USB compact flash reader that doesn't suck?

[xela]

My USB compact flash card reader* has an oversized compact-flash slot. And as of this morning has an irreparable bent pin. I know this isn't a necessary problem because my camera (and other devices I've used in the past) firmly guides the body of the card so there's no way to bend the pins.

I don't suppose anyone can recommend a reader that doesn't have this self-sabotaging design flaw?

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General Electric "19-in-1 Card Reader & 3-Port Hub" model 97962. It has (helpfully unlabeled) slots for three kinds of media, plus 3 USB ports. I'm sure some marketroid stayed up late figuring out how to count that as 19. Arguably I should have known better on account of the conspicuous lie on the label — but every single one of them had a similar lie.

Comments

[crs.livejournal.com]

Don't they give these things out in cracker jack boxes these days? Typing "CF reader" into the search box at Amazon.com lists dozens of likely suspects.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Problem is, I want one that isn't going to fail this way. Though I suppose I could just buy two boxes of cracker-jacks and keep a spare around....

[crs.livejournal.com]

Well, at least one customer review I saw complained of bent pins... and some of the others come from pretty reputable companies that I would expect some good quality stuff from.

And I think from the pics you can generally see what kind of physical device each one is, and how much protection they provide...

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Start with 3 different CF specs. SD/MMC. Mini SD,Micro SD (with adapters)… there, I'm up to 7 without trying too hard. XD. It could be the Memory Stick fits in one of those, too. In which case MS Duo, MS Pro…

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

So, I'm not finding the appropriate list for your particular model, but a similar GE box lists:
Compact Flash® I,
Compact Flash® II,
Compact Flash,
Extreme Card®,
MicroDriveTM,
Secure DigitalTM,
MultiMedia Card,
MultiMedia Card 4.0,
High-Speed MultiMedia Card,
SmartMediaTM,
SmartMediaTM Ram Card,
xD-Picture CardTM,
Memory StickTM Stick,
Memory Stick PROTM,
Memory Stick DUOTM,
Memory Stick PRO DUOTM,
Memory Stick Magic GateTM,
Memory Stick Select FunctionTM,
Memory Stick PROTM Magic GateTM,
Memory Stick PRO Ultra IITM

Which is 20 lines... but that may be me mis-parsing a line break someplace.

There really ARE a stupid number of ever-so-different-and-gods-help-you-if-you-pick-the-wrong-one cards out there.

So they really didn't lie. I'm not claiming they make a good product, mind you.

(The problem with the difference CF specs is that they're different thicknesses. So if you have a slot that takes all of them, it doesn't necessarily guide the thinner one in to place correctly. There's a reason so many other card formats have eschewed pins in favor of card-edge-type-connectors.)

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Christ. Well, at least this means I can figure out which subspecies of compact flash my camera uses and try to find a widget that's specifically designed for that one. Or maybe I'll just give it up and plug the camera in directly; what's one more cable? (Two more, probably, when I get around to replacing my pocket camera.)