Customer Reviews

SimpleTech STI-USM100 FlashLink SmartMedia USB Reader/Writer

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

 

 

I bought this reader after seeing the good reviews here and the CLAIMED compatibility with Windows XP. This reader should be rcognized by WinXP without installing ANY software. Nope. Here is my XP install experience: First, the reader would not be recognized without using the included drivers. The instructions say to install the drivers BEFORE plugging in the unit - this would not work for me despite 5 tries. Web site documentation was no help - very poor (Are you reading this, Simpletech?) However, in desperation, I tried to install sofware with reader plugged in (contrary to the instructions)and it installed perfectly. During the install, XP warns you that the drivers are NOT MS certified for compatibility- the Simpletech web site says to ingnore this and install anyway and lacking any preferable options, that is what I did. Another major dumb thing Simplicity did was to show a photo of a smartmedia card in the reader on the package inserted UPSIDE DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! C'mon guys! So don't use the cover picture as a guide- the instructions are correct but many people will look at the pic rather than reading the flimsy product support.

Now for the good - the reader is extremely fast, and the design is nice if you have usb ports on the front of your computer. It plugs in to the face plate with no cards and does come with an adapter cord if you'd rather run it to the back.

Another case of a good product rendered not as good resulting from poor product documentation and support.

I love my Olympus D-370, but it takes just too long to get the images to my computer. I read or heard some where that card readers where the way to go, so I got the Simpletech Flashlink... since I already use their SM cards. Works perfectly... gets images to my computer fast! Plus, it frees up my Olympus to take more pictures!

If you are an XP user, I strongly advise that you not buy this product. I did, despite the trouble another reviewer experienced. My system had a serious failure twice: once using the CD software they supplied and that was said to be XP compatible and the second time after downloading the driver explictly for XP. Why spend money for something that can screw up your computer? I am returning my device immediately. SimpleTech ought to be ashamed of its false advertising and its very, very buggy software.

Great design for a USB SmartMedia card reader. Totally portable and even fits in your pocket. I take pictures with my olympus digital camera, take card out of camera, place card in this cool reader and then hook it up to usb port. The reader shows up as a removable drive and I simply drag the pictures from card to my computer's hard drive. Quick and easy. I like it....

I highly recommend this product for anyone who has had it with the time it normally takes to upload photos from a digital camera. With the Flashlink Smart Media Reader I'm able to upload photos much faster than before and now I don't have to worry about running the battery down on my camera or tying up my computer.
Installation was very simple - just run the disk that comes with it and plug it in to the USB port.

I have a new computer with XP. I wish I had seen a previous review indicating how much trouble this little device could cause. It worked erratically, so that I kept trying it with occasional success, but finally, it sent my poor computer into a kind of seizure and I had to quit. Good thing I kept my old computer so that I could print my photos-using a different smart media reader.

This reader has serious problems with Windows XP Pro. I installed the reader on 2 computers and had problems on both. First of all, the reader should map without installing the drivers from the CD. However, neither computer automatically mapped the device. Then after installing the driver from the CD, both computers crashed multiple times.

I bought this product aware of some people that told they had many problems with driver instalation, but the fact is that I didint require any! I'm using windows 2000 and it was inmediatly recognized as a massive storage device.
Fast transfer, easy to use. The only courious thing is that you have to insert Smartmedia cards upside down. That does not follow common sense, but oh well, you eventualy get used to it
:-)

I too, tried to install this reader with a new Dell running XP. Simply could not make it work in spite of assurances by Simpletech that it would work. Even tried drivers from Simpletech website. I'm really disappointed in Simpletech for not addressing this problem. Won't buy Simpletech products ever again...

I noticed that several other reviewers have mentioned problems with the plug and play functionallity of this reader when using windows XP. Well, I have used this on two different computers, both running XP and have had no problem whatsoever. I plug it in, the computer recognizes the reader and its all go from there. I think this is a perfectly good reader, it works well and it is reasonablly priced. Thank you for taking the time to read my little 'ol opinion.