The ImageMate 12-in-1 Card Reader/Writer is a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Multi-card Reader/Writer that connects to your computer's USB 2.0 port. USB 2.0 provides superior performance to transfer pictures, music, video and data between flash memory cards and your computer.
Because USB 2.0 devices are backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports, the ImageMate 12-in-1 Card Reader/Writer will work with all existing USB ports. The ImageMate 12-in-1 provides the ability to write data to and read data from flash memory without connecting your digital device (digital camera, handheld computer, digital music player, etc.) directly to a computer.
Features - Transfer, print, email, and display images with the touch of a button
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified for superior data transfer
- Backwards compatible with all USB 1.1 ports
- No additional card adapters needed
- Easy to install and use; no additional driver installation required for Windows ME, 2000, XP and OS X v10.1.2+. Driver included for Windows 98SE and Mac OS 9.2.x+
- Separate reader and docking station for easy desktop/laptop connectivity
- Certified Windows XP and Mac OS X
If you own a portable digital device that contains data and information, there's a good chance it stores that information on a removable memory card. When it comes time to transfer or copy that information to your computer for processing, editing, or storage, you have a couple of choices. Firstly, you can connect the device directly to your computer via whatever method it supports. This could present problems, depending on the connection type and speed, the size of the device and the durability of its connection port.
Alternately, you can remove the memory card and insert it in a dedicated card reader. Of course, you must ensure the card reader in question supports your memory card format(s) and operates at top speed. Sandisk's ImageMate 12-in-1 Card Reader/Writer is one such product.
It's definitely fast. Taking advantage of high-speed USB 2.0, the unit transfers data incrementally faster than similar products using conventional USB 1.1. It's also quite likely compatible with your memory cards. Indeed, the sleek and futuristic ImageMate 12-in-1 supports all the following formats: CompactFlash Type I, CompactFlash Type II, SD Card, miniSD, MultiMediaCard, RS-MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, SmartMedia and xD.
The ImageMate 12-in-1 is fully backwards compatible with slower USB 1.1 ports and does not require additional card adapters. Moreover, software drivers are not necessary in Windows ME, 2000, XP and OS X v10.1.2+ environments.
1 Works very well with one caveat
Overall this is a great flash reader, but you need to be careful if you use both a USB 2.0 PC adapter card for a laptop and a high capacity flash memory card.
I was going to return this to Amazon because at first I couldn't get it to work with my Sandisk Ultra II 2gb card when connected to my laptop via a USB 2.0 PC Card. I have 3 other CF cards of 512mb capacity each, 2 by SimpleTech and 1 by Transcend, and all these would work fine with the ImageMate. But for some reason, the 2gb card would not show up. After much experimentation, I tried connecting a small USB power cord to the USB 2.0 PC card, and finally the Ultra II card worked fine. The cord I used came with the PC card when I bought it, and one end plugs into the card below the 4 USB ports and the other end plugs into my computer's native USB 1.1 ports.
Apparently, the ImageMate reader requires a little more power than a laptop PC card adapter can supply on its own to read a higher capacity CF card -- at least the Sandisk Ultra II 2gb card. At first I thought it was a flaw in the ImageMate, but I tried a Lexar 2.0 reader on the same USB 2.0 PC card without the extra cord, and the same thing happened -- it could read lower capacity CF cards but not the 2gb Sandisk Ultra II. When I used the extra cord, the Lexar could read the card just fine.
So you only have to worry if you're using a higher capacity card on a hub or PC card that might not supply enough power. If your PC card came with a supplementary power cord, use that. If not, then go buy a PC card adapter that comes with such a cord. If you're using lower capacity CF cards or your computer's native USB ports, you won't have to worry.
The speed of this reader is pretty fast. I tested it against the Lexar 2.0 reader I have, and the ImageMate is about 20% faster. I transferred 1.89gb of data from the 2gb card to my computer in 4 minutes and 41 seconds.
Don't bother installing the ArcSoft button software they supply with this reader. It didn't do anything special, IMO, but most importantly it caused some hiccups on my Windows XP Pro-SP1 system on shutdown and reboot.
This is a well-made, sturdy and attractive reader with a little rubber strip on the bottom so it won't slip, plus a separate cradle. You can use the reader with or without the cradle.
If you're looking for a good, fast multi-card reader, this ImageMate will fill the bill.
2 Poor quality
I have been using sandisk porducts particulary their compact flash cards and when I needed a reader I bought this one. It worked 3 times and died. It has to be one of the most poorly made readers I've ever used. It indicated no software was needed but that not the case. It has to be unplugged everytime you use it.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT ITS GARBAGE!
3 Great little product
I plug this little baby into my computer and it recognizes the unit instantly. I did not have to use the cd that it comes with. I am running windows 2000. No problem encountered so far. The greatest thing about this product is that you can tranfer information directly from one drive to the next without copying to your hard drive. Very handy little gadget.
4 Nice product
This reader works perfectly. Plug and play set up. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that the cables may be too short for some people. For example, if you keep your PC on the floor but you want the reader on the desktop, the cable may not reach. I didn't have this problem, but other people will.
5 Works Great with Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2
I read one review for the SanDisk 8-in-1 reader not working with Windows XP-SP2 and several other reviews where it did work. Not being patient enough to wait for a reply from SanDisk customer support, I went to the store to buy it, but only one 12-in-1 model was on the shelf, so I bought that. There were no problems using it with Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Right now I have only 32MB SmartMedia cards, but they worked flawlessly in the reader/writer. I was able to insert and pull out the cards from the reader without getting the "blue screen of death." The USB 2.0 is Hi-Speed for sure. The docking station has a 40 inch cable, and there is a separate 9 inch cable to use with the reader/writer when it is unplugged from the docking station.
With the Button application installed, you can push the button and an ArcSoft application starts where you can direct your transfers. That works. In addition in Windows XP, without pushing a button, there's a built-in process where a separate dialog window opens where you can select among several actions based on the type of files on the card.
I am very pleased with my purchase, even though I paid the $34.99 retail price. Thanks to all the Amazon user reviewers of the 8-in-1, as that helped me make my selection.
6 ahhhh...no damn drivers needed finally
I've been searching for a USB 2.0 flash card reader that doesn't need stupid drivers (I'm a bit obsessive about keeping my system clean) for the longest time and have finally found it!
When plugged in, the device shows up as 4 separate drives. Transfers are painless and you can also transfer between multiple flash card formats w/o copying to your hard drive first (though I haven't had a need to do this).
If you do install the drivers, there's a button on the reader that transfers files automatically. I haven't installed the software for this, so I don't know where the files go :-)
Thanks, Sandisk! Shame on Dazzle for making their 8-in-1 reader require drivers; my old USB1.1 Dazzle didn't need drivers so I thought their new USB2.0 reader was safe to buy. Tried the Lexar reader next and had the same problem. But now I'm happy again...
