Universal card reader with an upgrade path

In the meantime I have already bought the second card reader of Hama and am fully satisfied with both devices. I use both readers mainly to image files and video from SD card to transfer them to my laptop because the internal card reader of my computer already has some "elderly" and does not recognize the newer SD card. In addition, both need every now and then also read in several Memory Sticks, which poses no problems. The Hama Card Reader is very light yet extremely stable and thus also makes traveling a good figure without big to matter. Read and write speed is top.

General and update:

The first Hama 1000 1 Writer I have almost two years. "At that time" had memory cards usually well below one gigabyte of storage. With the purchase of my first two gigabyte SD card the first Hama had then also reading problems; he simply can not access the card. On the homepage of Hama I have then downloaded a firmware update free of charge and brought the card reader up to date. With the free "upgrade" I had no problems, since the process is almost self-explanatory and Hama explains how to do this in a comprehensible manner.

The second Hama, which I bought recently, was from the very beginning all card formats - at least the ones I have in use - error free reading and writing. This would Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro Duo, SD Card (or SDHC) from 256 MB to 8 GB. CF cards I do not have and can therefore meet this, no valid statement. Other cards, such as MMC or xD cards are not used with me.

Compared with other devices:

Before the Hama-All readers I had several Billigstprodukte in use, partly by electronic mail order and the discounters. Compared to my 1000 1 writers - - Overall, so over the years four "non-Hama devices" to see me, all have of significantly inferior quality, do not allow updates or significantly poorer literacy have / write speed. When viewed in the overall picture, the other readers had their money all not worth it; since getting the meaning of the word "cheap" relative to "cheap" a totally different meaning (namely its price be worth it).

For handling:

The readers Hama is an approximately 40 cm long (short) USB cable connecting the card reader through a USB connection to the PC. An additional power supply is not required. To my mind the supplied cable would however, be a little longer (if you decide to move to slot in the reader on the rear side of its PCs, it's probably not very comfortable the memory card to insert into the corresponding slots). Because of Hama but has a standardized mini USB jack on its housing, you can indeed buy a longer cable if necessary, and then connect the Hama over to the computer. On my notebook (Windows XP) I had no drivers to install, the device can be detected immediately after connecting and it will automatically be four drives (corresponding to the four memory slots on the device) re-integrated into the operating system. About this then the memory cards mentioned in the reader (copy, delete, format ....) are.

In short: you have attached, map in and off you go. It is, incidentally, no matter whether the memory cards are inserted to the computer in the Hama before connecting or thereafter; the Hama reader always operates reliably and quickly.

Pros and Cons:

Where there is light, there is shadow.

- The supplied cable is a little short (about 40 cm long).
- Insertion of the card must be carried with some force; I had in the first experiments only
a little "overcome", apply as much force to the "small" memory cards.

The negative points are - for my taste - negligible, therefore no devaluation and now to the positive factors:

- The manufacturer provides free updates.
- The card reader is lightweight, yet stable
- The operation of the card reader and the access to the inserted storage media by means of a LED (green)
optically.
- Of Hama has standardized interfaces (USB), the replacement of cables shape simply and inexpensively
- The reading and writing speed I find very good, which has a positive, especially for large amounts of data
noticeable.
- The reader recognizes all the cards that I've tried.
- The device is supplied with a connection cable; you can start by buying so equal.
- The handling is very easy and straightforward.

So, that was now so my first online review. Whoever finds spelling mistakes, they may like to keep. Since I often rely when shopping online on the reviews of other buyers, is to be hoped that "my" review perhaps in one or other purchase decision can be helpful.