A few days ago I introduced you to the Ultra Stackables line of products with their 7-port USB 2.0 hub, today I’ve got another Stackable product, the All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub. This card reader is more than a card reader as the name states, it’s also a 6-port USB 2.0 hub, and it is essentially the lynch pin for the entire Ultra Stackable line of products. What I mean by this is that if you get all of the Stackable line, the hard drive enclosures, power supply, card reader and 7-port USB hub, the card reader is what is used to connect them altogether via the built-in 6-port USB hub. You connect all of the Stackable products via USB to the hub on the reader and then just plug the reader into your computer, your system recognizes each one individually.
Of course you can use the card reader as it is, just a card reader and USB hub, there in itself is a great and very useful product. Most card readers sold, none actually that I know of, can boast of having an integrated 6-port USB hub and the ability to read pretty much every memory card out there today.
Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub
Author: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: Ultra Products
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub
Product Part # ULT33054
MSRP $49.99
Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub
Add a USB Hub and an All-In-1 Media Card Reader to the Stack. Thats right you can use one, or use more just stack them up! The Ultra Stackable Media Drive features an All-In-1 Media Card reader, and a 6 Port USB 2.0 Hub. Supports Windows XP, 2000, ME, Vista and Mac 9.0 and above. This easy to use external Media Drive is easy to use its hot swappable, Plug and Play. Lay it down, stand it or stack it! No matter how you use the Ultra portable, stackable Media Drive, it will meet and exceed industry standards.
Specifications:
USB 2.0 Interface
6 Port USB 2.0 Hub (480Mbps transfer speed)
All-In-1 Media Card Reader
DC Power: 12V
System Requirements:
Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP / Vista
Mac OS 9 and above
CDROM Drive for Driver Installation
(Windows 98 SE Only)
Supported Media Types:
Secure Digital
Smart Media
Memory Stick Duo MagicGate
Secure Digital HC
Smart Media C
Memory Stick Duo Pro
Compact Flash I
Memory Stick
Memory Stick Duo Pro MagicGate
Compact Flash II
Memory Stick MagicGate
Memory Stick ROM
Micro Drive
Memory Stick Select Function
Magic Store
Multi Media Card
Memory Stick Pro- TransFlash
RS Multi Media Card
Memory Stick Pro
Ultra II- XD
Multi Media 4.0
Memory Stick Pro MagicGate- XD – Type H
RS Multi Media Card 4.0
Memory Stick Duo- XD – Type M
A Better Look at Things
:
The Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub comes packaged in a box that has lots of information all over it, front and back, in a couple different languages. There are several pictures of the product in use, while the back has some nice close up shots of the card slots and USB ports.
Opening the box up we find everything packaged nicely in a compartmentalized tray. Included with the reader is an external power supply, rubber feet, plastic stand, user manual, warranty card, USB cable and the driver disc.
On the front of the reader we find all of the memory card slots divided into four sections for the types of cards that will fit them. On the right and left sides there are two LEDs each side, that light up when a card is inserted. For the most part the labeling works fine, but there is no label for the XD slot, but they go into the bottom right slots.
The back of the reader is where we find the six USB 2.0 ports of the USB hub along with the main USB connection and the power connection.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
If your going to use the Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub as a stand alone unit you can either use the included four rubber feet to make it sit on your desk or you can use the included stand for it to be mounted vertically as not to take up much space.
Installation is easy, it’s plug and play with Windows XP and Vista, other might need to use the included drivers, like Win98 would.
My main camera I use for taking all the pictures uses an XD type memory card and out of all the card readers I have on hand none of them support XD cards so normally I hook the camera up via its USB port to transfer my pics and vids over for the reviews. If you’ve used this system with you camera or any camera for that matter you’ll know it seems to take quite while to transfer your stuff off the card, and even to delete things from the card. Since this has the XD slot on it I popped my card in and I was just amazed at the increase in speed I got, it was so nice to be able to transfer over a couple hundred pictures and not have to find something else to do while I was waiting. When I was done I clicked delete to delete the contents of the cards and it was almost instantaneous that the items were deleted, I was just like WOW!
In the following two pictures there is a close up of the Ultra Card Reader with my XD card installed and an ATP 1gig CF card as well, yes you can transfer from one card to another, and have many cards installed with the ability to access them all at the same time. The second picture is all of the Stackables I own to give you an idea of how cool it all looks when assembled and working together.
Summary:
The Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub is a great product as is by itself, but when combined with the other Stackable line of products it becomes something much more. When the Stackable products are combined they create almost an entirely new computer, even the setup resembles a small tower case, it might not be a full computer but combined it is just as useful and might be considered a powerful addition to anyones system.
I personally love the Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub, I’ve used it numerous times and will continue to do so. It’s one of the best and most useful card readers I’ve reviewed or owned, it has earned a permanent place on my desktop.
DragonSteelMods gives the Ultra Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub a 5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.
Pros:
-Fast
-Lightweight, portable
-Stackable or standable
-Dual powered
-Many formats supported
-USB hub built-in
-Well made
Cons:
-None really
I would like to thank Ultra for the chance to review the Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub and for their continued support of DSM.
review# 318