SD Card Reader for Apple Notebooks?!

[xoggyux]

The SDHC over SD is the perfect example of a quick compatibly shift. Plus, its true that CF is a standard for pros (CF2/Microdrive was a little while ago) and SDHC is standard for consumer.

What are u talking about? SDHC is not a "new format" or something HC stands for High Capacity so its just the same as SD just it has higher density, its true that old fashion SD readers (2years or more) cannot read High Capacity cards (over the 2Gb or so) but we cant blame them, SD cards started at what? 16mb? (the first i ever had was 64mb) now there are 4/8/16 and if im not mistaken 32/64 coming soon, so they have increased its capacity by 200x or more, a bit of incapability isent going to kill us, apple adds a HC reader and it is likely to last a few more years.
the fact is that apple is not likely to keep avoiding this, unless blue ray gains a LOT of popularity in the next few months flash cards are going to take over as their size are greatly increased (with the new SSD banging around, we are going to see 64gb+++ flash cars very soon, and they prices are going to go down)
also apple (as well as most of apple's consumer) cares a great deal about stylish (otherwise why would you buy a MBP for $1999 when you can buy an HP/Compaq or DELL for $799 with roughly the specs? now what is more stylish, inserting an minuscule SD card into a stupidly small hole in your unibody aluminum shell or sticking a trasparent-purple-plastic-usb-sd-card-reader into the usb port?

To be honest, I am surprised that apple did not even added a microSD card reader to the new iphones and ipods, after all, the phone I received free from in carrier (LGCU515) got a microSD card reader (kind of useless because the only thing i can put there are MP3s and then the MP3 Player that phone has is stupid, and I cannot connect headphones unless I use one adaptor that is almost as big as the telephone itself, since LG uses some weird connector,) so i cannot see why apple did not added a reader to that phone which is just as an small computer, and really can take advantage of the extra storage, first I thought that maybe they did that as a prevention measure so people dont just buy the cheapest and then add more storage with extra cards, but dont think thats a good enough reason, I mean the price diff is just 100USD and cards are not as cheap either, the up side though, is the people that buy the 8/16gb ones then can have 8+(8/16/32gb) or 16 + (8/16/32) so....

 

[Mark2000]

What are u talking about? SDHC is not a "new format" or something HC stands for High Capacity so its just the same as SD just it has higher density, its true that old fashion SD readers (2years or more) cannot read High Capacity cards (over the 2Gb or so) but we cant blame them, SD cards started at what?

Wow. You answered you're own silly comment with only appropriate response. Even if two things look alike, if they aren't compatible they're as good as different formats. Like high and low density diskettes.

You can complain that you want something that is not industry standard on your laptop if you want until you are blue in the face (BUT SD >>>IS<<< INDUSTRY STANDARD!!!! Yeah right, that's why 27-in-1 readers exist). The fact of the matter is Apple will always go for the elegant, simplest solution, and the convoluted world of memory cards is no elegant at all.

 

[xoggyux]

Wow. You answered you're own silly comment with only appropriate response. Even if two things look alike, if they aren't compatible they're as good as different formats. Like high and low density diskettes.

You can complain that you want something that is not industry standard on your laptop if you want until you are blue in the face (BUT SD >>>IS<<< INDUSTRY STANDARD!!!! Yeah right, that's why 27-in-1 readers exist). The fact of the matter is Apple will always go for the elegant, simplest solution, and the convoluted world of memory cards is no elegant at all.

It is the same as with CDs and DVDs they where the same ****, but CD readers could not read DVDs, now your pretty INDUSTRY STANDARD (as you said it yourself) DVD is not the NEW INDUSTRY standard since BD. Furthermore, the INDUSTRY STANDARD for ports is USB yet apple had to invent a FW that few people uses, and put them in their computers, apple is also using dual-link (or whatever is called the new port of unibodies for external monitors) WHICH IS NOT AN INDUSTRY STANDARD!!!!!! therefore it doesn't seam that putting INDUSTRIES STANDARDS is a goal of apple, furthermore the perfect solution would be to put a several-in-one reader (which is not what i would like, since it would look stupid) but in my opinion a SD would be just okay (and when I say SD it could be CF or xD or any other, we might learn to cope with it)

Even if two things look alike, if they aren't compatible they're as good as different formats.

