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iPod Media Reader Slowness

Posted by pudge on from the making-firewire-as-slow-as-usb-since-2003 dept.

gsfprez writes "According to an official statement by Belkin over at iPodlounge, the reason it takes 22 minutes to transfer a few pictures from your digital SLR's CF card to your iPod with their $99 iPod Media Reader is that, well, that's how they designed it. They wanted to 'address the needs of the largest percentage of owners of digital cameras and iPods,' because -- and let's be honest -- when you want to transfer 128 megs of pictures from your $200 digital camera, you think '$600 worth of iPod and media reader please!,' and not $14 flash readers." Belkin did say they are trying to work out a solution with Apple, perhaps in the iPod firmware, but it seems the problem may be with the design of the reader itself.

3 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Is there a limit on the cards themselves? by xanderwilson · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What's the fastest media reader out there? Are there firewire SD readers, etc, and are they much faster than their USB 1 counterparts?

    Alex.

  2. Whats the big deal? by neverkevin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't see what the big deal is? This add-on isn't a "pro" add-on. Transfering 128megs in 6 mins sounds reasonable to me, that was about how long it takes to transfer the data off via the USB on my camera. It is a $100 add-on, what did you expect?

  3. Why I'm not gonna buy one (or an iPod for that mat by Cleetus+Freem · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I am a professional photographer who shoots digital and I am often in remote/poor areas. I either have to lug a laptop (thief magnet) along in a backpack or carry a digital wallet (MindStor 20gb) that is old and from a company that went out of business.
    I was real excited about this reader because it was the one thing keeping me from buying an iPod. This slowness, however, is a deal killer for me. I have heaps of flash cards but I still like to back everything up as soon as a card fills (and I don't use huge cards...too risky to put so much in one place).
    My point? I'm disappointed. I WANT to buy an iPod...I know someone can make a card reader that is fast (enough) and cheaper than $99...Heck, the reader that works with my desktop cost $19 and is plenty fast. What is so hard about this? *sigh*