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Press Releases 2006 - Local Media

Reviewer: Saad Bin Riaz
Date: 2006/03/05
Source: SBALABS http://sbrlabs.com/index.php?id=5001

Introduction:
Card readers are not something to cheer about but a universal system that welcomes different technologies to work under the same roof is what we call innovation. Decades of engineering and the evolving technologies brought us the once unimaginable, straight into our palms; Mobile phones with cameras, digital devices with wireless connectivity and all the data of the world traveling with you in something no larger than a thumb.

You bought a new camera and it can store 100 images, big deal? You ask for more you bring along an external memory module that suits your needs. Similarly, almost everything else in this digital world is memory limited due to the expenses involved but there is always a memory for you. Unfortunately, the ongoing competition brought us several options and none of which can be regarded useless or outdated. Different devices use different sorts of memory setup, one digital camera might be on SD cards, the other on MMC cards, a PSP running on MS Pro sticks and mobile phone with their miniSD cards. This trend continues all the way from Taipei to Washington but the basic purpose remains the same, data storage.

The Jungle of Wires:
What would you normally do if you are to transfer images from your digital camera to your hard drive? Simple, you just plug-in the required lead to your USB port and you’re good to go. Now, what if you have 4 different devices and you want to transfer files as quick as possible, what do you do? Well… first you get the required connection lead, and then find an empty USB port on your system back (if there is any) and finally turn-on the devices to start a slow transfer. Often, you’re out of ports and you need to disconnect one device to make way for the other. So what you are actually doing is filling up your USB ports, adding tons of wires and leads all around your PC and wasting some precious minutes just like I did until now.

The Solution?
This is where the Kingston 15-in-1 card reader comes in. It’s essentially a portable, non-battery operative and a full USB 2.0 Hi-Speed complaint Multi card reader enabling you to use any modern flash memory like a removable hard drive with only the maximum speeds possible, best of all, only one lead and a single USB port. Lets see what Kingston has to offer...

Kingston 15-in-1 Card Reader In-depth Analysis:
The silver colored plastic construction is just 8 cm long and 5 cm wide, good for pocket carry. It weighs less than, well… almost everything, just 50 grams. The top part has been given some details, carved lines on both sides and a slight curvature; it resembles the front of a sports car.



The front panel offers four slots, each designed for a particular memory design. A small LED sits near the top-center which lights up blue under zero load and blinks red under working operation.



Thats a lot of flash memory support in a small package. The most commonly used flash memory is the SD (Secure Digital). Even a microSD at least 50 % smaller is compatible on the Kingston card reader. Perhaps the best feature of this device is the superior speed provided by the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed support.



Thats right, one lead, one USB port. Plug it in and forget everything else, after all Kingston is providing a 5-year warranty.



Thanks to the direct power input from the USB port, much of the hassle in the circuitry was avoidable. The PMC IC used here operates in the range of 2.7-3.6 Volts and can sustain up to 70 deg C.

Next, complete feature list and a few words on how this little gadget can enhance your digital world.

Features List and Added Benefits:
  • Versatility — CompactFlash (CF) I and II, Secure Digital, miniSD, microSD (SD adapter included), MultiMediaCard (MMC) Version 3.1, MMCmicro (MMC adapter required), MMCmobile (DV RS-MMC), MMCplus (Version 4.0), RS-MMC (Version 3.1), Microdrive (CF Types II), Memory Stick, MS RO, MS PRO Duo, SmartMedia
  • Dimensions — 3.46” x 2.19” x .63” (8.78 cm x 5.56 cm x 1.6 cm)
  • Standardized — USB 2.0 Hi-speed specification for up to 480 Mbps date transfer and backwards compatible with USB 1.1
  • Operating Temp — 0° to 70° C / 32° to 158° F
  • Storage Temp — -10° to 90° C / 50° to 194° F
  • Weight — 0.108 lbs. (.05g)
  • OS Compatibility — Win 2000 (SP 3 and above) and XP; Mac OS 9.1 or later
  • Portable — convenient small size; no power cable required
  • Guaranteed — five-year warranty
The Added Benefits:

Fastest Transfer Rates:
Most digital devices cannot compare to the speed provided by the USB 2.0 specification. This means the transfer of data using the Kingston card reader would always be faster than having to do so the normal way. Those who have experienced a gigabyte of image and video transfer know how time consuming the task can be but using this little wonder, the same can be done 3-6 times faster.

Diversified Storage; No limits:
This is perhaps the best part; you can now use any of the compatible flash memories as a permanent source of data source. You don’t need to limit yourself to Flash USB drives, instead pick out anything from the list and that would serve you as a lethal secondary storage.

Note: Even though USB 2.0 provides data transfer up to 60 MB/s, the overall speed is dependant upon the flash memory inself.

In-Depth Performance Analysis:
There is no installation required, the Kingston card reader is detected by Windows XP as a collection of four removable devices, USB 2.0 Hi--Speed config was used.

Testing Comparions-
Generic Digicam (with SD card) vs Kingston card reader (with SD card) vs 7200 RPM Hard Drive RAID setup.

SisSandra Soft 2005 (Read/Write & Endurance Testing):

Sandra shows a massive difference in performance between the two devices. You have to remember that I ought to use the same SD card for both setups. The Kingston card reader hammers full throttle, beating the generic digicam by over 500%. Surprisingly enough, the endurance test also favors the faster USB 2.0 setup. These initial tests confirmed the claims of Kingston and I am delighted to see such a huge performance boost. Although, the results were astounding, there was a definite drawback for the digicam due to the older USB 1.1 support.

Read Speed:

A 165 MB file extraction read test shows an excellent score for the Kingston card reader. The digicam due to its slow host speed completes the same task in well over 300 seconds. The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 card reader may be fast but its still a good 20% slower than a standard hard drive.

Write Speed:

A similar but expected score is seen in the write test; The Kingston card reader beats the digicam by some margin and at the same time delivers performance close to a hard drive RAID setup.

At the time of testing, other memory cards were not available but the same pattern was to repeat. Unless a particular digital deivce boasts full support for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, the Kingston card reader remains the fastest option available for data transfer.

Conclusion:
Priced just a shade over $ 20, the Kingston 15-in-1 card reader may be the priciest solution of its class but with a 5 years warranty and superior performance numbers, it’s more just an ordinary computer accessory. If you’re a regular user of smart phones, digicams and flash memories, this is the fastest way of transferring files to your computer.

The best bit however is the ability to use any flash media as a permanent storage device. If you have any flash card laying around eating dust, you can now use it as a regular data storage medium, just like a USB flash drive. If ever, you come across some attractive deals for memory cards, make use of such offers and leave the rest to the Kingston 15-in-1 card reader.



To sum up...
SD or MMC, PC or PSP, the Kingston 15-in-1 Card Reader is the ultimate playground for all your flash memories.

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