You dont get it do you? SD is not compatible with SDHC, BUT SDHC ISSSSSSSS COMPATIBLE WITH SD (Retrocompatible) in just the same way as DVDs Burners can also burn CDs, in the same way that BLUETOOTH 2.1 can synchronize with older Bluetooth 1.1 devices, in the same way as you can connect USB 1.1 devices to your MBP USB 2.0 PORT, in the same way your MBP can connect (with its wireless N capability) to a wireless G (and for that matter to wireless B and if im not mistaken also wireless a and b,) in the same way a 56K modem could conect at 14K speeds, or Gigabit ethernet can work with 10/100 Mbit LAN conexions, and I could keep naming you more examples for the rest of eternity, the fact of the matter is if Mac adds a reader for SDHC we (the user) wouldnt have to worry about compatibilities until we get in our hands SD cards of more than 32GB and if so there can always be a firmware update, and if they really want to be clever they can just put an SDXC (XD stands for Extended Capacity) which would allow up to 2048GB (or 2TB) which will guarantee more than 5 years of compatibility.

 

[UltraNEO*]

Sure...SD won't always be the standard. Just in 99% of cameras sold today. Why do they use a QWERTY keyboard...may not always be the standard. Or AC power for the matter.

COME ON!!!! MAC NEEDS TO ADD THIS...quit denying it.

Speak for yourself guys and don't think about others, will you?
My digital camera uses Compact Flash.. and i'm quite happy it does cause SD cards are slow, even Class6 cards are still slow!!!

By having an ExpressCard34 slot, this give users the option to customise their machine accordingly. If you need DS card reader, please go out and buy one, stick it in the ExpressCard34 slot and be happy.

 

[xoggyux]

Speak for yourself guys and don't think about others, will you?
My digital camera uses Compact Flash.. and i'm quite happy it does cause SD cards are slow, even Class6 cards are still slow!!!

By having an ExpressCard34 slot, this give users the option to customise their machine accordingly. If you need DS card reader, please go out and buy one, stick it in the ExpressCard34 slot and be happy.

Well you are right, CF cards can be up to twice as fast (or half as slow ) as SD cards, the only bad thing is they huge, not only a reader for that card would take a lot of space (or card could be sticking out when inserted) but it will be difficult to "hide" de hole of insertion when not in use, also (correct me if i am wrong) the only people likely to be using compact flash are very top end photographers, those photographers that are likely to use CF also are likely to have a heavy duty (large, heavy and expen$ive) camera, if you are carrying such a large camera how big of a deal is to use a usb cable to download the pictures? right dont think that it would be a big deal.
the SD propcition is for more like the average people, who owns a point and shoot $100-$300 (cheap) camera (except for olympus which uses xD, sony which uses memory stick, and im not sure about this but fujifilm used to use xD also) every other brand uses SD (except for the pro SLR that might use CF for burst) and that is why SD was propoced (i think ) also it includes microSD (which i think every single microSD that you can buy comes with adaptor to connect it to SD slot) which is (I think the only) used in cell phones. Also maybe there is a big difference in speeds between SDs and CFs from the point of view of the camera, but when conected to a computer (USB port) the Diff in Speeds compared to a fast SD card is not that big, in fact I own a USB drive which is supposed to be like 30MB/s and in reality it just do about 10MB/s which is just a bit faster than the regular (not HIGH SPEED OR HIGH SPEED I, II, III versions) SD card.

 

[Tomorrow]

Sure...SD won't always be the standard. Just in 99% of cameras sold today.

I don't know that I agree with this. I have a cheap ($80 or so) camera issued to me at work that uses SD. My wife has two cameras, a DSLR that uses both CF and XD and a P&S that uses Memory Stick.

I do have an older camera that I no longer use that uses Smart Media (remember when that was a "standard"?), but I do concede that's not a recent model.

I'm not sure SD is widespread enough for any computer manufacturer to declare it a "standard" and integrate that format and only that format into their computers.

Like some of the other posts said - you can get a good USB 2.0 reader that will accept just about any type of card for under $20.

 

[xoggyux]

I don't know that I agree with this. I have a cheap ($80 or so) camera issued to me at work that uses SD. My wife has two cameras, a DSLR that uses both CF and XD and a P&S that uses Memory Stick.

I do have an older camera that I no longer use that uses Smart Media (remember when that was a "standard"?), but I do concede that's not a recent model.

I'm not sure SD is widespread enough for any computer manufacturer to declare it a "standard" and integrate that format and only that format into their computers.

Like some of the other posts said - you can get a good USB 2.0 reader that will accept just about any type of card for under $20.

