Definition of a Media Card Reader
Media card readers, also called memory card readers and flash card readers, are devices that read media cards. Media cards, also called multi-media cards or flash cards, are used in cameras, phones, mp3 players and other devices to store information. Media cards come in more than a dozen different types. A media card reader is built into or plugged into a computer and allows you to retrieve information from the card and save information to the card.
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Types of Media Card Readers
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Some media card readers will read only one type of media card while others will read many types of media cards; these are often called multi-card readers. Many new computers come with media card readers built into them, or you can purchase an external media card reader that plugs into a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port for about $20.
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Their Purpose
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Media card readers allow you to read and write to media cards without having to plug your camera, cell phone or MP3 player into your computer. Just plug your media card reader into your computer (if is the external type) and insert your media card. The device allows media cards to be read and written to just like you would a hard drive. Without the media card reader you must connect your device to you computer through a cable and power the device on. A media card reader saves money because you don't use up your batteries, and they save time because transferring data through the media card reader is much faster than transferring information through a cable.
Internal Media Card Readers
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People who use media cards a lot usually will have a built-in type of card reader; they are more convenient and take up less room on your desk. If your computer does not have a built-in media card reader you can purchase one on line for under $20 (see Resources). You will need a spare 3.5 inch bay and a spare USB (universal serial bus) header on your motherboard. If you have a laptop or would rather have an external unit, these are also available.
External Media Card Readers
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External media card readers are good option if you have a laptop computer or you would like to be able to read media cards at work or at a friend's house, you just plug them into any USB port. They are portable and small, some even small enough to fit on your key chain. The key chain type card readers are limited in the number of type of media cards they will read; some will read only one or two types of cards. The desktop style media card readers are still small enough to fit in a shirt pocket but they come in models that will read many different media card types.
Purchasing a Media Card Reader
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The first thing you should look at is finding a media card reader that will read the type of media cards you will need to read. External media card readers are an easy option because they require no installation. If you will be using your media card reader a lot you may want to consider buying an internal type reader. They are much more convenient and require little technical expertise to install.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Sandisc ExtremeIII CF cards" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: geishaboy500 (THOR) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
