In modern digital technology, memory cards of various formats are widely used. To copy information from them to a PC, special devices are often used - card readers, which can be external or built-in.
Why do you need a card reader if you can connect a camera or phone to a computer with a cable? It may not be at hand at the right time. Wired connections may require drivers, and if compatibility issues arise, files cannot be copied. In addition, when using a card reader, the data transfer rate is higher than with a cable.
External card reader
An external memory card reader is useful for those who have to use other people's computers, which may not have such a device. For example, this can be useful for photographers who sometimes need to copy pictures to a client's computer. The external card reader can simply be carried in a bag with other equipment.
If you have several computers at home, you can save money by buying one external device instead of two or three built-in devices. An external card reader is also required for owners of laptops that are not equipped with memory card readers.
An external card reader is good in situations where there is no way to install a built-in one - for example, all the slots on the front panel of the system unit are already occupied by other devices. It takes up little space, so you can carry it with you if necessary. But compactness and mobility have a drawback - such a gadget can be lost or forgotten by the client.
External card readers are not always convenient to use. For example, your computer might not work or may not have front USB ports. In this case, you will have to crawl under the table, risking getting dirty in dust and hitting the corner of the furniture, and looking for a free connector by touch.
The smaller the card reader has, the more modest the list of formats with which it can work. If the compactness of the device is important to you, check with the seller before buying whether the gadget supports the memory cards that you plan to use.
Built-in card reader
Built-in card readers are good because they don't take up additional space. They are located in the PC case, do not protrude beyond its limits and do not require fiddling with wires. Installation and connection take just a few minutes, after which the device is always ready for use.
External devices connected to the PC have wires. This often results in an ugly tangle of cables that tend to intertwine with each other. In addition, the risk of damage to the device or the computer itself increases, because external gadgets can be dropped by catching on their wires. The built-in card reader has them inside the system unit.
An external card reader may not be at hand at the right time, and the built-in device will not be lost. On the other hand, it is difficult to take it with you to connect to another computer. In addition, this will require disassembling the system unit.
The built-in card reader is more convenient to use due to its size. Manufacturers do not need to save space, so each type of memory card has its own slot. External devices often make one universal port for several card formats. Sometimes this complicates the use and requires the use of adapters.
