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Practicality of SD card slot....

Habitus

Habitus

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 26, 2009
605
0
Where ever my life takes me...
Hey all,

How many out there use their SD card slot on a consistent basis? I know I don't.

How many would like to see an additional USB port or the express 34 slot, again?

Habitus :apple:
 
M

mstrze

macrumors 68000
Nov 6, 2009
1,915
0
Meh...I bought a card reader for $10 bucks. I used it once and doubt I will have a need again anytime soon.
 
eawmp1

eawmp1

macrumors 601
Feb 19, 2008
4,158
91
FL
miles01110 said:
I don't have much use for it, but with a lot of consumer cameras going with SD these days I can see why they put it in.
Click to expand...

A lot of consumer cameras caome with cables that connect via USB.
Some people are using SD cards as storage.
 
xlii

xlii

macrumors 68000
Sep 19, 2006
1,867
121
Millis, Massachusetts
I can't see why anyone would want a SD card slot in place of an Express Card Slot. An express card slot gives your machine a lot of flexibility. A SD card slot is only good for one thing.
 
upinflames900

upinflames900

macrumors 6502a
May 20, 2009
603
0
I think I would prefer the express card slot, don't really use the SD slot... but I guess people who do a lot of digital pictures would.
 
C

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,972
I can't see why they put it in the 15", when an ExpressCard slot is more versatile.

That's why I rushed to get an early 2009 on closeout when the new crap was announced.

And if I cared, I'll even be able to pop in an SDXC card reader, HA!
 
Habitus

Habitus

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 26, 2009
605
0
Where ever my life takes me...
thejadedmonkey said:
some 12" laptops have an SD slot, 4 USB ports, eSATA, and an express card port. I'd like to see all of that.
Click to expand...

Me, too. I'd also like to see Apple reintroduce the express 34 slot. Thoughts?



miles01110 said:
I don't have much use for it, but with a lot of consumer cameras going with SD these days I can see why they put it in.
Click to expand...

I definitely see your point and I agree that I have absolutely no use (for now, at least) for the slot and would much rather see the added versatility of another USB port.

Habitus :apple:

xlii said:
I can't see why anyone would want a SD card slot in place of an Express Card Slot. An express card slot gives your machine a lot of flexibility. A SD card slot is only good for one thing.
Click to expand...

I fully agree. The express 34 brings way more flexibility and the option to use open-ended technology. While I cannot live without my 13" MBP, Apple took a step back, in my humble opinion.

Habitus :apple:

cube said:
I can't see why they put it in the 15", when an ExpressCard slot is more versatile.

That's why I rushed to get an early 2009 on closeout when the new crap was announced.

And if I cared, I'll even be able to pop in an SDXC card reader, HA!
Click to expand...

Laugh it up, funny man! Seriously, though, good decision. Enjoy your express reader :(


Habitus :apple:
 
Falk3r

Falk3r

macrumors newbie
Jun 9, 2009
29
0
I am excited to snag a MBP w/ SD Card slot. I've been shooting to SD exclusively for a while now (Nikon, DSLRs) and it's easier for me to use the card than fumble around with a cable (cable storage, cable de-tangling, cable mating, camera transfer mode, etc).

SD FTW!

Also, how much more room does an Expresscard slot take than an SD Card slot?
Answer: Express/34 is 34mm wide, SD is 24mm wide. Hmmm....
 
J

johnsy

macrumors 6502
Nov 15, 2006
443
0
I haven't used express card slot so far. My thoughts what I could do with it and why I am not using it:

1 Flash card reader.
- According to my knowledge there is no card reader which is flush with a body. Either a part of reader sticks out or a card doesn't insert in full length. Besides the only cards I use are CF and SD with a leaning towards 100% SD card use.

2 Esata port.
-This is nice feature, but I am quite satisfied with FW800.

3 express card based hard drive.
Cheaper ones are slow (I think they based on usb technology). New ones either expensive or have problems with heat or both.

So in my personal opinion SD card slot (flush and spring loaded) would be much more better thing that express card slot. Esata port also is not bad option.
 
Habitus

Habitus

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 26, 2009
605
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Where ever my life takes me...
Falk3r said:
I am excited to snag a MBP w/ SD Card slot. I've been shooting to SD exclusively for a while now (Nikon, DSLRs) and it's easier for me to use the card than fumble around with a cable (cable storage, cable de-tangling, cable mating, camera transfer mode, etc).

SD FTW!
Click to expand...

I definitely see what you mean. Excuse my ignorance, but there is no difference, in terms of image quality, between storing images on an SD card and transferring images via USB, right?

