6-in-1 Flash Media Reader for as low as $31 after rebate (updated)

[RossMAN]

<< >>>I can't find any reason I would ever want to "write" to media using the reader but you never know.<<<

Really? I can...

1) Transferring large Photoshop files from 1 location to another (can't do that with a floppy, and I don't have or want a Zip drive).

2) Transferring a lot of small files...carrying a tiny, flat 256MB SM card is a lot easier than lugging around a dozen or more floppies. >>



Yeah I was going to mention those examples but I rarely (maybe once a year) have a need to transfer a file larger than a 50k Word document. But if I did this would come in very handy.

catrats - Maybe I'll just buy both and decide which I like better

Which would you go with and why?

 

[jlivest]

<< catrats...

Nice, versatile device. Specs say it's both USB1.1 and USB2.0 compliant -- PIX should fly off this critter when we finally get USB2.x ports.

A question???

The System Requirements **include** an available PCI card slot. Why is a PCI slot required? Is this critter **not** a USB-pluggable device? The specs also say it's "bus powered, therefore no AC adapter is required." Could a PCI card/slot be required to supply power? (If so, I'd rather have a device that plugs it into an outlet -- got tons of those.) >>



Haha you said critter... that's really funny!

 

[Danzilla]

OT(kind of related): Does anyone else have one of these HP PSC 950 printers? They come with a built-in interface for CF, SM, and mem stick for printing directly from camera media or for transfering images to your computer. When I bought it I thought I'd be able to use the device as a regular memory reader for the three formats. For some reason HP decided to limit the design to being able to read photo memory cards to the printer or to the computer. I don't understand why they didn't enable a write feature as well. With all the hardware already in place, is it really that difficult for them to make their $400 device actually as useful as a $25 memory reader? HP really pisses me off sometimes.

D.

 

[WhineBaby]

JustinC always seems to read my mind on posts.

Anyway, another reason to write to these cards is their use portable MP3 players.

 

[RossMAN]

Woohoo I found the Acomdata 6-in-1 reader IN STOCK at a local CompUSA (they now have 7 left) for $59.99 - $15 MIR = $44.99

If I get time, I'll hook it up tonight and play around with it. Unfortunately I don't have a PDA or MP3 Player, so I can't test that aspect and I don't know where my digital camera is.

But I'll fiddle around with it and report back.

I just hope the Dazzle isn't a better product, I think CompUSA's return policy is 14 days? Maybe 30 days.

 

[WhineBaby]

I drooled over (actually, probably ON) one of these 6-in-1's at CompUSA several weeks ago--Santa didn't hear my pleas, I guess--but I would have sworn the price at that time was $69.95 or $79.95. Maybe Santa was just being shrewd, leaving the rebate decision to me.

 

[RossMAN]

Well I'm home with my Acomdata 6-in-1 reader but have a major headache ... plus one small problem, I don't know where my 64MB SmartMedia is

So when I find my 64MB SM I'll play around with it and let you guys know what happens.

 

[sshen81]

I can't quite tell from the picture of the Dazzle product, but it doesn't seem to have as many slots to insert media. Also, it doesn't make any mention of being able to access different slots simultaneously. Here's another 6-in-1 reader available. It's single slot, so I believe it saves on space, but definitely can't do simultaenous read/writes. Also, no rebate ($60).

Link to FlashGO! - $60

 

[catrats]

RossMAN, I look forward to your opinion about the ACOMdATA reader. How big (or small) is it? How's its speed of retrieving your picture files compared to pulling them off of your digital camera? I know this is a small detail but does the one from CompUSA look like it does on CompUSA's page, the manufacturer's product page, or like it does at J&R Electronics' page?

sshen81, thanks for the link. One thing it has going for it is the size. If I'm correct, it doesn't look much bigger than a SmartMedia card.

One other concern I would have regarding these readers is how they would be able to read MicroDrives without external power. Can they really read MicroDrives or do they include an AC adaptor for these occasions?

 

[RossMAN]

catrats - If I haven't already thanked you, thank you for posting such an excellent deal with the proper links, review, etc. Very nice, and now I'm $59.99 poorer but at least there's a $15 MIR.

Once I'm able to find my 64MB SmartMedia I'll try writing, reading and well that's about all I can try. I'll see if some of my friends have CompactFlash and Sony Memory Stick media that I can borrow for testing purposes. How would I go about posting the speed of the reader? Are there any shareware/freeware apps I can download which measure the time in seconds?

I'll let you know what the product looks like when I get home tonight and even take a pict of it and post it, that is of course if/when I ever find my digicam.

