A few week ago , I talked about ExpressCard - slot carte du jour readers , which permit you view the pic on your computer storage wit without taking up much blank space in your udder . But what if you ’re already using your ExpressCard time slot for something else , or you have a MacBook or other Mac laptop without such a slot ? You release to your USB ports . The only problemhere — hey , every article needs a setup , right?—is that plugging in a USB carte reader direct away one of your USB ports .
Moshi ’s $ 35Cardetteaims to provide a solution via a compounding of a identity card reader and a two - interface USB 2.0 hub ; when connected , not only can you read most retentiveness - bill formats — including several Modern types — but you alsogaina USB port .
uncommitted in lustrelessness black or white , the 3.7- by 2- by 0.8 - inch Cardette is n’t the smallest card lector on the market , but it weighs only 2.5 ounce , include the aforementioned two - porthole USB hub , and has a work up - in 2 - inch USB line / stopper that fit into a groove on the bottom of the social unit for change of location . ( Also included is a 1 - substructure USB extension cable for those times when you need a longer reach or you want clear out some space near your porthole . ) The Cardette ’s USB ports are bus - power , so , like most autobus - power hubs , they may not be able to fully power USB hard drives or optical drives , but most other devices should forge fine .
The Cardette hold CompactFlash Types I & II , MicroDrive , Memory Stick , MultiMediaCard ( MMC ) , SD ( Secure Digital ) and eXtremeDigital ( xD - Picture ) cards without an transcriber ; MemoryStick Duo , Memory Stick PRO Duo , Memory Stick Pro , Reduced Size MultiMediaCard ( RS - MMC ) , miniSD , and microSD formats fit using the adapters usually include with those plug-in . In addition , the Cardette is “ test to comply with the emerging SecureDigital High Capacity ( SDHC ) standard as well as the strong point Type M and high speed Type H xD memory cards — have Cardette one of the very few future - proof card readers out on the grocery today . ” ( That ’s take directly from the Moshi spectacles ; I obviously was n’t able to examine this claim , give that such card are n’t exactly easy to find . ) The only common card data formatting that ’s not hold up is SmartMedia .
In my testing , the Cardette put to work with every case of plug-in I had on hired man , and its performance was comparable both to other bill readers I ’ve prove ( both USB and ExpressCard - time slot ) , as well as to fast circuit board with built - in USB plugs , such as SanDisk’sUltra II SD Plus USB .
As with other Moshi product I ’ve seen , the Cardette offers manner to go with its functionality . The trunk of the Cardette is simple and attractive . A one-armed bandit at one oddment lets you attach an include curt shoulder strap , made of the same material as Moshi’sCodex arm ; the strap features a small cartridge clip for secure the Cardette to , for exemplar , the key watch pocket found in many laptop computer bag . And the “ moshi ” logo on top of the Cardette is actually translucent and glows when the Cardette is connect to a USB embrasure .
The Cardette is n’t the least expensive card reader on the market by any means , but it ’s a handy gadget if you need the extra USB ports . And although I ’ve even seen a few other reader / hub combinations , the Cardette ’s design is definitely singular .
