New Computers Lacking the BASICS.

[Omega-TI]

Ever get irritated after buying a new computer and noticing for the first time your new desktop has no SD card slot? Sure, CD drives no longer come with them, you'll have to buy new monitors as well since it's only HDMI and Display Port outputs on the graphics card.... but come on, no SD card slot? This ain't no budget machine, so why no SD card slot, it would have cost mere pennies to include one. Cheap B_$ta_ds!

 

[JDKelley]

What computer did you get? (And people wonder why I like rolling my own. . .)

 

[Omega-TI]

What computer did you get? (And people wonder why I like rolling my own. . .)

I got the Alienware Aurora ACT1250 running dual 27" monitors.

I used to build my own "back in the day", but I'm an old man now and no longer like messing with all the stuff. Hell, I don't even change my own oil anymore.

 

[PACNWDude]

I have been buying used Panasonic toughbooks for many years as I often need and SD card reader, and RS-232 connection for legacy Motorola radio programming. Then, the rugged part also helps, as I can be rough with electronic hardware.

Before Panasonic, I used to get Toshiba Portege laptops and docking stations, to make sure I had all the peripheral connections and radio programming cable options, USB, RS-232 db9, and display port options.

If a docking port is available for the model, I get that too. As for USB ports, needing a second one for an Advanced System Key has also been important.

As for buying a computer and finding out it does not have something, do your homework first. I know people that bought vehicles and can't tell me how many cylinders the engine has, or if their truck is four or two wheel drive.......someting that cost more than houses I have bought in the past.

Typing this on a Panasonic CF-33 taplet/laptop (I have the keyboard that adds forports, a second SD card reader port), running Windows 11 (which is going to become required for my Motorola radio software soon), and can run several monitors, keyboard, mouse, external drives. I like that it has two SD card ports, as I use one SD card as extra storage that can be moved from computer to computereasily.....something that has become more important with larger codeplugs, system software upgrades, and transfer of files.

 

[enine]

Everyone used "the cloud" so no need for sd card slots anymore.
The only non laptop i have is sitting on the floor. I have a USB hub / sd card reader on the desk so its handy.

 

[Omega-TI]

Yeah, well the dashcams in my cars use micro SD cards, my 3D printer uses an SD card, my Raspberry Pi's use micro SD cards, my HandiCam uses a micro SD card, my Canon T7i camera uses an SD card, my digital audio recorder uses an SD card, our security camera system uses an SD card, my SDS100 uses a micro SD card, our cellphones use micro SD cards, hell even my heavily modified TI-99/4A uses an SD card. I simply didn't think that the computer wouldn't have one. My mistake because the damn things are so ubiquitous.

 

[buddrousa]

I hate the cloud someone you do not know incharge of your data and the security of that data, NO THANKYOU I TRUST ME.
Just like FAKEBOOK if I want to share a picture I have to give them rights to see all my pictures on the devices I use on FACEBOOK.

 

[fxdscon]

Yeah, well the dashcams in my cars use micro SD cards, my 3D printer uses an SD card, my Raspberry Pi's use micro SD cards, my HandiCam uses a micro SD card, my Canon T7i camera uses an SD card, my digital audio recorder uses an SD card, our security camera system uses an SD card, my SDS100 uses a micro SD card, our cellphones use micro SD cards, hell even my heavily modified TI-99/4A uses an SD card. I simply didn't think that the computer wouldn't have one. My mistake because the damn things are so ubiquitous.

With that much need for a computer with a SD card slot, it's quite surprising that you didn't check the specs for the computer before purchasing it.

 

[n0xvz]

I simply didn't think that the computer wouldn't have one. My mistake because the damn things are so ubiquitous.

A reader that plugs into a USB port can be found fairly cheaply. I've had to do that for a couple of laptops I have. No big deal (to me).

 

[JDKelley]

For computers, I run ThinkPads pretty exclusively. All have SD or Micro-SD slots. And if that doesn't work, I have a couple of USB-3 and USB-C hubs that double as "in-1" card readers (with SD and micro-SD being two of the formats they read,) as well as dedicated SD/MicroSD card readers via USB.

Suffice it to say, I'm covered. Since I keep my main working files on SD cards anyhow (so I can shift them from computer to computer,) it only makes sense that I am able to port them anywhere. This si also why I use .rtf format natively - anything that is at least one step removed from a basic text editor will handle them, and it allows me at least basic formatting and image embedding.

A card reader is inexpensive, a USB hub with card reader only slightly less so. What do you do if the card reader in your computer stops working? Sure I can replace mine, but that's still a week and a half for the order to show up, and then I have to free up a day to install it, because it's usually soldered on. . .

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I keep a USB-C card reader usually but serioiusly, read the spec's before you buy. There is a reason why I've got a Ryzen 7 machine with a SDI input card, a dual serial card, and EF Johnson JEM II, SFP+ card and video card.

