Customer Reviews

Dazzle 6-in-1 MultiMedia Reader (DM-8400)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This Dazzle 6-in-1 memory card reader is wonderful. With it, I can read and write to any memory card format (Compact Flash, Memory Stick, Smart Media, IBM Microdrives, MultiMedia cards, and SD Cards) as though it were a floppy disk. The unit's small size makes it very portable. And its plug-and-play capability makes it extremely easy to store and swap data amongst all of my PC's.

Here are six ways I use the Dazzle 6-in-1:

1) Downloading digital image files -- With the Dazzle 6-in-1, I can use my normal downloading program to transfer digital image files directly from my camera's memory card to my PC. Since my Dazzle is always either connected to my deskptop PC, or always with me for my laptop, this is much more convenient than hooking up my digital camera to my computer (and trying to find the cord) to download.

2) Acccessing a single photo -- Using my photo editing program (Photoshop Elements), I can also access any individual file on the memory card. (The only way I can access a single photo through my digital camera, for example, is to download the entire contents, which is a pain if all I want is the last photo taken.)

3) Transferring files (of all types) among computers -- To transfer large files (photos, spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations) among my PC's, I normally resorted to using CD's, or e-mailing the file to myself (such as from work to home, or vice versa). Unfortunately, not all of my computers have a CD drive (but they all have a USB). And working from a memory card is definitely easier than trying to download (or upload) a file using a 56k home e-mail modem.

4) Downloading software updates -- For software updates downloaded from the internet, I would normally save them on my hard drive or on a CD. With the Dazzle, I can now store the files on a memory card instead. This saves the memory capacity of my hard drive; and (as I mentioned earlier) not all of my PC's have CD drives. Using a Dazzle and a memory card (and loading through the USB) allows me to more convenient update all of my computers.

5) Transfering music files -- My MP3 player also uses a memory card. Using the Dazzle to download songs (from my PC) to the memory card -- is actually faster and more convenient -- than downloading into the MP3 player directly.

6) Carrying my work home, not my PC -- Since transferring large files was such a pain, I normally ended up lugging my laptop computer home with me if I needed to complete a project after hours. With my Dazzle, I can now take the data with me (on a memory card), and leave my work PC -- at the office where it belongs! (Cool!)

The Dazzle comes with a software disk. But I found that the Dazzle was plug-and-play with my Windows XP computers (so no software installation was required.)

The plethora of memory cards available can make data storage seem confusing and intimidating. But with the Dazzle 6-in-1, they are now all as easy to use -- as "floppies." I highly recommend it!

I just purchased a new digital camera and was looking for a CF reader when I stumped on Dazzle DM-8400 6 in 1 reader. I have a laptop with Win XP Pro and a desktop with Win 2000 Pro. This reader works like a charm on both platforms. Additionaly it uses the USB port and does not require an extra power source and is easy to carry as well.
I also used the provided software to burn a CD that I can play on my DVD player. Now I can share my pictures with my friends on a big screen with good quality pictures. All in all this is the only product I have seen out there that supports so many multimedia formats under one hood.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a good product with a reasonable price and so many features.

Have had a Dazzle 6-in-1 for about 6 months. Originally hooked up to a Win98SE box with no problems, and lately to a WinXP Home box, again with no problems. Reads and writes Sony memory sticks just fine - haven't tried with other formats. Just got a Lexar memory stick tho, and it WON'T WORK! I installed the flash upgrade, and no help. The really bad part is that dazzle's support is utterly nonexistent.

If I had it to do over again, I'd buy something else...

I too had a problem installing this - The software installed fine, but it would cause a blue screen of death in Windows ME whenever I plugged it in. After doing some research and reading about a similar problem with a digital camera, I "reinstalled" Windows ME (just re-ran the Windows ME setup), and it works fine, even running through an inexpensive USB hub!!

Good product, lousy support from Dazzle - didn't even respond to my support request.

If you are using WinXP, you don't have to intall its driver..
WinXp automatically detects it and assign two drive letters.

If you have your hard disk on C: and cd drive on D:,
then the your reader will be E: and F:.
One is for compact flash and micro dirve,
and the other is for smart media, memory stick, mm and sd card..

I have no problem with reading and deleting files.
However, my experience is limited to CompactFlash and SmartMedia card.
Thus, can't comment on the other media..

No drivers needed on my Mac. Plug and play with iPhoto and OS 10.1.5.

I have now bought 3 of these and all three have failed to work. I would install the software on win 2k AND win xp home but neither system recognizes the device once I plug it in, this is the same problem I had with all 3 card readers! This "product" does not even deserve a single star but that is the lowest rank I am allowed to use.
I tried to call dazzle for support only to find that the phone has been disconnected. I now have to find something that actually does as advertised......good luck is right!

This product is NOT recommended. I was unable to successfully load the drivers and hardware and thus was never able to use the device. The instructions are clear but they do not work. Waste of money. Unfortunately, your choices at present are to buy more than one reader if you have multiple media types...or await a 6 in 1 type device that actually works.

This unit set up easily in WindowsXP and in Windows 2000 for me. I mostly use Compact Flash cards and have had no problem with that media. No issues with the one time I used it with MMC media either. Using Lexar Memory Sticks, however, was problematic at first - but installing the firmware upgrade from the Dazzle site did the trick.

There are no guides on the device (or much of an manual either) to tell you how to slide in the card so if you don't get a read from the drive at first, try inserting the card another way. Also, by default, the 2 drive letters assigned are not descriptive - i.e., you can't tell which one is for which card type. But after you figure it out, you can change the drive name in Windows.

Quirks aside, this device does the job.

It doesn't work like it supposed too, so don't buy it. I have tried with win2k and winXP. It can read fine, but I can't delete files on the memory cards. It kept giving me error messages. And seem like their web site doesn't even support this product!!! So, don't buy it. Get a better brand that would support their products!

Good luck,