Mac Compatible Memory Card Readers [Archive]

Mark Kenepp

03-01-2004, 01:58 AM

Any Mac users have a recommendation for a memory card reader? Preferably a six in one (able to read CF, SD and Memory Stick).

I am running OS X 10.2.8 on my iBook.

With my old PowerBook (OS 9.2) I would insert a CF card into a PC card adapter and then directly into the PC card slot. I was able to read the card fine on the PowerBook but when I tried to insert the card into my Camera or PDA, it was unreadable and required a reformat.

Maybe OS X does not have the same problem (but it does not have a PC Card slot).

Anyway, It would be great to be able to transfer data directly to and from my various memory cards for my iPaq 2215 (CF and SD), Canon PowerShot (CF) and SE p800 (MS Duo) with my iBook.

TIA

bmhome1

03-01-2004, 02:08 AM

Nearly ALL multi-format card readers are Mac OSX compatible, without drivers needed.

Your Mac can read ANY CF, SD, etc. card if formatted in either the camera or PDA. It will be formatted as FAT12, 16 or 32 which your Mac can read from.

Just DON'T format the card with your Mac, it won't get formatted properly and won't read in the device.

So, read in Mac, yes. Format in Mac, no.

Mark Kenepp

03-01-2004, 02:22 AM

Thanks for the quick reply.

So can I assume that OS X does not load any of the files/folders that OS 9 did?

Zack Mahdavi

03-01-2004, 05:42 AM

Yeah, almost all memory card readers are plug and play on Mac OS X. I recently purchased a Belkin 8 in 1 USB 2.0 reader from Comp USA. It was on sale for $20.

wocket

03-01-2004, 11:52 AM

Nearly ALL multi-format card readers are Mac OSX compatible, without drivers needed.

Your Mac can read ANY CF, SD, etc. card if formatted in either the camera or PDA. It will be formatted as FAT12, 16 or 32 which your Mac can read from.

Just DON'T format the card with your Mac, it won't get formatted properly and won't read in the device.

So, read in Mac, yes. Format in Mac, no.

Been there, done that. Apple need to get their format routines sorted out!

bmhome1

03-02-2004, 12:25 AM

Macs use HFS+ format just as Linux uses its own EXT3 format and MS uses it own FAT and NTFS. Neither MS or Linux have much support for non-native formats.

Yet Macs can read FAT format fine and can write to FAT and can even format as FAT, but just as FAT32 which most mobile devices don't yet use. Many Mac users are unaware that they can format as FAT at all.