Originally posted by: xyyz
how does this compare to the M3 Simply with game compatibility?
It is the same thing. The only different between the M3 and R4 is the firmware. You can mod a M3 into a R4 by connecting/disconnecting two solder points.
New R4 firmware used to come out sooner than M3. Sometimes the M3 came out sooner. So it is like 50-50.
The game compatibility depends highly on the quality of MicroSD card. The gold standard is the Japan-made Kingston 2GB. Virtually everything except for some "Download Play" works on the R4 and DS.
Basically... we all know what you are going to do with this... for that usage, it is perfect. Works basically flawlessly.
There is ONE problem with both the R4 and M3, and just ONE. The spring (the retains the MicroSD card) breaks. Actually it isn't even the spring that breaks. What breaks is the plastic "seat" which the hook catches so that card doesn't come out. That is what actually breaks.
It doesn't break so much as it "it wears down". The "seat" is about 1mm wide and 0.5mm tall. Very small that the hook has to grab. Once that breaks, you can open it and tweak the metal hook to grab better and it will work again... for a while. Eventually if you are like me take your MicroSD out... alot. It is will permanently break... In which case you either has to glue down the hook so that there is no more "springy action" or you hold the MicroSD down with tape.
So bottomline, spring bad. Everything else good. Can be used exactly for "what you expect to use it for" if you get the Kingston Japan-made MicroSD. Excellent value provided you have access to the Usenet or Torrents