Topic: New Macbook Pro, what to do with SC card slot (Read 5434 times)

digitaldog · « **on:** April 20, 2010, 10:04:36 am »

Retired my 3 year old Macbook Pro that had a PCMCIA slot. What do you guys do now for downloading from Compact Flash cards? Use USB and an external or is there something small and fast that fits into this newer SC Card Slot that adapts to a compact flash card? Did a Google search but didn't see anything useful. TIA.

BJNY · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2010, 10:18:14 am »

Found this Delkin, but I don't have any first hand experience with it.

Instead, I use this.

BJNY · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2010, 10:22:48 am »

And, here's a dual reader from Sonnet.

In the past, colleagues have steered me away from these type adapters because of system hangs.
Unknown if this have been resolved.

John.Murray · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2010, 01:17:00 pm »

Andrew: Which did you order? Curious.....

Ken Bennett · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2010, 07:00:14 pm »

I use two different external readers, one Sandisk Extreme Firewire 800 and one Lexar UDMA USB2 reader. With the right cards, they are very fast and can be used at the same time. Both are UDMA. Sometimes I add a FW400 Sandisk reader, when I need to download a lot of cards, but it's slower.

See the compact flash database at robgalbraith.com for a lot more info on cards, readers, and how they interact.

digitaldog · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2010, 10:50:05 pm »

Quote from: Joh.Murray

Andrew: Which did you order? Curious.....

I got the 15" i7 with Matt screen option, 7200RPM 500 gig and 8 gigs. Very nice, very fast, I'm happy.

And thanks everyone else for the suggestions, I'm on the right track now.

Jack Flesher · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2010, 11:30:45 pm »

Quote from: BJNY

And, here's a dual reader from Sonnet.

Those are Express 34 readers and won't work in the new 15" MBP's as they only have a built-in SD slot and no express slot any more. The 17" MBP's will accept an express 34 device, but not the 15's...

Best bet is one of the FW800 readers -- fast and reliable, though the Hoodman with it's permanently attached cable is big-ish in the bag. The Lexar is more compact with a removable FW800 cable so you can connect with a shorty: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4926...reWire_800.html

Ralph Eisenberg · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2010, 03:12:26 am »

Quote from: digitaldog

I got the 15" i7 with Matt screen option, 7200RPM 500 gig and 8 gigs. Very nice, very fast, I'm happy.

And thanks everyone else for the suggestions, I'm on the right track now.

The removal of the PCMCIA slot was not welcome news, as having an express card adapter was the least cumbersome solution (and one of the most rapid) for downoading CF cards. On the current MBP models, the Matte (antiglare) option is only available in "HD" as opposed to the previous 1440 x 900 resolution. Do you find this higher resolution problematic and a source of strain, particularly with respect to the font sizes of the system UI and any image processing programs that you run ?

digitaldog · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2010, 10:55:23 am »

Quote from: Ralph Eisenberg

Do you find this higher resolution problematic and a source of strain, particularly with respect to the font sizes of the system UI and any image processing programs that you run ?

I actually like it. Haven't spent long periods of time to say anything about eye strain. Its sharp and works fine with my bifocals at normal viewing distance.

Ralph Eisenberg · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2010, 11:59:21 am »

Quote from: digitaldog

I actually like it. Haven't spent long periods of time to say anything about eye strain. Its sharp and works fine with my bifocals at normal viewing distance.

Thanks Andrew. Good to know. I hope you enjoy using it.

Author Topic: New Macbook Pro, what to do with SC card slot (Read 5434 times)