How to choose a card reader

Card Readers are devices that enable you to read / write information from memory cards of different types and formats. This, of course, can be done with a USB-cable, but for each device you must have a driver. And if you can install the necessary drivers on your home computer, then installing programs on someone else's computer is quite troublesome, and not everyone will be able to do it. In any case, the card reader is convenient. Simply insert the memory card into the desired slot (connector) , connect the device to the USB port and transfer the necessary information to the computer or from it.

What to look for when choosing

According to the principle of installation, the magnetic card reader is internal or external. Internal devices are mounted in the system unit, external portable-they are connected to the USB connector. The choice by this feature is simple - you need what you buy, although almost always prefer external models. The cost of both species is approximately the same.

The parameter that should be paid attention first of all is the number and types of supported memory cards. Carefully review the list, if there are all the formats that you have available, then such a card reader can be bought. There are models that read all existing formats, but, firstly, new devices constantly appear, which means new media, and secondly, the more formats are supported, the higher the cost. So especially chase the amount in this case there is no point.

Most often, the card reader works at 480 Mbps, and only some of the newest models issue 500 Mbps. For most computers this is a sufficient speed, but here for the latest models that have USB 3.0, such speed is clearly not enough. This new port can deliver 5 Gb / s, so the standard 0.5 Gb / s will satisfy very few people. It is necessary to search for a device of the appropriate format (there are already such), but to ensure a high transmission speed and the card should also support this speed, otherwise we get all the same 0.5 Gbit / s.

Also note the compatibility of the card reader with the operating system installed on your computer. All these devices have their own software, which will coordinate their work. If you have Windows installed, you should not worry, but the owners of other less popular systems need to make sure that the card reader and your OS are compatible.

Additional functions

There are models that combine several devices. For example, the card reader and USB-ports, that is, such a device can be used as a USB hub. There are models that perform also the functions of the flash drive. Sometimes such combinations are very useful.

There are also adapters. These devices allow you to connect cards to the card reader, for which connectors are not provided. In assembled form, this design is very cumbersome and inconvenient, but if there is no other way out, it is workable and often helps out. For example, you bought a new device or card, and it does not have an input on the card reader. In this case, the purchase of the adapter will be a way out (if you did not plan to purchase a new reader).