My MBA only has USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. My newly issued Dell also only has USB-C ports. Still keep a Toughbook in the truck at all times with dual gigabit NICs, serial port, microSD (doesn't get used as I already carry and adapter around), HDMI and optical drive.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I got the Alienware Aurora ACT1250

That's a gaming class machine. I don't do gaming like I did back in the 90s-00s, though I owned a couple of Alienwares in those days. My Aurora R2 had no SD card slot when I bought it new in 2010 (& I understood that prior to buying it!) so their omitting this feature on their desktops is definitely nothing new. My M11 & M15 laptops had them. Not a huge deal as I had little to no need for one then. That's why you need to go over the specs before shelling out the big bucks on a not-so-budget friendly machine. And as others mentioned before me, tech trends are going towards cloud based storage & they have been for over a decade now. Physical storage mediums are quickly becoming a thing of the past, so manufacturers must be quick to adapt to the change.

 

[RobDLG]

In 1999, I bought a top-of-the-line Sony VAIO notebook computer. It cost around $3000, and although it had an RJ11 jack for the internal modem, it did not have an Ethernet connection. I later spent $60 for a PC Card/PCMCIA adapter with an RJ45 dongle.

A few years later, I bought another VAIO, and for around one-third the price of the first, I got both RJ11 and RJ45 jacks, and even a 9-pin serial port! Once again, though, I had to rely on a PC Card/PCMCIA card for WiFi.

I obtained several more consumer-grade notebook computers since then, and observed the change in features. The serial port was the first to go, around 2004, and a Toshiba in 2007 was the last with RJ11, but it did have internal WiFi. The RJ45 Ethernet connector was a constant presence, though.

So of course, my most recent notebook, a Dell Inspiron, lacks the RJ45 connector. Full circle from 1999! I guess consumers are supposed to rely on the built-in WiFi for a network connection, but Target has Ethernet adapters for around $14, and for that price, I purchased two.

 

[JDKelley]

That's a gaming class machine. I don't do gaming like I did back in the 90s-00s, though I owned a couple of Alienwares in those days. My Aurora R2 had no SD card slot when I bought it new in 2009 (& I understood that prior to buying it!) so their omitting this feature on their desktops is definitely nothing new. My M11 & M15 laptops had them. Not a huge deal as I had little to no need for one then. That's why you need to go over the specs before shelling out the big bucks on a not-so-budget friendly machine. And as others mentioned before me, tech trends are going towards cloud based storage & they have been for over a decade now. Physical storage mediums are quickly becoming a thing of the past, so manufacturers must be quick to adapt to the change.

Concur. However, I maintain my own cloud (34TB and counting. . .) and I still maintain critical storage in a "flush" format (like an inbuilt card reader) so I can work while I'm mobile without worrying about breaking off a USB stick in the socket and losing access to recent work.

While I know that physical storage media is becoming a relic, some of us are also relics for some reason or another (id est, file security, IP protection - I also run a hardware firewall. That's why I only put files I intend to be publicly available on a commercial cloud, and anything else important goes behind a firewall. . .) and it doesn't cost that much, anymore, to stick a card reader into a machine (and the SD/u-SD format is near-on ubiquitous these days, also being used in most cameras, tablets, and mobile phones. Both of our phones - Hell, all of the phones we've had in the last 15 years, up to but not including my S22- and both of our tablets have taken micro-SD cards.

Work sometimes must be mobile among machines, and one does not always have access to the Internet. I know the floppy disk has fallen by the wayside (even the LS-120 "super floppy," which I found to be a good compromise between high-capacity storage and legacy devices,) and I don't think I've seen a Zip, Jaz, or Orbis drive in at least 15 years, but that doesn't mean that removable media should be done away with entirely. It is, sometimes, wholly necessary.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Concur. However, I maintain my own cloud (34TB and counting. . .) and I still maintain critical storage in a "flush" format (like an inbuilt card reader) so I can work while I'm mobile without worrying about breaking off a USB stick in the socket and losing access to recent work.

While I know that physical storage media is becoming a relic, some of us are also relics for some reason or another (id est, file security, IP protection - I also run a hardware firewall. That's why I only put files I intend to be publicly available on a commercial cloud, and anything else important goes behind a firewall. . .) and it doesn't cost that much, anymore, to stick a card reader into a machine (and the SD/u-SD format is near-on ubiquitous these days, also being used in most cameras, tablets, and mobile phones. Both of our phones - Hell, all of the phones we've had in the last 15 years, up to but not including my S22- and both of our tablets have taken micro-SD cards.

Work sometimes must be mobile among machines, and one does not always have access to the Internet. I know the floppy disk has fallen by the wayside (even the LS-120 "super floppy," which I found to be a good compromise between high-capacity storage and legacy devices,) and I don't think I've seen a Zip, Jaz, or Orbis drive in at least 15 years, but that doesn't mean that removable media should be done away with entirely. It is, sometimes, wholly necessary.

I still use removable media pretty regularly. The thing to consider with modern flash storage…USB 3.2 Gen2 out specs UHS-II SD cards. Most modern computers have USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 4.