SmartMedia is not longer produced, chances are that the camera that uses memory stick is Sony (they have always pushed their "standards" haha, just like they did with BD vs HD-DVD, and VHS vs. BETAMAX, now Memory Stick vs Everybody else,) xD i think is only used right now by Olympus and maybe some fujifilm (in fact Olympus and Fujifilm where the ones that developed the format and fuji is kind of like stepping out and using SD cards now, i think some of their cameras are compatible with both) and as UltraNEO* said early the only card that offers substantial benefits (at least in terms of speed) are Compact Flash (with as of today i think only top of the line dSLR uses them, in fact i think some of the cheap SLR carries SDs) but they have the disadvantage of being quite large.

And I know we can get card readers for that price, in fact my express card reader cost me only $9.99 so its not big deal, but at some point having them built in in the laptop itself its going to be better, just as we got built in webcam and mic. There are usb webcams for less than 20 bucks also, why did they put one?

 

[nusynergy]

Getting back to the point...

Has anyone concidered the reason for the lack of card reader is to keep the profile of the machine down. Think about it. All these Pc laptops that have card readers are twice as thick as the MB or MBP, and a hell of a lot thiner then the MBA.

 

[xoggyux]

Getting back to the point...

Has anyone concidered the reason for the lack of card reader is to keep the profile of the machine down. Think about it. All these Pc laptops that have card readers are twice as thick as the MB or MBP, and a hell of a lot thiner then the MBA.

thats not a good reason though, think of this: most of the pcs that DOESNT have card reader are still twice as think as apple's laptop.
Apples laptop are thin because they are, because apple actually pays a team of designers (for instance sony just buy carbon paper and waits until the next release of apple's laptops and then they copy them) to make them that way. Also I agree that a Several-in-one card reader would be bulky and mostly useless, thats why the thread starter and some other people (including myself) are suggesting a 1 in 1 card reader like SD, which could be extremely small (comparable to a 25c coin, no more than a few millimeters thick either)

 

[nusynergy]

I really dont wanna get sucked into the SD card arguement..but.... I do agree that if you are going to have an SD card slot on then you need to have support for all the others. I know most devices out there now use SD but some still dont.. ie anything sony. I dont think / hope Apple wouldnt alienate those customers because of there choose of perifereal.

Please dont kill me over that

 

[vchalupa]

Like some of the other posts said - you can get a good USB 2.0 reader that will accept just about any type of card for under $20.

I think you're missing my point here. The point is we already pay sub $1500 to $3000 for these Apple laptops, I'm sure they can squeeze some space for an SD card reader...without spending the extra $20 or so.

And to the poster who said the DVD drive is not necessary...When we're spending so much money on a laptop, I believe it's part of the expectations of buying a laptop. If the DVD drive is exempted...I think the laptop should be put at an untra-portable weight class (under 3.5 pounds) or else the general value of the Apple laptop would shoot down.

Idk that's just my opinion...

 

[xoggyux]

I was the one that suggested getting rid of DVDs, I dont know about other people but none of my friend practically uses them, and in general i think most poeple get their content from the internet, there are external DVD drives. But whatever, my point was that either take it out or get Blue Disk (I am not particularly exited toward it) in my opinion that space (optic drive) should be used for a second HDD (or SSD for that matter) or extra battery. Again this is quite a selfish statement because I really dont have any kind of statistics to support what I am saying. During the last 6months I used my drive 5-10 times, mostly to install drivers for my devices, and always after installation I had to go to website of manufacturer to download the lastest version, under those conditions I rather just go directly to website to download the content.
Also i cannot imagine people using that drive on the run (away from home/office) since I am assuming it will drain the battery rather quickly, also most of the DVDs I try to burn get screwed with the minimal vibration. Is not big deal but I believe its getting obsolete, maybe 10 years ago someone had this discussion about floppy disk but probably never happened since there was no internet back then (at least no like we know it).

If you ask me, MBP $1999 + external optic disk $80 ($30-50 if you buy in same receipt) is the way to go.

 

[Abstract]

Actually CompactFlash is the industry standard as far as professional media since they are relatively a bit more rugged than SD cards..so if they wanted to be professional...

