Jason Dunn
10-10-2007, 03:00 PM
<img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/delkin-expresscard54-review1.png" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.delkin.com/products/adapters/expresscard54/">Delkin's ExpressCard54 adaptor</a> is a one trick pony: it allows you to access CompactFlash cards via an ExpressCard port on your laptop. That's it - that's all it does. But the Delkin product is very special in one way: it sits <i>completely flush</i> with the ExpressCard slot when inserted without a CompactFlash card in it. Why is that so important? Let me quote an <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,12530">earlier post I made</a>:<br /><br /><i>"I find myself in a bit of a conundrum and I'm looking for suggestions from the Digital Media Thoughts community. My new XPS M1330 laptop, which should arrive today, lacks a CompactFlash card slot - it can read SD and SDHC cards, MemoryStick, etc. This presents a significant problem for me because my Nikon D200 uses CompactFlash cards, and one of my main uses for the new laptop will be processing photos from the D200. I use 8 GB CompactFlash cards and shoot in RAW + JPEG, so I need a good amount of storage. You see my problem...Option #2 is for me to use an ExpressCard adaptor, such as this one. I'd continue to shoot with my 8 GB CF cards, and when I want to off-load them to the camera, I'd pop in the ExpressCard adaptor. The biggest problem here is that it's another thing for me to have to carry and remember, which I really dislike having to do. I want to be able to grab my laptop, grab my camera, and go - having to remember a little adaptor will be a hassle."</i><br /><br />Yup, this is the review that pretty much writes itself. My problem is 100% solved: unlike the Hagiwara adaptor <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,10716">that I reviewed earlier</a>, the Delkin adaptor can be left inside a laptop, thus giving me the permanent CF card slot that my Dell XPS M1330 lacks. The photos tell the story...<br /><!><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/jd-delkin-cf-expresscard54-flush-01.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The Delkin CompactFlash ExpressCard54 Adaptor on it's own. Notice the short rails - this is the secret sauce.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/jd-delkin-cf-expresscard54-flush-02.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 2: The adaptor with my 8 GB CompactFlash card in it.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/jd-delkin-cf-expresscard54-flush-03.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 3: Same as above, only inside the ExpressCard slot on the XPS M1330 laptop. You can't travel with a CompactFlash card in the adaptor (well, without risking damage).</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/jd-delkin-cf-expresscard54-flush-04.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 4: See the adaptor? Exactly! It's completely, utterly, and totally flush - meaning it can be left in there.</i><br /><br />My problem is solved, and I'm incredibly pleased that Delkin realized the problem that small-laptop-lovin' digital photographers such as myself face: we want our laptops to have CompactFlash card slots, but most do not. The adaptor boasts speeds of 30+ MB per second, and supports the new <a href="http://www.delkin.com/products/compactflash/udma-compactflash-pro.html">UDMA CompactFlash cards</a> (of which, sadly, I've never used). The speed of the transfers will vary based on what kind of CompactFlash card you're using. I tested it using my <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,10905">8 GB Transcend CF card</a>. Transferring 2.14 GB worth of RAW files, 261 in total, from my CompactFlash card to my laptop took 3 minutes 57 seconds - it peaked at around 9.8 MB/s and levelled off at around 9.3 MB/s. Going the other way, from the laptop to the card, took 4 minutes 39 seconds - it was transferring around 7.8 MB/s. Deleting the files off the card took 39 seconds. With a faster card I'm sure I'd see even faster speeds.<br /><br />My only criticism of the Delkin adaptor is that it took me several attempts to get a CompactFlash card into the adaptor - it's not as automatic a fit as my old PCMCIA adaptors. It takes a bit more effort to line up the rails, but it's likely something I'll become adept at over time.<br /><br />The Delkin CompactFlash ExpressCard54 Adaptor can be <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,10716">purchased directly from Delkin</a> for $59.99 USD and is compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP. I recommend this product highly for anyone who has a laptop that lacks a CompactFlash card slot and hates having to carry external adaptors around. Delkin hit a home run with this product!<br /><br /><i>Jason Dunn owns and operates <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog. He loves the smell of leather.</i>