SIIG ExpressCard 34 11-in-1 Media Card Reader

Testing

Published: 9th July 2006 | Source: Newegg | Price: | Author: Matt Krei

Testing

Test Rig
17" MacBook Pro
-2.16ghz Intel Core Duo
-2GB DDR2 RAM
-1 x ExpressCard 34 Slot
-OS: Mac OS X & Windows XP SP2 via BootCamp

Testing was completed using a new 17" MacBook Pro equipped with an ExpressCard 34 slot, one of the only notebooks on the market to feature the slot.

The card slot is nicely covered by an aluminum hinged door to hide the slot while no card is inserted. Notice that the ExpressCard slots do not feature an "eject" tab like the PCMCIA cards do, very nice for conserving just that much more space.

ExpressCard utilizes a very intuitive retension system. It locks itself in place the same way that SecureDigital cards do as an example. You simply push the card all the way in until it locks in place, then push it in once again and the card slides right out, brilliant! Once locked in place the card sits completely flush with the edge of the notebook. No more bulky PCMCIA card hanging off the side of your sleek notebook.

The card used for testing the device in this review was a stock Canon 32MB SecureDigital card which came with my PowerShot S80. The SD card slid right in and locked in place just the same way as the ExpressCard did and only sticks out but just a tiny bit more than the side of the notebook. I imagine that longer flash cards such as the Sony MemorySticks may stick out a bit further than SD or xD cards.

The only thing I noticed that bothered me a bit was during removal of the SD card. It's very easy to push the whole ExpressCard in to the notebook and delock it rather than the SD card if you're not careful. That's the only qualm I have about the card thus far.

Most Recent Comments

01-07-2006, 12:02:57

FragTek

http://www.siig.com/images/products/...r-Writer-w.gif

I've got in my hands the first ExpressCard/34 memory card reader which I will be reviewing later today or tomorrow. For those who didn't know ExpressCard is the latest advancement in PC card technology created by the makers of the PCMCIA standard. This new PC Card is MUCH smaller and allows great transfer rates. You can get the ExpressCards in two different formats, 34mm or 54mm widths depending on what your notebook is equipped with. My MacBook Pro is equipped with a 34mm slot in this instance.

The SIIG memory card reader is the very ExpressCard reader on the market and I am pleased to be able to review it for OC3D so keep your eyes peeled for the review!

More information can be found for the new ExpressCard design at www.pcmcia.com.

Information about the SIIG card reader can be found HERE.

02-07-2006, 23:12:43

FragTek

Here's a few teaser photo's for ya