Pro cameras like the Nikon D3 and Canon 1D and 1Ds cameras use CF cards not because they're more rugged. It's because storage is cheaper per GB than in SD cards. They're cheaper memory, or at least they were. Now the memory capacity and price of SD is becoming more similar with CF, so we could switch completely to SD. However, companies like Nikon and Canon have not made the move entirely to SD yet because pro photographers don't want to buy new memory cards. It's a crazy complaint. When compared to the total price of their camera(s), lenses, flashes, flash stands, umbrellas, etc, they complain when they're asked to switch to a smaller, more robust/reliable type of memory due to the cost of changing all their cards.

And that's the thing --- CF cards aren't more rugged. If anything, they're less rugged because of the connecting pins. If you take your CF card out of your camera and insert it into a card reader, you may bend the pins. With SD, there's no such fear because there are no pins.

And I don't want to carry around an camera cable. Is Apple assuming that mac users don't use digital cameras? It's ridiculous...

Take a look at any netbook. Even they come with them, and they're $400-500. Having said all that, Apple won't include card readers in their laptop lines. It's a great idea, but sometimes, what Apple chooses to do defies logic.

You can complain that you want something that is not industry standard on your laptop if you want until you are blue in the face (BUT SD >>>IS<<< INDUSTRY STANDARD!!!! Yeah right, that's why 27-in-1 readers exist).

SD is a very very popular standard, and most cameras are sold with SD card slots. That's true for both DSLRs and smaller point and shoot cameras.

Another thing: Does something have to be a standard for a really long time in order for Apple to support it? That's silly. Maybe laptops shouldn't support external monitors. I mean, how long did Macs include DVI before introducing mini DVI and micro DVI? In fact, micro DVI was only used on the MacBook Air.

What you said doesn't support any argument you made.

 

[UltraNEO*]

I think you're missing my point here. The point is we already pay sub $1500 to $3000 for these Apple laptops, I'm sure they can squeeze some space for an SD card reader...without spending the extra $20 or so.

And to the poster who said the DVD drive is not necessary...When we're spending so much money on a laptop, I believe it's part of the expectations of buying a laptop. If the DVD drive is exempted...I think the laptop should be put at an untra-portable weight class (under 3.5 pounds) or else the general value of the Apple laptop would shoot down.

Idk that's just my opinion...

Tell ya what. Since you think it's possible perhaps you should try ripping uo a few MacBooks and re-engineer it's internal layout.

Now, I've been inside all of them so far and can tell you there's very little space inside them, with the exception of the 17". I really don't see where internal media card readers would live, if the most popular laptop is the MB13 and MBP15. Apple already uses the thinnest optical drive cause the standard 12mm version won't fit.

But seriously... with the addition of the ExpressCard slot, I really don't see the reason or the need to add on pre-built media readers. If you really need support, you can always invest in a 'flush' SD/MC/MS reader!! Belkin does one thought from what I've heard it doesn't support SDHC yet.

 

[MacGnG]

dude just buy a sd reader for like 99¢ online !!!

 

[xoggyux]

Tell ya what. Since you think it's possible perhaps you should try ripping uo a few MacBooks and re-engineer it's internal layout.

Now, I've been inside all of them so far and can tell you there's very little space inside them, with the exception of the 17". I really don't see where internal media card readers would live, if the most popular laptop is the MB13 and MBP15. Apple already uses the thinnest optical drive cause the standard 12mm version won't fit.

Thats not a fair thing to say though, if you open a Dell or HP laptop (which usually are twice as thick) you will find everything is tight inside, no space for nothing else. Also SD card readers are very small (less than 1'x1'x.01', and thats a 99c one, an expensive and well designed like the one apple would be likely to put if they wanted could be as much as half those dimensions.)

 

[beg_ne]

I have to say I really hate the thought of having a bunch of mostly useless card reader slots on my Mac.

I really like my SanDisk SD card that converts into a usb stick. No need to carry anything around. In fact I've dumped my digital camera's cord and I just pop out the SD card and stick it in the USB slot and its seen as my camera by iPhoto automatically.

Here is what I'm talking about if anyone is interested:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Plus-2GB-Card/dp/B000EWI8IK

 

[xoggyux]

Now, I've been inside all of them so far and can tell you there's very little space inside them

Let me put it in this way, If someone ever purposed 5 years ago, to make built in cameras inside laptops, probably he got laughed at. External webcams are huge and bulky, yet apple managed to make one (of exceptional quality) and fit it inside a few millimeters screen lid, furthermore the whole camera isent much larger than a big dot. So of all justifications, space doesn't look like a good one.

