Sandisk MicroMate Reader - for SD and SDHC memory cards Reviews

• If You Have A Mac

  
  By A1JRXWR1OH08T4 on 2007-08-11
  I mostly bought the SanDisk MicroMate to use on the road with other people's computers. When I did use it with my Mac at home, it locked up my entire system and forced manual reboot. Didn't matter what type of card, how many gigs, etc. I read online that a lot of other Mac users are experiencing the same problem. I called SanDisk and here's what I found out ...
  
  According to SanDisk, Mac users must insert the card into the reader BEFORE inserting the reader into the computer. That makes sense now that I think about it ... I was inserting the reader first into the computer, then inserting the card.
  
  So, this is a fine product! Don't let internet reviews detailing mac crashing problems scare you away from buying. Try putting card into reader, then into computer, and you should be fine. Worked for me!
  
  

• MicroMate vs MobileMate --

  
  By AOBWQX84JB0NV on 2007-03-17
  My new A-DATA 8GB SDHC card works fine in my Canon SD800 camera, but wouldn't show up on my Mac desktop after I plugged it into my Sandisk MobileMate card reader. Enter the Sandisk MICROMATE, which turns out to have been designed to handle the newer, higher-capacity SDHC cards, as well as earlier generations of SD cards. The MicroMate is an efficient conduit between my A-DATA, Lexar, and Kingston cards on the one hand, and my Macs on the other. No drivers are needed -- it's all plug & play. The device has a little green light that powers on when the reader is inserted into a USB port. It comes with a transparent plastic cap that protects the USB plug; when you remove the cap to plug the MicroMate into your computer, the cap fits on and over the slot on the rear of the MicroMate (and over an SD card that you might have inserted there), so that you don't lose it. On a critical note, the cap also has an opening in its corner that lets you hook it onto a keychain -- an asinine design because if the reader detaches from the cap, you'll still have the cap but stand a good chance of losing the device itself. Other than that (and the caveat that this thing looks like it shouldn't cost more than ten or twelve bucks), the MicroMate is a nicely functional, able performer.
  
  

• Does what it needs to do... I just wish it came with a USB extender

  
  By AXPTP79QHMV1R on 2007-03-05
  Works great with SDHC cards... but if your USB port is recessed, you may not be able to plug it in all the way. And if you have side-by-side ports, you'll probably cover up the ports next to the one you're plugged in to. I wish it came with a little 3-inch USB extender!
  
  

• compact, fast, nicely built SD and SDHC reader

  
  By A2XPK6XCL0UH1S on 2007-04-07
  Works well on both my Mac OS X and Windows XP configurations, giving the ability to read/write SDHC and SD media. In a nice design detail, the clear cap over the USB connector also fits over the SD card slot while its in use.
  
  Note however that the reader is wide, and doesn't come with a cable extender (minus 1 star on my rating). If your USB ports are side-by-side horizontally, you may have a tough time plugging this in without an extension cable or removing items from neighboring ports. For this price, the cable should be included.
  
  One mystery - there is a hole in the cap to attach a neck strap, but how many times to you need an SD reader so close at hand? And, you could lose the reader but the cap would remain attached.
  
  Overall I'd recommend highly - it's compact, fast, well designed, although a cable extender would make it perfect.
  
  

• One of few SDHC readers available late 2006 / earlier 2007

  
  By A35RSKU6IJ0Z71 on 2007-01-09
  The MicroMate is a required purchase for people with SDHC cards & digital cameras who need to get off large numbers of photos.
  
  Digital cameras using SDHC do not seem capable of accessing SDHC cards with large numbers of pictures so you need a stand alone SDHC reader. Sandisk's MicroMate is one of the few SDHC readers available during late 2006 / early 2007. It's also low cost at ~20 $.
  
  Once multi-card readers support SDHC the MicroMate is not as useful, and goes to 3 stars.
  
  
• Good Performance, Average Design
  By A2C3N962MOBNJW on 2007-04-10
  This card reader performs very well and is a great choice for reading SD and SDHC media. I have had no problems with the device in terms of functionality, though I do have some minor complaints about the design.
  
  As other reviewers mention, the reader is wide and might block adjacent USB ports on your system.
  
  It comes with a cap to protect the USB plug, which also has a keyring loop. However, this design is nonsensical because the cap is very easily detachable from the device; you could have the cap securely attached to your keychain and still lose the card reader! I would have personally preferred some kind of hook or clip on the back of the reader so it can be more easily attached to a pocket or bag. Even placing the keyring loop on the device instead of the cap would have been an improvement.
  
  While the reader itself works perfectly for me, the design does not seem to have been well thought out. In spite of that, I do recommend the product, though I'm continually worried I'm going to misplace it somewhere!
  
  
• Faster than the camera.
  By A3RX6WTF32ZW1F on 2007-02-06
  I use this reader with a Transcend 4GB SDHC Class 6 card. The camera is a Leica D-Lux 3. Downloads are a lot faster with the MicroMate then the camera. It is the only SDHC reader I have used. Are there any others yet? It will not fit in recessed USB ports. You need a USB extension cable for those.
  
