Lexar Media MULTI CARD READER ( RW022-001 ) (Retail Package)

I purchased the Lexar Media MULTI CARD READER (RW022-001) about four years ago. In the past years, it has worked reasonably well. But with the advent of high capacity SD cards (2GB and over), this card reader is now obsolete. Worse yet, I learned the hard way that it may even corrupt newer SD cards.

I benchmarked a Kingston 2GB Elite Pro SD Card using this card reader. After returning the card to my Canon S5, the camera displayed "Memory card error". It turns out the Lexar Media multi-card reader is only compatible with SD 1.0 specification, which is for capacity up to 1GB. But to read/write a 2GB SD, it has to be SD 1.1 compatible. When I put in a 2GB SD into a SD 1.0 card reader and performed a read/write benchmark, it corrupted the directory structure of the SD card. Therefore my camera can no longer recognize the card.
Fortunately, I was able to use 'Photo Rec' (a free open-source file recovery program) to recover most of my image files from this 2GB SD card. I then have to reformat the card from my computer in order to use it again.

When I insert a SDHC card (with capacity 4GB or over) into this card reader, it cannot even see the SDHC card. But at least in this case it will not corrupt the card.

I have since purchased the Transcend M5 Multi Card Reader. Not only is the Transcend M5 compatible with all SD/SDHC cards, it even makes all my CF and SD cards perform about 50% faster! For example: when I benchmarked the SanDisk 2GB Ultra II CF Card in my old Lexar reader, I received a rather disappointing write speed of 4.1MB/S (equivalent to '27x'). The same card in the new Transcend M5 gave me a write speed of 5.9MB/S, or 40x.
(Note that Sandisk claims the Ultra II CF is capable of 15MB/S, but that's the maximum speed under optimal test condition)

In summary, this Lexar card reader is incompatible with SD cards larger than 1GB, is a lot slower than the Transcend M5, but costs more. So I see no reasons in getting this outdated product now.

Using Windows XP Pro. Worked fine for about a year. Then it started to only transfer data at super super slow speeds. I've tried it on 4 computers that all work fine with other USB devices and card readers, but it does the same thing, complains it was plugged into a USB 1.1 port. I haven't had a computer with USB 1.1 ports for 5 years.
The front panel that swings down and becomes the support is poorly designed and can't even support the weight of the reader empty. It will push shut and hit your cards. Buy another model or brand because this one is a lemon.

This is the second one of these readers that I've owned in 5 years. I, personally, have not had any problems with it.

BUT

It's now 2008 and higher capacity cards are on the market because cameras, and other devices, are demanding larger capacities. Because this is an older product/design, it does NOT support the higher capacity cards!

As per my usage:
CF I & CF II --> Works up to 8 GB card
SD & SDHC --> Works up to a 2 GB card

These numbers are verified as per LEXAR's chat support (as of the day of writing this review).

If you are currently on the market for a card reader, I would recommend going with something that is of newer design because of the limitations of this particular card reader. Why buy a 12 MP camera and only put a 2 GB card into it? Think ahead. Plan ahead and search around for a newer model.

That being said.. I'm on the hunt for a card reader that will work with the higher capacity SDHC cards now.

Worked just like it was supposed to, right out of the box. I have an old camera that takes SmartMedia cards, and I needed it for that. Works perfect.

I'm on my 2nd one of these and they both developed some sort of short in the cable. I have to wiggle the cable and turn it upside down and sideways for for it to be on. It's just not a coincidence that this happened twice. BUY ANOTHER CARD READER! Don't bother with this one or else you'll be buying another one in a few months.