Memory Card Readers

With the invention of portable storage devices and memory cards for digital cameras ways to connect the device to the PC were of need. Memory Card Readers are one of the new devices invented. A card reader allows fast transfer of files and images stored in the memory card to the computer. Usually the memory card, which contains several folders of images, shows up in the PC as an external drive and pictures, files and folders can easily be copied to the computers hard drive within seconds.

Since research and development on digital cameras is done separately by every digital camera manufacturer several different storage technologies and devices where developed. The most commonly used ones on the market are memory cards, XD cards, SD (secure digital) cards, smart media and several others. Each of theses storage devices are of different shape and have different ways to connect to them. Therefore there are several different memory card readers on the market. There are USB SD card readers where the card can be plugged into an adapter that is connected to the PC via as USB cable. Other SD card readers are already built into the PC or can be built into the PC much like a disc drive. The market also offers separate XD card readers and memory cards readers.

Some companies even evolved to producing multi media card readers. These little devices are called multi media because they accept several of the most common storage cards in their slots.

Usually these Multi media card readers are connected to the PC via a USB cable and will show up on the computer as an external drive.

Some of the more modern PCs offer an already built in multi media card reader especially if the Pc is geared towards entertainment and multi media work.

These readers are also used on the mini photo printing labs available in so many stores. This offers the customer the possibility to transfer pictures right from the camera into the printing system without having to use any other external portable storage devices.

One important fact for manufacturers of media card readers to keep in mind for future development is that data storage size on new memory cards is ever increasing. Media card readers need to have faster and faster speeds to transfer data effectively. Most of the card readers use USB which is a serial data transmission and if this transmission is not fast enough transfer of newer memory data cards that meanwhile have several Giga Bytes of storage could take minutes if not even longer. A time customers usually are not willing to spend in front of their computer or the printing system in the store just waiting for pictures to be transferred. Expectations in our high-speed world are so high that minutes is not an acceptable time for data transfer, it has to happen within seconds.