  
• Average product for the price
  By A3CG5T7T5YGLYC on 2007-03-11
  This is an average memory card reader. The low price is appealing. You will need a USB extension for most PC's. The square shape didn't work well with by Dell front case.
  
  
• Sandisk MicroMate WORKS with 8GB SDHC & Vista
  By A38LLSBA76S0IN on 2007-09-23
  I needed a memory card reader for an 8 GB SDHC card. It had to work with my new Windows Vista computer. This product works perfectly: NO effort to install and very fast.
  
  
• SLOW write speed
  By A2Z5BTCLL2A7YT on 2008-05-29
  Using the Micro Mate in a USB 2.0 port, it took One Hour and 56 minutes to write 3.13 GB.
  
  This was on a computer running at 3.2 Gig Hz.
  
  By contrast, using the built-in card reader, it took 27 minutes to write the same file to the same SDHC card.
  
  USB 2.0 can't be blamed because I wrote the same 3.13 GB to a portable 2.5" hard drive (generic) using the same USB 2.0 port in just under 8 minutes.
  
  Micro mate is slow.
  
  
• Stop working and not supported in Windows Vista
  By A302GVMJLGSI0V on 2007-09-10
  Stop working and not supported in Windows Vista, and there is no any support material at the web site.
  
  
• SanDisk MicroMate
  By ABUQJNUJKZPD7 on 2007-12-18
  I have a Dell with front USB ports that are recessed. I can't plug it in all the way. Need to unplug a port in the back and the micromate covers up the port below it. Wish I would have know this before I bought the device.
  
  
• IT WORKS!
  By A3FFRDN3PV5L7P on 2007-08-02
  I have a mini SDHC 4 GB card. No card reader would work. I found the Micromate and it worked perfectly. I do have my USB connections stack not side by side, so the width was not a problem. The shipping was fast and there was no problem working the card reader.
  
  
• Small,very portable, works well
  By A16SRDVPBXN69C on 2008-10-10
  Got a new camera, bought a new SD card & discovered it didn't work with my card reader since it was SDHC. Found the MicroMate here and gave it a try. I was very pleased to find it works perfectly, is attractive, white (thus easy to see) and promptly bought another to carry in my camera bag to use while travelling. Cheap and effective little tool.
  
  
• GREAT CARD READER!
  By A2CY1DJF7ELHB8 on 2007-03-07
  The SanDisk MicroMate card reader is one of the best readers I've used in years! I have a new Lumix FZ 50 digital camera that supports the SDHC cards. This is the reader that you need to read the new SDHC memory media. I tried my Kingston SD card reader, and it wouldn't read the SDHC card. This SanDisk reader works great! I would highly recommend it!
  
  
• this thing works great!!
  By A2180MVJOH80S3 on 2007-10-10
  I bought this because I upgraded to a bigger micro SD card, the 4GB one, and I found that my current card reader can't see a bigger card than 1GB. I was able to use it right away, no problems. I love it.
  
  Chris -L.I. New York
  
  
• Works on those SDHC cards
  By A2DBOXNVCTW2OJ on 2007-12-02
  Works very well and faster than transfering photos through the camera cable on my Panasonic DMC-FZ50. The only draw back I have found so far is that you might need a extension cable if your USB ports are recessed on your desktop or too close to other ports you are using on the laptop.
  
  
• Very portable, works consistently well
  By A3BC51PZJ8L67R on 2008-01-20
  This card reader does what it's supposed to do... simply and reliably.
  
  Only quibbles:
  - Even a three-inch USB extender cable'd be helpful to get it into tight spots.
  - The cap comes off a bit too easily (e.g., in your pocket, in your backpack, etc.)
  
  
• great item
  By A19C64NY3YQZWM on 2007-04-02
  handy little tool to download images from your camera. It's a usb so it's easy to plug and it's quick. I recommend this item!
  
  
• A couple things to know.
  By A97H7QCD0UPL4 on 2007-06-06
  -It is about as wide as two Cruzer Micro's [the non-retractable kind].
  -The cap is quite secure when on either the front or the back of the reader.
  -Half of the SD card sticks out the back; the cap still fits over it.
  -While the cap is tight, I severely doubt it's "keychain" tight.
  
  As far as I know, this is easily the smallest SD and SDHC (meaning SD >2GB) reader on the market. It functions well as a reader, but the Micromate's wingspan combined with its minimal USB plug length make it tricky to plug into the occasional recessed port.
  
  
• You need this
  By A2L3OUGY7OTR3N on 2007-07-26
  I like the cap design, and how you have a place to put it when you have the reader plugged in. It works perfectly with 2gb and 4gb media. I'm guessing it will work with 8gb and higher, but I have yet to get media that large. Anyway, it is saving tons of battery life for my camera!
  
  
• Super Reader!
  By A2GJNTYWDQZMGU on 2007-09-21
  I have now purchased two of these readers. I use one regularly with the SDHC cards I use in my digital camera and while on vacation family members were so impressed with the ease of use and reliability I had to buy one for my girlfriend's 84 year old Dad. This reader reads SDHC cards and standard SD cards flawlessly. I don't even bother with the uilt in reader on my laptop anymore.
  
