While I was reviewing the Kingston CompactFlash Ultimate 266X 4GB Card, I ran into an issue with read speeds on the compact flash cards I was testing, luckily my contact at Kingston was able to send out a press sample of the Kingston 19-in-1 Card Reader, besides helping me finish that review, this card reader has become the swiss army knife for all my flash memory needs.

With nineteen different reader interfaces, I challenge you to find a popular flash memory card that this device will not be able to read. Flash readers are great for transferring data from flash media and for using memory cards as portable storage. The 19-in-1 Card Reader is a USB 2.0 reader, with its small form factor and retractable USB cable, this device is portable to be carried with a laptop and stylish enough to be displayed out on ones desk.

Lets get started..

Kingston Media Reader Hi-Speed 19-in-1 Card Reader Review

Reviewed by: Tomas Ratas

Sponsor: Kingston

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

Kingston Media Reader

Media Reader: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed 19-in-1 Reader

Part Number: FCR-HS219/1

An essential for your digital media.

Nothing goes better with digital media than an external reader for your desktop or laptop at home or on the road. Kingston’s Media Reader opens a direct gateway between your digital media and a USB port by simply using expandable storage cards to move photos, music, data and more between devices and eliminating the need to carry cables to connect multiple devices.

Designed to support 19 popular types of Flash memory cards without the use of adapters or a power cable, Kingston’s hi-speed Media Reader is incredibly versatile, whether used for personal or business use. While on the go, its unique sliding chassis hosts a compact USB cable for use with a notebook or other portable devices USB port. In the office or at home, just plug and play the reader into the USB port using the ample three-foot USB cable to conveniently connect to your desktop or tower computer.

The 19 media card formats supported include: CompactFlash Type I and II, SD, SDHC, miniSD, miniSDHC, microSD, microSDHC, MMC, MMCmobileDV RS-MMC), MMCplus, MMCmicro, RS-MMC, Microdrive, Memory Stick Micro (M2), Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo.

Kingston’s Media Reader is the ideal companion for the cards you already own or combine it with a purchase from Kingston’s range of Flash card solutions. Each Media Reader comes with a two-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, plus legendary reliability that makes Kingston the leader in memory.

Features/Benefits

Slider Chassis built-in LED indicator and self-contained 3′ USB cable (Type A plug)

Portable convenient small size; no power cable required

Extension Cable includes an additional three-foot USB cable for stationary use

Versatile with five slots, works with 19 different Flash card formats: CompactFlash Type I and II, SD, SDHC, miniSD, miniSDHC, microSD, microSDHC, MMC, MMCmobile (DV RS-MMC), MMCplus, MMCmicro, RS-MMC, Microdrive, Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick , Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo

Standardized complies with USB 2.0 specification standards and backwards compatible with USB 1.1

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Easy plug-and-play into any USB 2.0 or 1.1 port

Specifications:

Dimensions 3.61" x 2.71 x 0.79" (91.72mm x 68.82mm x 20.06mm)

Speed Rating* USB 2.0, up to 480 Mbps data transfer speed

Operating Temperature 32 to 140 F / 0 to 60 C

Storage Temperature -4 to 185 F / -20 to- 85 C

Weight 0.1585 lbs (71g)

Operating System Compatibility Windows 2000 (SP3 and above), XP (SP1 and above) and Vista; Mac OS 10.x and above

Guaranteed two-year warranty

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A Better Look at Things

Since this was a press sample, it came bereft of consumer packaging. The package received contained the 19-in-1 Card Reader and three foot extension cable.

The 19-in-1 Card Reader sits in a charcoal gray slider chassis which has a silver switch with a red Kingston emblem which lights up when the drive is activated.

The switch moves the Card Reader forwards of backwards within the chassis. When the Card Reader is fully retracted, the USB cable can rest flush with the USB shaped indentation, keeping the USB cord out of harms way.

When the switch is slid forward, the front panel of the Card reader becomes accessible for media. The USB cord only extends out a distance of a couple of centimeters, so if you are hooking up to a desktop, the extender cable would be used, if you use a laptop, the short USB cable is perfect for easy access and portability. The bottom of the reader has rubberized pads to keep the device from sliding on ones desk.

The reader is tiny and lightweight measuring 3.61 x 2.71 x 0.79 and weighing in at only 71 grams.

The reader also comes with a two-year warranty as well.

Installation, Testing and Comparison

The Kingston’s 19-in-1 Card Reader features four slots, each of these slots can fit multiple types of flash memory. The can read 19 different types of flash memory, but it does not physically fit 19 different types of flash memory. Windows sees four additional drives when the unit is plugged in.

The speed of the 19-in-1 reader is theoretically up to 480 Mbps when using a USB 2.0 connection. In reality, the speed is limited by the max speed of the flash media used, so if one uses fast memory such as the Kingston Ultimate CF series, you should see speeds comparable to its advertised speed.

For testing, I used the following system:

Gigabyte 965P-DS3 Motherboard

Core 2 Duo E6600

Buffalo Firestix DDR2 2 GB

Kingston Media Reader: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed 19-in-1 Reader

For media testing, I used Kingston SD 256 GB, SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo 2 GB, Kingston Ultimate CF 266X 4GB, Sandisk Ultra II 2 GB, and a SandDisk 512MB Mini SD

The software used to benchmark these CF cards was SiSoftware Sandra Professional Business XI and HD TachRW.

As you can see from the two charts, the speed of the card reader is very dependent on the actual speed of the media being used.

Summary:

The Kingston’s 19-in-1 Card Reader is the ideal media reader/writer for almost all your flash storage needs. I challenge you to find a flash memory card that this device can not accept, besides being lightning fast, the 19-in-1 is also portable and stylish.

The Kingston Card Reader is fast, but it is also affordably priced, making this a great value!

DragonSteelMods gives the Kingston’s 19-in-1 Card Reader a 5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.

Pros:

– Reads most flash media

– Excellent read/write speeds

– Portable

– Stylish appearance

– Affordably Priced

Cons:

– None

I would like to thank Kingston for the chance to review the Kingston’s 19-in-1 Card Reader and for their support of DSM. Once again, I would like to give a special thanks to David Leong for all his assistance.

Discuss, Questions HERE