Use SD, MMC and Memory Sticks in your CF-II slot

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1440&amp;pf%5Fid=MP970838&amp;listing=1">http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1440&amp;pf%5Fid=MP970838&amp;listing=1</a><br /><br />"3-in-1 CompactFlash Adapter that allows you to read or transfer data to and from your MultiMedia, SecureDigital and Memory Stick cards to your Type II CompactFlash enabled device." Cool. Now I can read my SD card in my CF->PCMCIA adapter for my laptop.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020607-compacttrio.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks to PDABuzz for the heads up - which got it from Pocket PC Passion.... <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" />

[wiredguy]

Been available since 2001:
- http://www.wiredguy.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=236

Couldn't resist :), sorry.

[Ed Hansberry]

Been available since 2001:
- http://www.wiredguy.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=236

Being shown at Comdex is one thing. Has it been available? I've never seen it on any online store.

[crispeto]

I don't necessarily need one but I love the concept.

[OTHHC]

Been available since 2001:
- http://www.wiredguy.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=236

Being shown at Comdex is one thing. Has it been available? I've never seen it on any online store.

We have had it online for a few weeks now and sold a few that we got in to see how they would do. We have a larger shipment due in around June 14th.
http://www.handheldcanada.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=H&Product_Code=PR0025&Category_Code=M

Cool product but a bit pricey...

[Rob Alexander]

Nice idea, but way too expensive. :( I popped over to the site ready to order one, but at that price they can forget it. It's just a little piece of plastic and metal; must cost about a buck to produce in quantity.

[Jason Dunn]

Been available since 2001:
- http://www.wiredguy.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=236

Couldn't resist :), sorry.

Have they sent you one Richard? I've been asking about this product for months, and they keep saying "wait". So I think it's important to tell people that they can now order it (even if it is insanely over-priced)

[st63z]

It's like two and a quarter inch long (a bit longer than the Symbol/Socket 802.11b card), so it's gonna stick out a bit. I'm wondering, does the SD/MMC card still stick out even more beyond the adapter (I know the Memory Stick card certainly will)? Also, will this thing need any extra drivers to work? I guess I'll find out, since I just ordered this (want to use SD memory in my old iPAQs).

For laptop PC Card bays, you can alternatively go down to Fry's and get an IO Data combo PCMCIA adapter for $45 (takes SD/MMC, MS, and *SM* in an all-in-one slot). In my case I had already bought the Addonics brand adapter card (of same capability) online, for its full $59 MSRP :( It's pretty good, though (fast, supposedly 3MB/sec) and no drivers at all. Note that you would still need to get a separate CF-PCMCIA adapter (preferrably the more expensive CF2 adapter for Microdrives).

For desktop USB combo reader, I like Addonics' new, smaller Mini DigiDrive (amazingly small and light for a *quad-slot* reader -- 3.75"W x 3.18"D x .6"H @ 3 oz). I like the four slots which means you can simultaneously load one of each card type and copy among each other and whatnot (CF1/CF2, SD/MMC, SM, MS -- each appears as a separate drive letter). It does need a driver for pre-WinXP though, if I recall. And I wish they'd upgrade the electronics to support faster read/write speed via USB 2.0 (right now it's supposedly only 1MB/sec). And getting replacement USB cables with the mini USB pinout on one end (which it uses) is a bit less convenient...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1022000103.html

P.S. I didn't know Addonics was an Acer Group sub. And I noticed they just upgraded their website...

[st63z]

Oh, I forgot to ask -- is there such a thing as a Memory Stick adapter that takes in SD/MMC cards? If you're not into Memory Stick media (whether from principle or just no $$$ to buy multiple formats), a MS slot on a device actually counts as a negative. But then you would continually miss out on some of Sony's nifty gadgets (like their DCR-IP7BT camcorder, PictureBook and other laptops, etc). But if there's such an adapter so you can use SD cards in an MS slot, that might change things.

Also, what's the situation with the FlashPath MMC card to floppy adapter? It doesn't seem to be marketed nearly as widely as the FlashPath SM card version, and the MMC version seems limited to only support older, smaller capacities (firmware upgradeable?), and I've no idea if it takes SD memory cards too or not.

[innersky]

I wonder if this adapter has the same size as a cf card, or is it bigger ? (larger)

[Dave Conger]

I wonder if this adapter has the same size as a cf card, or is it bigger ? (larger)

It is bigger. It is 57.4mm in length where a standard CF card is around 36.4mm.

[Speed Racer]

I purchased one from Mobile Planet when the were released a couple of months ago. It was a little pricey but it was worth every penny to me because I use an assortment of SD, CF, and Memory Stick cards. Currently I have a CF reader attached to my desktop PC and just use the adapter when ever I want to transfer files to SD or MS. Likewise I have used the adapter with my iPaq to review photos from my Sony digital camera. It works great and you don't not have to install any drivers.

The adapter is about 1/2" longer than a CF card. MMC and SD cards sit flush in the adapter. While MS cards stick out about 1/4". My only gripe is the fact that the cards do not click into place. Instead they are held lightly in place by the friction of the contacts. So far this has not caused any problems but then again I only use the adapter for short periods of time.

Bottom line IMHO is that this adapter does exactly what they advertised. Which seems to be a rare thing in the computer industry these days.

[st63z]

^ I think SD/MMC cards are supposed to be inserted like that (I would guess for MS and SM too, but I have no experience). They don't click into place like CF cards, and they have exposed pins. At least that's the case with the myriad of USB and PC Card adapters for SD that I've tried.


BTW, I was surprised when I read in the recent news blurb about Sony's Memory Stick having roughly 1/3 market share of all flash media. Really shows Sony's juggernaut power, amazing :o

[Dave Conger]

BTW, I was surprised when I read in the recent news blurb about Sony's Memory Stick having roughly 1/3 market share of all flash media. Really shows Sony's juggernaut power, amazing :o

Not surprising considering they have been putting it in their camcorders (which are some of the best on the market), in the digital camera (which are some of the best on the market), in their MP3 players, and in their CLIE PDA's (which are the best Palm OS devices on the market). Since the MS was out before MMC/SD, they grabbed a lot of market share by having a memory technology that was suddenly in a lot of different markets.