  
• Works great with Windows Vista ReadyBoost
  By A1FPSKFX0S0Y17 on 2007-09-26
  I purchased the reader to use with a 4GB Sandisk Ultra II SDHC High Performance Card in one of my Vista machines that didn't come with an SDHC memory card slot. Works perfectly, and the reader doesn't interfere with (i.e. slow down) transfers to and from the memory card. Note that if the USB slots on your system are close together use of the reader may block access to the adjacent slot.
  
  
• works great for both SD and SDHC
  By A33YZNZIRA3H97 on 2007-11-30
  This is a great inexpensive little card reader for both SD and SDHC memory cards. It is very fast if your computer has USB2.0 ports. Most older card readers do not work with the new SDHC cards (4GB and higher). Also, older card readers (including the ones built in to some name brand computers) only work at the much slower USB1.0 speeds.
  
  
• Very simple need, this works fine on Apple OSX and Vista
  By AT6YDVPKDPAMP on 2007-12-12
  It does what I needed. It lets me read 4GIG SDHC cards. It was fairly inexpensive and it just works.
  
  
• Micormate driver
  By A34QALF6PGRR46 on 2008-05-13
  until i can figure out how to get the micromate usb reader to work on windows XP, it gets 1 star. It's supposed to be plug and play. Grrrr
  
  
• Great product for the shutter-bug on the go........:-}
  By A3RMRHJTWXGBY2 on 2008-05-13
  Great product for the shutter-bug on the go........:-},Also for one looking for the max space in a flash-drive. Small, compact and works on any PC that has a USB port as well as copy centers that offer instant development.
  
  
• Still desperately seeking that indestructible portable SDHC reader
  By A1FDV3WPOHREY9 on 2008-05-15
  Sorry.
  
  I wanted to find that heavy duty SDHC reader for carrying in a pants pocket everywhere and anywhere without breaking open as the cheaper ones do. Some of the cheaper ones seem to be made of the same plastic they used on small toys hidden deep within boxes of breakfast cereal.
  
  I remember over twenty years ago in the early days of personal computing when PC's were built to last much longer than the usefulness of their electronic design (remember 16k total?). You could run a tank over the IBM 8088 PC or the Apple IIe and not even phase it.
  
  Now we find our electronics built on the cheap and with disposable plastic cases you wouldn't make a bic razor out of. Only Corsair seems to care anymore about life in the real world. It is a jungle out here. See especially their 32GB Flash Survivor Flash Drive USB 2.0 Highspeed Ultra Plug & Play.
  
  I need an SDHC reader that can go anywhere in a back pocket without breaking. Okay, front pocket. It must survive under rugged conditions.
  
  This is definitely not it.
  
  For one thing it is designed to have a cap on the reader end, as you can see in the picture, yet none came with mine in the unopenable retail package. Here in the desert, the dust would quickly plug it up.
  
  The other end has a cap, covering the USB connector, with a tiny hole for your lanyard. As others mention here in their reviews, this is asking for trouble. The unit can slip right off the cap and lanyard and you would never know it.
  
  In any case, the tiny key ring type wire spring which goes into the lanyard hole (and which comes taped to the package next to the store security device) requires the magical skill and power of tiny bionic elf fingers and eyes to install; I cannot.
  
  For this I paid the professional price? Maybe I should go with the Transcend Multi-Card Reader M5 - Card reader ( CF I, CF II, MS, MS PRO, Microdrive, MMC, SD, MS Duo, xD, MS PRO Duo, miniSD, RS-MMC, TransFlash, MMCmobile, microSD, MMCplus, SDHC, miniSDHC, MS Micro, microSDHC ) - Hi-Speed USB instead but I just want an SDHC reader that will last. Any ideas?
  
  
• Does It's Job but...
  By A2THXOKX4VC6DA on 2008-06-21
  The reader works as designed. However, the reader doesn't fit into some front panel USB ports without a USB extender because it's so wide. It fits on my Dell PC but not my Toshiba laptop when it's on my desk. I'd have to lift up my laptop to push it in and it would be supporting the laptop on a tilt. Not a good idea.
  
  The other problem I ran into with the SDHC read/write is that it reads really slow. When transferring photos from my SDHC card to my PC it takes much longer than doing so with a standard SD card. I compared this by transferring the same files from both the SDHC and SD card.
  
  
• Fast, easy to use reader
  By AE1IT64JYGU4O on 2008-07-29
  Although the wide design leaves something to be desired because it covers other ports while in use, it is not much of a problem for me because I mainly use it to transfer photos and it is not always plugged in.
  
  Some reviewers have complained about speed so I decided to put it to a real life test and it performed flawlessly. It was able to read 2GB worth of files (about 600) in 2 minutes and 45 seconds. It was able to write that same content in about 5.5 minutes. I used an ordinary 2GB Kingston card for that test.
  
  Installation was quick on my Widows XP PC. Windows recognized it instantly and it was up and running in about 5 seconds.
  
  The cover can be used on the opposite side to protect an inserted card or just to keep it from getting lost. I highly recommend it and would buy it again.
  
  
  

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