MediaGear Combo 9in4 Reader Writer
Buy Now...
The missing component? The ability to read XD cards, I know a couple of companies have brought out adapters so that XD cards would fit into slots designed for other card types.
MediaGear have brought out a combo unit that supports nine card types in four slots. You can occupy and transfer data from or to those four slots. I know of some adapters that will only allow use of a single slot at a time, not so with the MediaGear unit. In fact I managed to populate all four slots with cards simultaneously. In My Computer you have four new drive letters listed, the order seems consistent but not perhaps logical, however when you know which slot has which letter it becomes easier. I have some adapters that occasionally have appropriate icons displayed with the drive letters in My Computer but not during my tests with the MediaGear unit.
I will list card types by slots, the first accommodates all CompactFlash types as well as MicroDrives. The second accepts both types of Sony Memory Stick. The third takes SecureDigital and MMC. The last slot takes XD and SmartMedia. So no direct transfer of files between items in the same slot are possible, however you can still transfer files to a folder on your hard disc and then change cards. It is possible to do direct transfers between cards that occupy different card slots.
The unit is USB2 but is backward compatible, so if you only have USB1.1 then you can use it however the transfer of large files will take considerably longer.
If you have a recent PC with front USB slots these are often low down and the card reader can be plugged into the PC and sit on the desk using only the plug that slides out of the rear of the 13x6x1cm unit, however for those needing to plug into the rear of the PC a one metre A to B extension cable is also supplied along with a CD that appears not to be required by Windows XP users. The unit is stated to work with 98SE or later or MAC 9.1 or later.
If you have a need for XD used by both Fuji and Olympus in their cameras then this is a nice easy to use unit. Should you need to transfer files between two of the types that occupy the same slot slightly less useful. The price is £34.99. No doubt others will eventually offer units at a lower price. I did hear an as yet unconfirmed report that Olympus/Fuji were demanding a royalty for the use of XD and this may delay some companies implementing XD in a reader. I have just received a HP printer that has an XD reader slot so maybe the royalty problem has been sorted.
Link : www.dane-elec.co.uk > unless you speak fluent French select English as the language then > products > readers adapters and memory keys > 9in4
| add to del.icio.us | Digg this review |
| StumbleUpon | |
!!
