Card readers are devices that enable reading / writing information from memory cards of various types and formats. This, of course, can be done using a USB cable, but for each device you must also have a driver. And if you can install the necessary drivers on your home computer, then installing programs on someone else's is quite troublesome, and not everyone will allow it. In any case, a card reader is convenient. Just insert the memory card into the desired slot (connector) , connect the device to the USB port and transfer the necessary information to or from the computer.
What to look for when choosing
According to the principle of mounting, the
magnetic card reader is internal or external. Internal devices are mounted in the system unit, external portable devices are connected to the
USB connector. The choice on this basis is simple - you need to buy what you need, although almost always they prefer external models. The cost of both species is approximately the same.
The parameter that you should pay attention to first of all is the number and types of supported memory cards. Carefully review the list, if there are all the formats that you have available there, then you can buy such a card reader . There are models that read all existing formats, but, firstly, new devices are constantly appearing, which means new media, and secondly, the more formats are supported, the higher the cost. So there is no sense in chasing the quantity in this case.
Most often, a card reader for plastic cards runs at a speed of 480 Mbps, and only some of the newest models give out 500 Mbps. For most computers, this is sufficient speed, but for the latest models that have USB 3.0, this performance is clearly not enough. This new port can deliver 5 Gb / s, so the standard 0.5 Gb / s is not very satisfying. You need to look for a device of the appropriate format (there are already such ones), but to ensure a high transmission speed, the card must also support this speed, otherwise we get the same 0.5 Gb / s.
Also pay attention to the compatibility of the card reader with the operating system installed on your computer. All these devices have their own software that harmonizes their work. If you have Windows installed, don’t worry, but owners of other, less popular systems must make sure that the card reader and your OS are compatible.
Additional functions
There are models that combine several devices. For example, a card reader and USB ports, that is, such a device can also be used as a USB hub. There are models that also perform the functions of a flash drive. Sometimes such combinations are very useful.
There are also adapters. These devices allow you to connect cards that do not have connectors to the card reader. When assembled, such a design is very bulky and inconvenient, but if there is no other way, it is efficient and often helps out. For example, you bought a new device or card, and it does not provide access to the card reader. In this case, the acquisition of the adapter will be a way out (if it was not planned to purchase a new reader).