Habitus :apple:
 
G

glhiii

macrumors 6502
Nov 4, 2006
279
112
MBP Downgraded

I'm sure Apple saves money by not having a removable battery, not having 400 FW, and (above all) not having an express slot (which will accommodate a SD reader as well as lots of other things) on the new MBP. Also by charging extra for a matte screen. My 2.5ghz pennryn non-unibody MBP has all these things and is, I think, a better value than the new unibodies, especially since I just bought it and it cost me 1/2 of what a new machine would cost. The advantage to the new machines are 1. magnetic latch, 2. take up to 8 gb RAM (mine will take 6), 3. longer battery life (which may actually be a disadvantage), and 4. graphics chip that apparently is slower but less susceptible to failure than the 8600.
 
Habitus

Habitus

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 26, 2009
605
0
Where ever my life takes me...
johnsy said:
I haven't used express card slot so far. My thoughts what I could do with it and why I am not using it:

1 Flash card reader.
- According to my knowledge there is no card reader which is flush with a body. Either a part of reader sticks out or a card doesn't insert in full length. Besides the only cards I use are CF and SD with a leaning towards 100% SD card use.

2 Esata port.
-This is nice feature, but I am quite satisfied with FW800.

3 express card based hard drive.
Cheaper ones are slow (I think they based on usb technology). New ones either expensive or have problems with heat or both.

So in my personal opinion SD card slot (flush and spring loaded) would be much more better thing that express card slot. Esata port also is not bad option.
Click to expand...

Those are great points. However, disregarding the physical dimensions, wouldn't the open-ended technology of express outweigh the benefits of an SD card?

Habitus :apple:
 
Falk3r

Falk3r

macrumors newbie
Jun 9, 2009
29
0
Habitus said:
there is no difference, in terms of image quality, between storing images on an SD card and transferring images via USB, right?
Click to expand...

Right, it's all just 0's and 1's no matter where you store it, or how you transfer it. Infact, it might be faster to transfer via SD Card than thru USB 2.0. Let me dig into that...

... d'oh! It'll be the same either way. The camera is just acting as an external SD Card adapter when using a USB cable for transfer.
 
C

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
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4,972
Habitus said:
Those are great points. However, disregarding the physical dimensions, wouldn't the open-ended technology of express outweigh the benefits of an SD card?
Click to expand...

There IS at least one SD reader which sits flush in the ExpressCard slot. Downgrading the Macs to SD makes ZERO sense.
 
Habitus

Habitus

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 26, 2009
605
0
Where ever my life takes me...
Falk3r said:
Right, it's all just 0's and 1's no matter where you store it, or how you transfer it. Infact, it might be faster to transfer via SD Card than thru USB 2.0. Let me dig into that...
Click to expand...

Thanks for checking that out and thanks for not taking advantage of my ignorance :D

I'm interested in the results!

Habitus :apple:

glhiii said:
I'm sure Apple saves money by not having a removable battery, not having 400 FW, and (above all) not having an express slot (which will accommodate a SD reader as well as lots of other things) on the new MBP. Also by charging extra for a matte screen. My 2.5ghz pennryn non-unibody MBP has all these things and is, I think, a better value than the new unibodies, especially since I just bought it and it cost me 1/2 of what a new machine would cost. The advantage to the new machines are 1. magnetic latch, 2. take up to 8 gb RAM (mine will take 6), 3. longer battery life (which may actually be a disadvantage), and 4. graphics chip that apparently is slower but less susceptible to failure than the 8600.
Click to expand...

I agree, the pre-unibody MBP have way more value. Especially, given that, they have 6 (3 USB, FW400, FW 800, and express) ports. I definitely vote for the reintroduction of the express in the 13."

Habitus :apple:
 
D

DavidG328

macrumors regular
Mar 17, 2009
191
0
Portland, OR
I didn't care about the SD card slot, as my digi cam is a Sony...so no SD there. But then I realized my Samsung phone could use a miniSD, so I went and picked one up with an adapter. Now I can make my own ringtones, transfer the pictures to my comp easier, etc...


But it sounds like this express card may have been the way to go.
 
Gabriel GR

Gabriel GR

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2009
716
1
Athens, Greece
I use it often to transfer images from my camera, mobile apps, data and music to my phone, loops from the loop-station. Most devices come with a USB cable. Though, when they run out of battery you have no way to transfer the pictures you shot or an attachment you saved in your phone.
 
E

elfxmilhouse

macrumors 6502a
Oct 15, 2008
606
144
Northeast USA
i use mine all the time.

my cameras all use SD cards and i have a micro sd card to sd adapter for my phones.

i love not having to carry a reader or extra cables for my cameras.
 
MMM.PWR

MMM.PWR

macrumors 6502
Sep 21, 2009
455
17
Milwaukee
What DSLR uses SD? I know most use CF cards. Point & Shoots use SD. I have no use whatsoever for the SD slot, and wish I had either an extra usb or a CF slot instead..
 
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