Review: Belkin 8 in 1 USB2 Card Reader
Don Bradbury looks at Belkin's latest, neatly stackable, four port USB 2.0 hub
| Product | 8-in-1 USB2.0 Flash Card Reader |
|---|---|
| Company | Belkin |
| Web | www.belkin.com |
| Price | £34.99 inc VAT |
| We like | Multi card types; fast; bundled software |
| We don't like | Just a single activity LED |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements |
Users of Flash memory cards particularly digital camera users quickly discover the limitations of direct file transfer from the camera to the PC, generally via a USB cable. Transfer is slow and it's not really convenient when you only want to see your latest efforts on the computer screen as quickly as possible and perhaps just a shot or two. Not only that but users will generally want to control the folders the images are copied to.
With a card reader you have control of all this. You're not stuck with what the camera manufacturer thinks you will find satisfactory. Once installed, it can all be done by a simple drag-and-drop copy from one of the card reader's four separate drives which appear under 'My Computer' . From here you can edit and rename files to your heart's content.
The trouble is of course that there are many different types of Flash memory card in use nowadays. If you upgrade your camera the chances are that you'll need a different type of reader. Thus multi-media readers are the 'in' thing and this Belkin unit is no exception.
Flash Card Types
The Belkin device caters for Compact Flash types I and II including Microdrives, SmartMedia, Memory Stick including 'MagicGate' (the latter in non-secure mode only), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard (MMC), and Secure Digital (SD).
Without being in any way glamorous, this silver and grey Belkin device is functional. Four front slots cater for all its card types. A single activation light signals that the reader is powered correctly. Belkin include a USB2 cable in the pack. The port powers the reader; there is no need for a power supply unit. What more do you need?
This device brings the speed advantages of USB 2.0. Not the full theoretical speeds the new standard might be expected to show over USB 1.1 but a considerable improvement nevertheless.
Belkin have bundled some useful software. Ulead's DVD Picture Show allows you to edit photo files in basic ways and share pictures on CD, DVD, or TV. Mac users get Ulead's Photo Explorer.
Conclusion
The Belkin reader caters for most operations you need to carry out - digital picture files, MP3 files, handheld or digital video. Whatever uses flash cards can be put to including of course simple file/folder backup capacity, you'll find the Belkin provides everything you need.
