For $20, it's hard to complain about this little black box...
Written: May 16 '04 (Updated May 16 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ease of use, unobtrusive size
Cons: Nothing that I'm aware of...
The Bottom Line: If your computer has USB 2.0 ports, this is a good buy. Its multi-format capability makes it useful for techies like myself.
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| collegegrrl's Full Review: SmartDisk ML-Dazzle DM-24001 Card Reader |
After I purchased my Canon PowerShot A60 digicam and a new computer with USB 2.0 ports, I decided to get a memory card reader. The biggest benefit to a memory card reader is how much battery life you end up saving in the long run - transferring 300 pictures from a 512mb memory card multiple time takes its toll on standard AA Ni-MH batteries, wearing them out faster. Solution? A memory card reader.
Now, among myself and my family, we have products that use three different kinds of flash media - compact flash, SD, and xD. This card reader has really pulled through.
Using Windows XP, there is no need for drivers - it recognizes each of the three slots as individual removeable mass media storage devices. If you're an advanced enough computer user that you map network drives from home and the like, you may need to fiddle with Windows' disk management console to change your drive letters, but other than that installation was flawless.
There is absolutely nothing to this reader. It's a black box with three slots - one for Compact Flash type I/II, one for SD/MMC, xD, and Memory Stick, and one for SmartMedia. The only memory type I haven't been able to try out with this reader is SmartMedia, but the reader formatted CF, xD, SD/MMC, and MemoryStick cards without any problems.
The biggest benefit to this reader compared to other multi-format readers is that it reads the new xD media, which is becoming more widely used by Fuji and Olympus digital cameras.
There's an indicator LED on the front of the reader, but I've never actually seen it light up. Perhaps it does when transferring files, but I've never really paid attention. At the back of the reader is the USB cable, which can be used in USB 1.1 ports. However, for maximum functionality, use it with a USB 2.0 port. The transfer speed was so much better than downloading directly from the camera.
The reader comes with a flimsy rubber stand sort of thing to stick it on your desk vertically. It doesn't really stay in the stand very well, so I just picked up a pack of those hard rubber adhesive bumpers (they're from 3M and available at any major discount retailer) to keep it from sliding around on my desk.
The only strange thing about this card reader is that xD and SD/MMC cards have to be inserted upside down, with the label facing downward. Why Zio did this is beyond me, except that in order to fit three different kinds of card contacts in one slot they had to engineer it this way. Unless you're trying to get an SD/MMC card out of the reader when a CF card is still in, removing the cards is extremely easy.
There's not much to any memory card reader - in my personal opinion, they're all pretty much the same except for aesthetics and cost. I had been using a USB 1.1 generic CF reader that I got for free after rebates, and it does the exact same thing as the Zio, except with slower transfer speeds.
Windows XP makes it remarkably easy to use these card readers - the AutoPlay menu that pops up when you insert a card allows you do all sorts of things, such as play MP3s on the card, download pictures to a specific directory, and browse the files on the card.
The bottom line? If you have several devices that use flash memory and/or forsee upgrading to a new PDA or digicam or MP3 player that uses different kinds of media, this reader is a steal. It retails for $40, but if you watch the ads you can easily get it for $20 after rebates from Circuit City. The comparable SanDisk reader is a little more attractive than this one, but if that's such a big deal to you, buy some pretty stickers and decorate it. :)
I did read the Express Review for this product and have no idea why that individual had such problems with it - perhaps it was just a lemon.
As I said, memory readers are all the same. The software that comes with them varies by brand, but it most cases its worthless software anyhow (I know nothing about the file recovery software that allegedly came with my reader - I never really installed anything off the CD-ROM). If you find this cheap after rebates, go for it!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
collegegrrl
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Location: Indianapolis, IN
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
I'm a tech head. So sue me.
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