1- this model is compatible with USB 3.0 so as to use this connectivity which means having the latest hardware (so far) 2- must have memory cards on top, because it is obvious and my case for some cards, we realize the speed of the latter and we better understand the few apparent problems (by chance of kingston) 3- But it's really the same quality as a backward compatible USB 2.0 connection, I reached never achieved speeds up to then! (More than 25 MB / s on large raw files 24 MB or 1 second per file!) 4- The connector on the card reader is specifically USB 3.0, ie it is not a trivial or micro mini or standard USB (2.0); I have seen this connection on external USB hard drives, but it is not common in terms of cables: it is therefore not lose its cable 5- The reader is solid, and its opening; it is stable and the insertion of SD or Compact Flash cards is simple and effective secures the Media