SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader SDDR-89-A15

by SanDisk

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 7 x 3.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00064V6RG
• Item model number: SDDR-89-A15
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (291 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #30 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Memory Card Readers
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

The ImageMate 12 in 1 Card Reader/Writer is a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Multi-card Reader/Writer that connects to your computer's USB 2.0 port. USB 2.0 provides superior performance to transfer pictures, music, video and data between flash memory cards and your computer.Because USB 2.0 devices are backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports, the ImageMate 12 in 1 Card Reader/Writer will work with all existing USB ports. The ImageMate 12 in 1 provides the ability to write data to and read data from flash memory without connecting your digital device (digital camera, handheld computer, digital music player, etc.) directly to a computer.Sandisk ImageMate 12-in-1 Reader/Writer accepts the following memory types - 1. CompactFlash Type I, 2. CompactFlash Type II, 3. SD SecureDigital Card & SDHC, 4. miniSD, 5. MultiMediaCard, 6. RS-MMC, 7. Memory Stick, 8. Memory Stick PRO, 9 Memory Stick Duo, 10. Memory Stick PRO Duo, 11. SmartMedia, 12. xD-PictureCard and xD-PictureCard Type M

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

181 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ahhhh...no damn drivers needed finally, December 4, 2004

By 

K. Yee "kenyee" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader SDDR-89-A15 (Personal Computers)

I've been searching for a USB 2.0 flash card reader that doesn't need stupid drivers (I'm a bit obsessive about keeping my system clean) for the longest time and have finally found it!

When plugged in, the device shows up as 4 separate drives. Transfers are painless and you can also transfer between multiple flash card formats w/o copying to your hard drive first (though I haven't had a need to do this).

If you do install the drivers, there's a button on the reader that transfers files automatically. I haven't installed the software for this, so I don't know where the files go :-)

Thanks, Sandisk! Shame on Dazzle for making their 8-in-1 reader require drivers; my old USB1.1 Dazzle didn't need drivers so I thought their new USB2.0 reader was safe to buy. Tried the Lexar reader next and had the same problem. But now I'm happy again...

123 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5-STARS a MUST have!, June 6, 2005

By 

Matthew Clower (Gilroy, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader SDDR-89-A15 (Personal Computers)

This is a superb portable/dockable/easy-to-use multi-memorycard reader. Out-of-the-box it installs effortlessly (true plug-and-play) and supports 12 different types of media. I've swapped images, music, and files between several machines running Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and even OS X without having to install any drivers. It comes with a convenient docking station that can be attached your home system, for example, AND another USB 2.0 cable that can be used on the road with your laptop. Personally, I use it all the time for mini-storage and to trasfer various things between many systems using SD, Compact Flash, and a few other types of cards. It supports the media for my digital camera, digital video camera, and those of most my friends--so, it makes sharing very simple as well. You don't have to worry about plugging in your friends' cameras, installing drivers for each camera, then fidgeting with the camera until you can get pictures off it. All you do is insert the memory card and access it like a normal diskette. The drive doesn't require much to operate and is very small, so you can take it anywhere.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works very well with one caveat, April 4, 2005

By 

LGM (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader SDDR-89-A15 (Personal Computers)

Overall this is a great flash reader, but you need to be careful if you use both a USB 2.0 PC adapter card for a laptop and a high capacity flash memory card.

I was going to return this to Amazon because at first I couldn't get it to work with my Sandisk Ultra II 2gb card when connected to my laptop via a USB 2.0 PC Card. I have 3 other CF cards of 512mb capacity each, 2 by SimpleTech and 1 by Transcend, and all these would work fine with the ImageMate. But for some reason, the 2gb card would not show up. After much experimentation, I tried connecting a small USB power cord to the USB 2.0 PC card, and finally the Ultra II card worked fine. The cord I used came with the PC card when I bought it, and one end plugs into the card below the 4 USB ports and the other end plugs into my computer's native USB 1.1 ports.

Apparently, the ImageMate reader requires a little more power than a laptop PC card adapter can supply on its own to read a higher capacity CF card -- at least the Sandisk Ultra II 2gb card. At first I thought it was a flaw in the ImageMate, but I tried a Lexar 2.0 reader on the same USB 2.0 PC card without the extra cord, and the same thing happened -- it could read lower capacity CF cards but not the 2gb Sandisk Ultra II. When I used the extra cord, the Lexar could read the card just fine.

So you only have to worry if you're using a higher capacity card on a hub or PC card that might not supply enough power. If your PC card came with a supplementary power cord, use that. If not, then go buy a PC card adapter that comes with such a cord. If you're using lower capacity CF cards or your computer's native USB ports, you won't have to worry.

The speed of this reader is pretty fast. I tested it against the Lexar 2.0 reader I have, and the ImageMate is about 20% faster. I transferred 1.89gb of data from the 2gb card to my computer in 4 minutes and 41 seconds.

Don't bother installing the ArcSoft button software they supply with this reader. It didn't do anything special, IMO, but most importantly it caused some hiccups on my Windows XP Pro-SP1 system on shutdown and reboot.

This is a well-made, sturdy and attractive reader with a little rubber strip on the bottom so it won't slip, plus a separate cradle. You can use the reader with or without the cradle.

If you're looking for a good, fast multi-card reader, this ImageMate will fill the bill.