 

[bstreiff]

xpress card is like 300Mb/sec (compared to 480Mb/sec for USB) so its a bit slower, however most of the cards you are likely to use will work slower than that so i dont think you have nothing to worry about (e.g. wont notice any diff to a regular usb one)

ExpressCard is basically a connector for a hotpluggable PCIe x1 slot and a USB port, which means that it has a max theoretical bandwidth of 2.0Gbit/s (for devices that use the PCIe pins) or 480Mbit/s (for devices that use the USB pins, which pretty much all cardreaders use).

An ExpressCard SD card reader will be no slower than a USB SD card reader, since they're the same thing, just in a different form factor. (Bandwidth limitations of the SD card notwithstanding.)

 

[clyde2801]

My lenovo ideapad hackintosh has a sd card reader, 3/4 express card slot, and led backlit screen....for $400!

 

[xoggyux]

if apple would included a card reader it would have saved me from being raped by belkin, I just ordered an expresscard reader and arrived, guess what doesnt suport HC like who the heck still have a 2Gb memory around?....

 

[Tallest Skil]

if apple would included a card reader it would have saved me from being raped by belkin, I just ordered an expresscard reader and arrived, guess what doesnt suport HC like who the heck still have a 2Gb memory around?....

"You should have researched it better" is all we can say.

 

[xoggyux]

"You should have researched it better" is all we can say.

yes, however who in the world in his right mind would think that belkin a large and well known manufacturer would not support HC which have been around for over 2 years......

 

[tkro]

Wow Bump Bump - My 2 Cents

I use my MacBook for Video Editing and can't imagine not having the FW ports. Although, the reason I came to this Thread was because I will be recording my DV footage to CF cards then transferring to External FW800 Raid Drive. If I were shooting with Panasonic, I could just slide the P2 Card into the Express Slot. Probably why Sony decided to implement CF recording on their new Cameras.

When I started video and animation work over a decade ago, Macs were the way too go. Probably the reason why they kept the FW ports for so long. I started off using a PC but got fed up defraging my drives everytime I wanted to capture footage. Apple has for a long time kept things SIMPLE (KISS). From the ipods to the computers and OS...and even their marketing and advertising. Black and White packaging, 2 actor commercial....SIMPLE. I'm glad their taking the path of SIMPLICITY. As far as Card Readers for Photography...try a PC to do that stuff. I've used PCs to do Photography and Photoshop touch ups for billboard ads and have had no troubles...It is slower but still gets the job done.

Blue Screen of Death vs carrying around an external Card Reader. I know, I don't miss hitting CTRL-ALT-DEL or Hard/Soft Resetting. PROS and CONS.

The current standard Apple components (USB, FW, Optical Drive) that come on the Macbook have been on the portable series for some time. Adding an internal card reader isn't as easy as just plopping it in. Processing and environmental (temp, etc) factors have to be taken into place, a whole new engineering department would have to get involved, finding the right manufacturers, mother board reconfigs, testing. I'm not saying it's not possible, but Apple prob feels the audience that uses the Card Readers can easily use a PC or just buy an ext card reader. Adding a Card Reader might just date the machine...I knew people that were still using G3s, even when the PowerBooks were introduced. BTW: Anybody still own a Jazz or Zip Drive? I may have some media that I want to get rid of -J/K.

Slam me if you want, but it's just my pov.

Regarding the original post, has anybody checked out the SanDisk SDAD109A11 Express Card Memory Reader. It sits flush with Memory Card inserted. http://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-SDAD109A11-Digital-Card-Express/dp/tech-data/B000W3QLLW/ref=de_a_smtd

 

[Ploki]

You are jocking right? paint it?

xpress card is like 300Mb/sec (compared to 480Mb/sec for USB) so its a bit slower, however most of the cards you are likely to use will work slower than that so i dont think you have nothing to worry about (e.g. wont notice any diff to a regular usb one)

express card is not slower than usb.. ?

its 300mBYTES (2.5gbit)...
and usb2.0 is 60mBYTES (480mbit).
usb2.0 is significantly slower.
but xpresscard can work in usb2.0 or pcie mode..

Let me put it in this way, If someone ever purposed 5 years ago, to make built in cameras inside laptops, probably he got laughed at. External webcams are huge and bulky, yet apple managed to make one (of exceptional quality) and fit it inside a few millimeters screen lid, furthermore the whole camera isent much larger than a big dot. So of all justifications, space doesn't look like a good one.

why would a professional machine need a built in camera? for iChatting?
cant say i used mine more than once just to try it, havent seen many professionals doing "video" conferences for their planning either...