Thanks again.

 

[Ribbet]

Rossman...

While you're playing w/ your new toy (and if you're so inclined), could you figure out/clarify why a PCI slot is listed as a System Requirement for this thing? Several have speculated, but so far there's no definitive answer. Thanks.

 

[sshen81]

From what I can tell, the Acomdata website states that it requires an external adapter when reading Microdrives. However, it doesn't say whether this is included or not. RossMAN, maybe you can fill us in on whether it's packaged. The Dazzle & FlashGO! devices make no mention of external power requirements w/ Microdrives.

 

[RossMAN]

Ribbet & sshen81 - Not a problem, I'll probably play with my toy this weekend and I'll try and answer all your questions.

 

[therealrokjok]

fyi, i got the acomdata model for a Christmas present. I called tech support regarding the latest drivers and was told there is a firmware and driver update available.

Get it here.

I was told it is good for all versions of windows.

 

[catrats]

RossMAN, you're welcome. I'm just glad this deal has helped someone. Also, don't forget to update us on the look of it. Minor point, I agree, but it would be nice to know what CompUSA is offering.

therealrokjok, thanks for the info. I'll update the original message with that information now.

 

[kottonkandie]

For those that already have it or thinking about getting one, it might be possible to save a little more with either Buyer Assurance or Amex Blue.

Here is the lowest price I found for the Acomdata - $50.99:

www.egeneralmedical.com

Here is the lowest price I found for the Dazzle - $50.50:

www.dealcat.com

Hope this helps someone.

 

[LP30]

I have had the ACOMdata multicard reader for about a month now. I have been pleased with its overall performance, but I have had some problems with it. It is USB bus powered for all functions except use with the Microdrive. It requires a 5v adapter (not included) to read use Microdrives, but I have had mixed results on getting it to correclty access my 340mb Microdrive.

The USB 2.0 feature is nice and makes a huge difference in downloading large sets of photos. Currently USB 2.0 is not supported by Windows XP and will not be until sometime in early 2002 (last release date listed as Jan 02). You can also reset your computer date to before October 24 and get access to USB 2.0 beta support in XP. The drivers deactivated USB 2.0 support prior to Windows XP release. To use USB 2.0 for most people will require an add in card or a motherboard swap. I have been using the Adaptec USB2Connect card which has driver support under windows 98/ME, but not XP.

XP support required a firmware flash which was poorly documented. I had 2 failed attempts before I succeeded, and a failed attempt means a dead device and cannot be recovered. The problem was with the documentation not matching what the software was actually displaying. It must flash 2 controllers in the reader. After flashing the first device, it changes the position in the list and controller 2 is listed first. Simply following the instructions resulted in flashing the first controller a second time with the firmware for the second controller which killed it. So be very careful with the upgrade.

On last note. There are 2 versions of the device currently on store shelves. The original price at CompUSA was $89.95. The lower price has come with the newer version which I did not like. The old version has been reduced to the same price and was on the shelf with the new version. The older version has an eject button for compact flash and smart media clicked in and clicked out of its slot the same way it installs into a camera. The newer version simply has you push the memory cards in and pull them out. The cable on the older version also seemed to be a higher quality. Not a big difference, but the older version seemed nicer (may be the reason for the higher price originally).

Hope this information is helpful to someone.

 

[catrats]

<< For those that already have it or thinking about getting one, it might be possible to save a little more with either Buyer Assurance or Amex Blue.

Here is the lowest price I found for the Acomdata - $50.99:

www.egeneralmedical.com

Here is the lowest price I found for the Dazzle - $50.50:

www.dealcat.com

Hope this helps someone. >>

Wow, nice find kottonkandie. I've updated the main message with this info.

 

[sshen81]

I picked up the Acomdata MF6 reader at a nearby CompUSA. It took a firmware & driver update to get it working properly with Windows XP. I first tried to use the drivers supplied with the device. The install didn't give me any problems, however, XP crashed when I tried to read a file from my memory stick. I had to use last good configuration to get it to boot.

If you plan to use this reader with Windows XP, I recommed applying the firmware update before using. The update can be found as a link within this thread.

Anyways, after firmware update and some configuration, everything's working well. I've read/written to both memory stick & 128MB compact flash. The PCI card slot requirement listed at Acomdata's website isn't correct. Also, there's no external adapter included. Everything can be used with bus power except IBM microdrives.

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks for the informative post LP30.

 

[RossMAN]

$#@! I forgot to mail in my rebate and it had to be postmarked by 1/15/2002!