Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Delkin CompactFlash ExpressCard54 Adaptor
Posted by Jason Dunn in "SOFTWARE" @ 07:00 AM
Delkin's ExpressCard54 adaptor is a one trick pony: it allows you to access CompactFlash cards via an ExpressCard port on your laptop. That's it - that's all it does. But the Delkin product is very special in one way: it sits completely flush with the ExpressCard slot when inserted without a CompactFlash card in it. Why is that so important? Let me quote an earlier post I made:
"I find myself in a bit of a conundrum and I'm looking for suggestions from the Digital Media Thoughts community. My new XPS M1330 laptop, which should arrive today, lacks a CompactFlash card slot - it can read SD and SDHC cards, MemoryStick, etc. This presents a significant problem for me because my Nikon D200 uses CompactFlash cards, and one of my main uses for the new laptop will be processing photos from the D200. I use 8 GB CompactFlash cards and shoot in RAW + JPEG, so I need a good amount of storage. You see my problem...Option #2 is for me to use an ExpressCard adaptor, such as this one. I'd continue to shoot with my 8 GB CF cards, and when I want to off-load them to the camera, I'd pop in the ExpressCard adaptor. The biggest problem here is that it's another thing for me to have to carry and remember, which I really dislike having to do. I want to be able to grab my laptop, grab my camera, and go - having to remember a little adaptor will be a hassle."
Yup, this is the review that pretty much writes itself. My problem is 100% solved: unlike the Hagiwara adaptor that I reviewed earlier, the Delkin adaptor can be left inside a laptop, thus giving me the permanent CF card slot that my Dell XPS M1330 lacks. The photos tell the story...
Figure 1: The Delkin CompactFlash ExpressCard54 Adaptor on it's own. Notice the short rails - this is the secret sauce.
Figure 2: The adaptor with my 8 GB CompactFlash card in it.
Figure 3: Same as above, only inside the ExpressCard slot on the XPS M1330 laptop. You can't travel with a CompactFlash card in the adaptor (well, without risking damage).
Figure 4: See the adaptor? Exactly! It's completely, utterly, and totally flush - meaning it can be left in there.
My problem is solved, and I'm incredibly pleased that Delkin realized the problem that small-laptop-lovin' digital photographers such as myself face: we want our laptops to have CompactFlash card slots, but most do not. The adaptor boasts speeds of 30+ MB per second, and supports the new UDMA CompactFlash cards (of which, sadly, I've never used). The speed of the transfers will vary based on what kind of CompactFlash card you're using. I tested it using my 8 GB Transcend CF card. Transferring 2.14 GB worth of RAW files, 261 in total, from my CompactFlash card to my laptop took 3 minutes 57 seconds - it peaked at around 9.8 MB/s and levelled off at around 9.3 MB/s. Going the other way, from the laptop to the card, took 4 minutes 39 seconds - it was transferring around 7.8 MB/s. Deleting the files off the card took 39 seconds. With a faster card I'm sure I'd see even faster speeds.
My only criticism of the Delkin adaptor is that it took me several attempts to get a CompactFlash card into the adaptor - it's not as automatic a fit as my old PCMCIA adaptors. It takes a bit more effort to line up the rails, but it's likely something I'll become adept at over time.
The Delkin CompactFlash ExpressCard54 Adaptor can be purchased directly from Delkin for $59.99 USD and is compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP. I recommend this product highly for anyone who has a laptop that lacks a CompactFlash card slot and hates having to carry external adaptors around. Delkin hit a home run with this product!
Jason Dunn owns and operates Thoughts Media Inc., a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog. He loves the smell of leather.
