and the batteries get drained.
* Can't use the camera while you're transferring files.
The USB CameraMate addresses all of these issues and more. To get the pictures off of your camera, simply remove the memory card from the camera and use the CameraMate to copy the pictures to your computer.
Install and Setup
The CameraMate is a USB device, slightly larger than a deck of cards. It has an iMac-like purple and translucent smoked-plastic look. Looks a little flamboyant next to my generic-beige PC, but what the heck, I can live a little! It has a USB cable permanently attached. To install, simply plug into a free USB port on your computer. Windows users need Win98 or greater so you get USB support.
You can download the latest drivers at: http://www.microtechint.com/downloads/downloads.html
Under Windows 98 or 2000, the OS will recognize the device when you plug it in and ask if you want to install a device driver. The CD that comes with the box contains drivers for Mac OS 8.5 or greater and Windows 98 & 2000. For Windows Me, use the Win 98 drivers. Tell the computer to look for the drivers on your CD, click a few more times, and you're done.
Using it
Windows users will notice that two new mapped disk drives. The first one corresponds to the upper slot, which is for Compact Flash cards. The second corresponds to the lower slot, for SmartMedia cards. Get it?
Insert your card into its slot, then click to open the corresponding disk drive. For my Toshiba PDR-M1, I see a folder on that drive called IM01TOSH. Inside that folder are files for each of the pictures I've taken. It's just another disk drive, so you can copy and paste or drag and drop the files onto your hard drive.
Additional uses
If you've got an MP3 player or a handheld computer that supports SmartMedia or Compact Flash expansion slots, you can transfer data to or from those devices with this one.
Or if you need to transfer moderate amounts of data from one computer to another, copy the data onto a memory card, then bring card, reader, and driver CD to the other machine and after a quick install, you'll be able to copy files from one machine to another.
Provides transfer rates of up to 1.2MB/sec. Dedicated CompactFlash and Memory Stick slots Compatible with all existing CompactFlash cards (3.5mm) Supp...More at Amazon Marketplace
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