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Practicality of SD card slot....
- Thread starter Habitus
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thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
some 12" laptops have an SD slot, 4 USB ports, eSATA, and an express card port. I'd like to see all of that.
miles01110
macrumors Core
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.
Meh...I bought a card reader for $10 bucks. I used it once and doubt I will have a need again anytime soon.
eawmp1
macrumors 601
A lot of consumer cameras caome with cables that connect via USB.
Some people are using SD cards as storage.
upinflames900
macrumors 6502a
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.
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!
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!
miles01110
macrumors Core
Most P&S cameras come with both. 80% of people are too novice to use the SD card for anything other than pictures with their camera.
Me, too. I'd also like to see Apple reintroduce the express 34 slot. Thoughts?
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
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
Laugh it up, funny man! Seriously, though, good decision. Enjoy your express reader 🙁
Habitus
Falk3r
macrumors newbie
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....
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....
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Falk3r
macrumors newbie
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.
There IS at least one SD reader which sits flush in the ExpressCard slot. Downgrading the Macs to SD makes ZERO sense.
Thanks for checking that out and thanks for not taking advantage of my ignorance 😀
I'm interested in the results!
Habitus
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
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.
But it sounds like this express card may have been the way to go.
Gabriel GR
macrumors 6502a
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.
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.
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.
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
The 13" never had ExpressCard.
Correct. However, I meant I want Apple to reintroduce the express card in the MBP (13" specifically)!
Habitus
