Rgetting RAW files on to a relic Fujitsu Lifebook laptop

[philmar]

My girlfriend has a 6 year old Fujitsu Lifebook P2110 that I use when I go on 4-5-week long vacations to store digital RAWs. I shoot thousands of photos and use the Lifebook to store, view and delete files. I process them at home on my desktop. While on vacation I also backup on to a handsized portable HD. The laptops 20 (or is it 30) GB hard-drive is too small for the volume of photos I take during the 5 weeks I am away (I usually go to exotic places like India, Ethiopia, Yemen, Thailand). The Lifebook is old but it is small, light and compact – the perfect travel companion.
So I am upgrading this thing (bigger HD, maxing out on RAM). It has USB 1.0 which takes 30-45 minutes to load a 4GB card using my SanDisk CF card reader. So I would like a USB 2.0 upgrade so I don't have to wait 30 minutes each evening when I download the RAW digital files.
On eBay I have noticed they have cheap PCMCIA cards for USB 2.0 ports (http://cgi.ebay.ca/... ...categoryZ42323QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZView Item (http://cgi.ebay.ca/USB-2-0-PCMCIA-CARDBUS-W-4-PORTS-USB-2-0-1-1-NEW_W0QQitemZ290228951625QQihZ019QQcategoryZ42323Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem))
and they also have PCMCIA cards for CF cards
(http://cgi.ebay.ca/... ...categoryZ42191QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QqcmdZView Item (http://cgi.ebay.ca/PCMCIA-Type-II-ADAPTOR-Compact-Flash-CF-Card-Reader-ca1_W0QQitemZ200222841750QQihZ010QQcategoryZ42191Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QqcmdZViewItem)).
Any idea which way is the better way to go for transfering RAW files to a laptop? The PCMCIA card reader or PCMCIA USB 2.0 with the highspeed SanDisk card reader? I've read that the NON-cardbus PCMCIA readers are a joke.


But what would be faster? a cardbus PCMCIA reader or a highspeed SanDisk card reader attached to a USB 2.0 PCMCIA card

[Grentz]

I would go for the sandisk card reader attached to the USB 2.0 PCMCIA card. Not all reader chipsets are created equal, and the ones in the PCMCIA cards are a joke.

Make sure you get a good PCMCIA USB card though, as those can be a joke as well (might want to look at some on a place like newegg.com and read some reviews) ;)

[philmar]

I would go for the sandisk card reader attached to the USB 2.0 PCMCIA card. Not all reader chipsets are created equal, and the ones in the PCMCIA cards are a joke.

Make sure you get a good PCMCIA USB card though, as those can be a joke as well (might want to look at some on a place like newegg.com and read some reviews) ;)

Thanks for your reply.
Ultimately it isn't a life altering decision for me. A good Cardbus reader would be more convenient as I wouldn't have to lug the SanDisk reader (not that it's heavy but carrying one less item is welcomed). But the USB card would give me more flexibility. The SanDisk reader has come in handy for other travellers to use....However, I have 3 desktop systems at home and don't envision needing to use the laptop for anything other than websurfing and dumping, viewing and editing my RAWs while on vacation. I think I'll go with the card reader.
Does anyone know of a website that reviews these gadgets? I wonder if that Ron Galbraith guy tests them as well? I'll report back later.

EDIT: seems like Galbraith only reviews the top-end models. Not needed by me.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9392

[Jon]

There are really only a couple of CardBus readers worth considering IMO. I have the Lexar one; the other would be Delkin.

[philmar]

thanks

Is there a difference between a "cardbus" card and a "PCMCIA" card?
I wonder if a cardbus would work in my old Fujitsu Lifebook P2110

[philmar]

OK - good, it looks like it would be compatible with a decent cardbus, right?

