Get a FREE fully-working copy of Steganos Security Suite 7 (worth £49.99) when you sign up to the Practical PC Newsletter. Review: Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 3-port hub & 15-in-1 Media Reader/Writer
Don Bradbury reviews a fast, do-it-all, media card reader
| Product | Media reader cum USB hub |
|---|---|
| Company | Belkin |
| Web | www.belkin.com |
| Price | £29.99 inc VAT |
| We like | |
| We don't like | |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements |
Digital photographers in particular, and every computer user who needs digital media memory cards for any purpose, will value having a multi-type card reader. Throw in a trio of downstream USB 2.0 ports and some photo editing software as well, and the package begins to look rather special.
The trouble, these days, is that there are so many different types of memory card. If you change hardware, the chances are that your card reader will be out of date and won't cater for the newer types of media. That's partly down to manufacturers bringing out faster and smaller types of media, or simply because they want to cash in on the enormous market for digital media by introducing their own particular design preference and trying to hook us all on it.
Well, that's often bad news for the upgrader, for the stated reasons - though it has to be admitted that advances are sometimes made which are useful. But the market for media readers is now growing in response.
Attached to the computer, the use for more USB ports is an obvious advantage, and Belkin have taken their chance to jump on the bandwagon with this very neat device.
Media support
The reader/hub caters for Compact Flash types I and II and IBM Microdrives, SmartMedia, Secure Digital/Mini SD, MultiMediaCard/RSMMC (reduced size MMC), XD Picture Card, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick MagicGate and Memory Stick MagicGate Duo (non-secure mode only). Quite a lineup then.
And, heavens be praised, on all the ones we tried there were blocks on appropriate card types to prevent incorrect insertion. It's simply amazing that there are still manufacturers out there who let the buyer discover, and then have to remember, the correct orientation of their card type when placing it in their digital camera, MP3 player or whatever, or the media card reader. A block avoids much frustration, so well done, Belkin!
As for the USB ports, the newer high speed USB 2.0 specification is well worth having, giving far quicker data transfer rates. These Belkin ports support the new 'Quad TT' architecture which enables the three downstream ports to deliver full 12Mbps bandwidth for both low and full speed devices while retaining normal high speed USB 2.0 connectivity for normal spec 2.0 devices. This is of special value when you have multiple bandwidth-intensive, full speed devices such as webcams, speakers, scanners, and external storage devices to connect.
As a nice final touch, the package includes a copy of the photo-editing software from Ulead, DVD PictureShow Photo Explorer.
In conclusion
Normally self-powered but with a power supply unit for use when required, compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, and XP as well as some Mac OSs, with a set of flashing LEDs to indicate port activity, custom drive support for the four new ports if you apply the included driver, over-current detection and protection, and useful software for photo editing, this is an attractive package. As it's not particularly expensive, it's a recommended buy.
