What is the advantage of a memory card reader? Best answer on the web

Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
  • What is the advantage of a memory card reader compared to just pluging the camera into the cpu...Except writing other things onto the card???? THANKS!!!


  • Here's what I use:



    http://www.buy.com/prod/SimpleTech_Bonza...





    ...and I love it.


  • All of the above plus you can also use it and your memory card as a flash drive.


  • A reader does not drain your camera's battery: if you're traveling abroad and cannot use an outlet you would want the reader. Other than that there really is no advantage, besides the obvious reason that it will save you $20 since you don't have to buy the reader.



    A card reader has drawbacks too: constantly removing and inserting the memory card can damage the card or cause data loss if the card is removed while it is being read/written too.


  • Its faster then hooking up a camera, also you only install it one time,, even if many people use the same pc with a bunch of camera,, not to forget it is faster


  • 1. A memory card reader is much faster when downloading pictures to your PC.

    2. A memory crad reader is great if you have more than one digital camera - you only need one point of acess. Saves swapping cables, etc. between SD, CF and Memory Stick for us.

    3. And did I say it's much faster - you'll never use your camera to download again!


  • Card readers are sometimes faster but anything that gets the job done is OK.


  • If you get a card reader, no additional software is necessary. This is not only faster, but it saves your camera batteries. Your computer or printer may even have a card reader built into it.



    First of all, be sure there are some pictures on the card. Plug the card reader into an open USB port. Plug the card into the appropriate slot on your card reader. I use Photoshop Elements and as soon as I plug my card into the reader, it starts its own card reader and displays a thumbnail of every picture on the card.



    If this does not happen automatically, open your photo editting software. Do whatever you usually do to open a file, but click on the selector where you can change drives. Your card reader will be assigned a new drive name that will be one letter higher than you ever saw before, such as "Drive G:" or such. Then, just double click on the name of the file you want to open and it will appear in your photo editor.


  • just get one its 2006 already.


  • No great advantage, except it is faster. So, big deal.

    If you have more than one digital camera, then yes it is convenient.

    Taking out the card from your camera often actually spoils the memory card. I am talking about 100's of times of inserting and removing.



    If you plug the camera when it is still on or unplug it from the camera when it is still on, you are likely to damage the camera or the memory card itself. So, there is some advantage to card reader.



    If you tell yourself you will be very careful with your camera (such as on and off), you do not have to buy a card reader.



    That said, I have a card reader. I don't use it. I did not feel the need - just plugging in the camera is way better, faster and easier.