Customer Reviews

PQI USB 2.0 CompactFlash (CF) Card Reader

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

This is a very cheaply made device. I found the wire connectors to be easily bent with normal use. High risk you may damage CF cards with use. Definitely do not recommend this device. I would give it no stars if I could.

This was great for the 3 times I got to use it before it broke. Don't buy it. The price reflects the quality.

If you happen to ever use any Type II CompactFlash media, you can forget reading all the other reviews of this product: this is the only one you'll need to read in order to make an informed decision. In fact, not a single other review (at the time of this writing) even mentions what I describe here. The title tells the whole story, really, but if you need prose here it is:

The very first item in the product "Technical" description very plainly states that it accepts both Type I and Type II media. That is half true: it only accepts Type I. This product is misrepresented: it does not allow the use of Type II CompactFlash media. Well, it might IF I CUT THE TOP OFF OF IT.

This little gadget is great! It's been working well and I've had it for a few weeks. It's size and form factor are what attracted me to this model. It's the size of a USB flash memory stick from '04 and it's pretty quick about movin' my data. My speed tests show that both of my CF cards read at about 11.5 MB/s and write at 10.5 MB/s which is as fast as the cards will operate as far as I know. So, no throughput bottle neck for normal old cheapy cards like mine. All that mumbo-jumbo to say for $6 bucks it's way worth it.

I got this for free when I bought my DSLR, so I guess I can't complain too much. I had this read for 5 month and it worked great until I dropped it. Now it's dead so next time i'll be getting something more reliable.

This card reader does what it is supposed to do. I use this with my Mac and treat it just like any other computer accessory. It goes in my laptop bag when not in use. I've had it for 1 year now and it's solid.

Why complain about a piece of electronic that you paid $6 bucks for?

When (if) this one breaks, I'll buy another one just like it.

To those who broke their card reader = be gentle don't jam the card into it.

This was way better than spending $30 bucks on one from not-so-Best Buy.

[UPDATE: 6 Aug 2011] - I've had this for 3 years now and its still working as if brand new. I use it about once a week. It sits loose in my camera bag when not in use. If it happened to die today, I would still be very please with this card reader.

If you want damaged CF cards then by all means use this card reader. I am so disappointed because it damaged my new CF card and I wasn't able to get my photos from it. Ugh!!

This card reader has worked every time I have used it. No issues at all.

I find this pocket CF card reader convenient when away from home.

Pro: portable and cheap.

Con: no way to close the card slot, e.g. with a slider or swivel cover, while the reader is not in use, and the pins are close to the opening. This causes bended pins due to either card inserted at an angle, or an object in the bag pressing on the pins through the opening.

Note that the reader will accept only type I (= 3.3mm thick) cards, and not type II (= 5mm thick) cards.

1) You carefully PUT the CF card into the slot of the reader.
2) THEN you put the reader into the USB slot of your computer.
3) Transfer files in the way you want.
4) Eject/Unplug the device from your computer.
5) THEN you carefully remove the CF card.

Really its that simple. You cant go wrong. I donno how some of the folks manage to BEND pins in such a simple operation. If you are transferring multiple cards then it might get a bit cumbersome (in that case you should be using a portable photostorage devices like a Wolverine/Hyperdrive in the first place)

It works pretty well, you don't have to carry around one of those 64,000 in 1 card readers if you only work the CF cards. I shoot with a DSLR so this is a handy tool to plug into my laptop to review or transfer images from the CF card.