I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones with 4.5 stars had 7% to 10% 1-star ratings that gave me the jitters. Reason: those 1-star ratings reported damage to memory cards, or damage to their computer's USB port, or readers that died in just a few months after purchase.
Moreover, the readers I looked at were all priced at around $30 or less (mostly less... much less). I suppose that's because a reader is a fairly simple mechanism. However, such low prices evidently do NOT motivate the manufacturers to spend money on quality control.
Okay, I could live with some damage to my computer -- fixing that merely costs a bit of inconvenience and money. I could also live with reader-failure after a relatively short period of time. BUT the idea of potentially having a memory card destroyed by the reader is bad bad bad.
I know I could read cards directly from camera to computer -- it's slow, but I will do so if necessary. I also know I could replace my aging computer with one having a built in card reader. But.....
QUESTION: Is there a card reader out there that DOES have good quality? (I don't mind paying for quality. There is stuff where you can take a chance and go cheap, but a memory card is definitely NOT one of them!)
I have 3 multiple format card readers purchased from Wal-Mart. The newest 1 is at least 5 years old. I've never had a problem with any of them reading CF or SD cards. I don't think I paid more than $10.00 for any of them. I think a lot of the 1 & 2 star reviews on Amazon are from folks who also yank cables out of the wall and can't understand why they don't last.
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
I suspect 1 star ratings on Amazon for card readers is due more to OHG (Operator Head Gap) than a flaw in the equipment. . . Just sayin'
bellgamin wrote:
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones with 4.5 stars had 7% to 10% 1-star ratings that gave me the jitters. Reason: those 1-star ratings reported damage to memory cards, or damage to their computer's USB port, or readers that died in just a few months after purchase.
Moreover, the readers I looked at were all priced at around $30 or less (mostly less... much less). I suppose that's because a reader is a fairly simple mechanism. However, such low prices evidently do NOT motivate the manufacturers to spend money on quality control.
Okay, I could live with some damage to my computer -- fixing that merely costs a bit of inconvenience and money. I could also live with reader-failure after a relatively short period of time. BUT the idea of potentially having a memory card destroyed by the reader is bad bad bad.
I know I could read cards directly from camera to computer -- it's slow, but I will do so if necessary. I also know I could replace my aging computer with one having a built in card reader. But.....
QUESTION: Is there a card reader out there that DOES have good quality? (I don't mind paying for quality. There is stuff where you can take a chance and go cheap, but a memory card is definitely NOT one of them!)
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones w... (
show quote)
There is always the possibility of a hardware failure in anything. It is also more likely that failures will generate a negative review. So the percentage of negative reviews is not the actual product reliability.
That said, I have never had a card or card reader failure. Generally, I use Sony and Lexar cards, and I use Lexar card readers almost exclusively. Pick a name brand; your odds of success will be better.
bellgamin wrote:
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones with 4.5 stars had 7% to 10% 1-star ratings that gave me the jitters. Reason: those 1-star ratings reported damage to memory cards, or damage to their computer's USB port, or readers that died in just a few months after purchase.
Moreover, the readers I looked at were all priced at around $30 or less (mostly less... much less). I suppose that's because a reader is a fairly simple mechanism. However, such low prices evidently do NOT motivate the manufacturers to spend money on quality control.
Okay, I could live with some damage to my computer -- fixing that merely costs a bit of inconvenience and money. I could also live with reader-failure after a relatively short period of time. BUT the idea of potentially having a memory card destroyed by the reader is bad bad bad.
I know I could read cards directly from camera to computer -- it's slow, but I will do so if necessary. I also know I could replace my aging computer with one having a built in card reader. But.....
QUESTION: Is there a card reader out there that DOES have good quality? (I don't mind paying for quality. There is stuff where you can take a chance and go cheap, but a memory card is definitely NOT one of them!)
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones w... (
show quote)
I use the Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader (UDMA 7)
Very reliable.
Purchased from B&H
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1141181-REG/lexar_lrw400crbna_professional_usb_3_0_dual.htmlChecked reviews and no card failures comments. Some reviews are false. Says can't use with Apple.
I use mine om a MacBook Pro and IMac with no issues.
I have been using the same card reader for several years with no problems at all. I bought this Sunpack 72-in-1 high speed card reader after lightning ran in on my pc with a card slot. I don't think this one was very costly, probably less than $10.00, but it was so long ago that I'm not certain of the price.
Oi vey, the 2 B&H Lexars linked above have fairly numerous & equally disturbing negative reviews because of damaged memory cards & damaged computers. I guess it's a crap shoot but, fortunately, the odds are pretty good that nothing will go wrong. I'll buy 1 from my local Walmart & hope for the best.
bellgamin wrote:
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones with 4.5 stars had 7% to 10% 1-star ratings that gave me the jitters. Reason: those 1-star ratings reported damage to memory cards, or damage to their computer's USB port, or readers that died in just a few months after purchase.
Moreover, the readers I looked at were all priced at around $30 or less (mostly less... much less). I suppose that's because a reader is a fairly simple mechanism. However, such low prices evidently do NOT motivate the manufacturers to spend money on quality control.
Okay, I could live with some damage to my computer -- fixing that merely costs a bit of inconvenience and money. I could also live with reader-failure after a relatively short period of time. BUT the idea of potentially having a memory card destroyed by the reader is bad bad bad.
I know I could read cards directly from camera to computer -- it's slow, but I will do so if necessary. I also know I could replace my aging computer with one having a built in card reader. But.....
QUESTION: Is there a card reader out there that DOES have good quality? (I don't mind paying for quality. There is stuff where you can take a chance and go cheap, but a memory card is definitely NOT one of them!)
I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones w... (
show quote)
Here is my read of the ratings:
(1) damage to memory cards: User Error, mechanical problem.
(2) damage to their computer's USB port: User Error, mechanical problem.
(3) or readers that died in just a few months after purchase: Stuff happens. Stuff fails. Send it back for a refund.
Relax. Don’t force things, if the card or reader is exhibiting resistance look at what is wrong don’t force it.
The U-Green has been good for me also. The cord is longer than I would have preferred (22") and it is thicker than most (3/8"). Overall, seems to be well built. But I don't jerk any plugs out of anything.
rehess
Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
JD750 wrote:
Here is my read of the ratings:
(1) damage to memory cards: User Error, mechanical problem.
(2) damage to their computer's USB port: User Error, mechanical problem.
(3) or readers that died in just a few months after purchase: Stuff happens. Stuff fails. Send it back for a refund.
Relax. Don’t force things, if the card or reader is exhibiting resistance look at what is wrong don’t force it.
My experience is that catastrophic failures
can occur but even the cheapest equipment has a such a low failure rate that they are all too low to compare, including this cheap simple thing that has never failed
me.
I gave away all my old card readers (mostly 2.0 USB). I replaced them with a Lexar 3.0 and Delkin 3.0 readers. Both have performed flawlessly and are always connected to one of my PCs.
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