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| Click photo to see images of all the Editor's Choice 2007 products. |
With the current proliferation of different memory card formats -- including those for digital cameras, media players, cell phones, and PDAs -- having a multi-card reader is essential. Most such readers are palm-sized or bigger. But this new model from Kingston, designed specifically for mini- and micro-format cards, is the size of a stick of gum, and is safe to stash in a purse or pocket thanks to its protective clamshell cover.
But the DataTraveler is not just a card reader; it's also a USB flash drive, available in three capacities. Insert a memory card into its slot, in fact, and the device functions as two separate drives, one saving to the card and the other to the built-in memory. When the device is connected to a computer you can easily transfer data back and forth between the two, since they appear as distinct volumes on your desktop. Supported card formats include SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, and, with an optional adapter, miniSD, microSD, RS-MMC, MMCmobile, and MMCmicro. About $20 (1GB) and $30 (2GB).
RiDATA YEGO Flash USB Drive
A tiny USB flash drive (also called a thumb drive, though it isn't a drive at all) is a great convenience for storing, backing up, and sharing your photos and other files. And with no moving parts, it's very reliable. But it has a drawback: Once plugged into your computer, it occupies a USB data port that could otherwise be connected to something else. Now, in a clever move, RiDATA has designed a flash drive that's also a two-port hub, eliminating the need to play musical chairs with other USB devices and cables.
Measuring just 2.7x1.7x0.6 inches and weighing a little over half an ounce, the playfully Y-shaped YEGO draws power from its host computer, with LED status lights indicating which of its two Hi-Speed USB ports is in use. Supplied software allows you to partition and password-protect the drive. It's available in three colors (purple, orange, and green) and six capacities (128MB to 4GB). About $19 (1GB).
American PHOTO Editor's Choice 2007
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