Fujitsu P2110 Specs (borrowed from Fujitsu's site):

* Processor: 867MHz Crusoe TM5800 processor
* RAM: 256Mb, upgradable to 384 (reports of 512Mb RAM upgrade possible)
* 10.6" wide-format SXGA TFT display, 1280x768
* Video Card: ATI Rage Mobility-M1 8MB video RAM
* Storage: 20Gb hard drive
* Optical Drive: DVD/CD-RW combo drive (8x DVD/16X CD-R/24X CD)
* Floppy: External USB Floppy disk drive
* Audio: Sigma Tel AC 9757T 16bit
* Built-in ports: 56K Modem, 10/100 RealTek RTL8139, headphones, mic, line out, IEEE 1394, 2 USB ports, Mini-VGA, S-Video, Type I or Type II CardBus slot, optional internal 802.11b
* Dimensions: 10.6"(w) x 7"(d) x 1.59"(h)
* Weight: 3.5lbs

I'm maxing out the RAM at 512MB and getting a bigger HD.

And for what it is worth, I use the SanDisk ImageMate® 12-in-1 Reader/Writer
SDDR-89-A15

http://www.sandisk.com/... ...9-A15-SanDisk_ImageMate_12in1_ReaderWriter.aspx

[Grentz]

cardbus is just another name for newer PCMCIA cards in most cases

[Jon]

CardBus is a 32-bit databus layered on the PCMCIA slot. It usually needs additional drivers; it's been around since the late '90s, so you should be OK. CardBus cards have a brass plate with bumps over by the sockets.

[philmar]

CardBus is a 32-bit databus layered on the PCMCIA slot. It usually needs additional drivers; it's been around since the late '90s, so you should be OK. CardBus cards have a brass plate with bumps over by the sockets.
you're right - silly me:oops:. I've been using a D-Link Wireless G Notebook cardbus Adapter in it.
I haven't found any places where I can get a cheap Lexar or Delkin card reader. That would be the preferred route since that would take much less room in my computer bag when I travel. However, I think it will be cheaper for me to find a decent economical USB cardbus and run mt SanDisk reader through it.

[philmar]

yikes - i see some cheap Cardbus USB cards on eBay. I bet some of them are crap. Anyone recommend a good economical brand (I can't buy from newegg as I am in Canada)

[Tdragone]

yikes - i see some cheap Cardbus USB cards on eBay. I bet some of them are crap. Anyone recommend a good economical brand (I can't buy from newegg as I am in Canada)


I've emailed all ebay sellers trying to find a deal on a REAL cardbus PCMCIA to CF adapter.. They're NOT real. The cheap ones are just "straight through" pin adapters to make the CF card interface with the PCMCIA pins in the laptop.

The REAL cardbus adapters actually have electronics inside of them. My CARDBUS adapter takes < 1:30 to transfer 2 gigs off a CF card. My straight through pcmcia adapter takes ~ 25 minutes. There IS a huge difference.

I have the Lexar one and it's great.

[philmar]

I've emailed all ebay sellers trying to find a deal on a REAL cardbus PCMCIA to CF adapter.. They're NOT real. The cheap ones are just "straight through" pin adapters to make the CF card interface with the PCMCIA pins in the laptop.

The REAL cardbus adapters actually have electronics inside of them. My CARDBUS adapter takes < 1:30 to transfer 2 gigs off a CF card. My straight through pcmcia adapter takes ~ 25 minutes. There IS a huge difference.

I have the Lexar one and it's great.

I have only heard good things about Lexar and Delkin.

But what about the plethora of Cardbus USB 2.0 adapters that one sees on eBay? Which, if any, of them are decent? I suspect one of these may be cheaper than a Lexar/Delkin Cardbus to CF adapter. I could use my sandisk reader at USB 2.0 speeds if I can find one that is of decent quality. Of the ones I see on eBay, none are brands I recognise but are cheap, real cheap. All of which screams 'caveat emptor".

[philmar]

so nobody has bought a Cardbus USB 2.0 adapter from eBay?