I picked up the new SanDisk Image Mate All In One a few months ago after reading about it in the Shutterbug Magazine to replace my older, clunkier, San Disk reader. This one, which is about: 3/8" thick x 1 1/2" wide x 4 or 5" high and comes in two parts, the reader and a tiny three prong base, was supposed to be ergonomically designed, space efficient, and ascetically pleasing...and oh yeah, faster too on the data transfer side of things according to that and other reviews. Well, the 2 part unit spends more time separating with the reader falling down onto the floor instead of sitting on the desk...the reader, which attaches magnetically to the 3 prong base...refuses to stay attached....very unstable and falls apart if the desk is bumped due to the very weak magnet...always thought for some reason that magnets adversely affected disks, cards, etc! Maybe why it's so weak? This is the second unit...the first went back to SanDisk to be traded out(after the store refused to take it back...some off the wall policy...never bought from them again) when the different card slot tolerances were so far off that NO CF card would fit the slot, nor would an SDHC! This one feels like the cheap plastic casing is about to separate every time I push in or pull out a card! It is fast though in comparison to my old one, which still works, very slowly in comparison....and is much bulkier, too....and SOLID, both in build feel and stability on the desk (if you bump it or have any contact of any sort with it, it just sits there refusing to fall apart). So, is it faster that other readers???? Yes. Is it sturdy???? No, it has a very cheap feel to it. Is it affordable???? About $32.00 + Tx. Is it a good buy??? Subjective. Only fully appreciated by the user who's into grinding (from the prongs going in and out of the CF Card holes and the plastic to card contact) sensations like those experienced from manually focusing a camera lens at the beach after it was dropped in the sand..... Note: Not a lot of choices at Office Supply stores....try a Micro Center, Frye's (at your own risk...Caveat Emptor!!) or.... Wayne
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