Sharkoon 6-in-1 memory reader USB 2.0

Storage/Other by jmke @ 2004-08-16

If you want to transfer data from memory sticks in a flash, then the new Sharkoon memory reader might be for you. Sporting a leather carrying bag and small USB cable it looks promising in the feature department, but how does it perform?

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All in One

If you want to transfer data from memory sticks in a flash, then the new Sharkoon memory reader might be for you. Sporting a leather carrying bag and small USB cable it looks promising in the feature department, but how does it perform?

Madshrimps (c)


6 different memory types are support:
  • Compact Flash
  • IBM Microdrive
  • Smart Media
  • Memory Stick
  • Multimedia Digital Card
  • Secure Digital Card

    Using the included USB cable you get high transfer speeds thanks to the USB 2.0 interface.

    Madshrimps (c)


    Madshrimps (c)


    There is enough room in the bag to safely store memory cards

    Madshrimps (c)


    On the small CD there is a full version of Ulead Photo Explorer SE, a very welcome addition as it will set you up to transfer and catalogue photo's from your digital media. Also a set of driver files for those still using Windows 9x/Me.


    Using Sisoft Sandra's "Removable Storage Media Benchmark" I ended up with these results when comparing the Sharkoon reader to my old USB 1.0 Compact Flash card reader:

    Madshrimps (c)


    Practical tests show a larger difference then the synthetic test:

    Copy 133 pictures totalling 225Mb:
    USB1.0: 6 minutes 20 seconds
    Sharkoon: 3 minutes 59 seconds

    Deleting the pictures copied:
    USB1.0: 1 minute 7 seconds
    Sharkoon: 59 seconds

    Copying a 72Mb file
    USB1.0: 1 minute 20 seconds
    Sharkoon: 44 seconds

    Copying a 245Mb file and deleting it afterwards (2in1)
    USB1.0: 3 minutes 28 seconds
    Sharkoon: 2 minutes 50 seconds

    As you can see, copying large amount of pictures can be done in almost half the time with USB2.0, quite an improvement. Transfer rates for USB1 are ~800kb/s, those of USB2.0 depend largely on the digital media used, the Compact Flash cards I have are not the fastest ones around with peak transfer rates of 1800-2000kb/s.


    Priced at ~€20 Sharkoon has got themselves an interesting product, a low price for a memory reader with lots of extra's. If you are in the market for an external memory reader be sure to put the Sharkoon Model near the top of your list!

    Madshrimps (c)


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