New Card Reader

[LynnP]

I currently use CFII cards up to 4GB. Will I have to purchase a new card reader to read 8GB cards?
I ask because my card reader also reads SD cards but when I used an SDHC card a new SD card reader was necessary.

Thanks,


Lynn

[RABaker]

Short answer: No, probably not.

Longer answer: The original SD cards could only handle up to 2 GB. They had to change the format and operating system of the SDHC cards to get higher capacities, and some card readers had their read firmware in non-programmable memory and, therefore, could not be updated to read the higher capacity cards. On the on the other hand the CF format has had the ability to handle up to 128 GB since the beginning. Although they have developed faster cards, it has not been necessary to change the firmware routines necessary to read them.

So, unless your card reader has implemented some kind of non-standard routines in its firmware, it will read large CF cards just fine. Of course, if you put more data on the larger cards they will take longer to upload, so there still could be a desire to upgrade to a faster card reader even it does read the cards just fine.

Good luck,
Richard Baker

[LynnP]

Richard,

Thanks for the info. Being that I only use SanDisk cards and have a SanDisk card reader, 12 in 1, that will save me a few dollars.
This computer has to be replaced because of a malfunction on the screen. As far as I am concerned the whole program is screwed up. When I get the replacement I am going to sell it and go back to a new PC. Mac isn't my cup of tea. Probably because I'm too stupid to figure it out.

Lynn

[RABaker]

Lynn,

Yep, Macs and PCs operate differently and if you are used to one system the other will seem very difficult, confusing, and non-intuitive. It takes a rather concerted effort over a period of time to become comfortable with a new system after a switch. When I was still working I used PCs at work and Macs at home. I have been retired for about 9 months now and have already forgotten most of what I knew about PCs and Windows.

Good luck with your new computer.

Richard Baker

[WRon]

Richard,

Thanks for the info. Being that I only use SanDisk cards and have a SanDisk card reader, 12 in 1, that will save me a few dollars.
This computer has to be replaced because of a malfunction on the screen. As far as I am concerned the whole program is screwed up. When I get the replacement I am going to sell it and go back to a new PC. Mac isn't my cup of tea. Probably because I'm too stupid to figure it out.

Lynn

Just a note on PC vs. Mac: you can buy a much more powerful PC computer for a lot - repeat, a lot - less than a comparable Mac. I've heard the arguement that for photo work, you don't really need all that much power - for example, a MacMini ($700) - does just fine. In my longtime experience with computers and digital photography, however, it's kind of like what Zsa Zsa Gabor is reported to have said about being a woman: "You can't be too rich or too slender." I say when buying a computer: "You can't have too much processor, too much computer memory, or too fancy a graphics card." Buy the most powerful processor you can, coupled with a powerful graphics card, and at least 8 to 12 GB of memory. (The PC should be running 64 bit Windows 7.) You won't regret it.