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Belkin is the leader in iPod accessories. There are dozens of cases, carriers and other items for the Apple iPod, but Belkin has connectivity in every way imaginable for our favorite handheld music player. I have to admit the Belkin Voice Recorder is low on our scales compared to the Griffin iTalk, but their Media Card Reader and, recently introduced, Digital Camera Link are great for photographers on the go.
While at Macworld, I could not easily pull out my computer and move my pictures from camera to iBook so the 5gbs of free space on my 20gb iPod came in handy. I just plugged the 128mb memory card to my iPod via the Media Reader and all of my pictures were in my iPod. The best thing about it, if I have the iPod connected with pictures, I can open iPhoto and it recognizes the iPod as a digital camera then opts to import the pictures. Many users complained that the Media Readerís downfall was having to take the memory card out of your camera, then into the Belkin device then into the iPod. Also, they had concerns that their cards might not fit in the Media Reader.
A year later, Belkin introduced the Digital Camera Link. A smaller, form factor and much easier for those that know nothing about their cameras or where the memory card is located. Transfer speeds are the same speeds as the Media Reader, actually, the entire process is identical except for one thing you need to have with you; the USB cable for your digital camera. I am one for simplicity and kept the Media Reader with me with iPod and Camera at all times. I would just pull the memory card out, put it in the Belkin device then to the iPod it went. Now I have to worry about having a USB cable with me that connects from the camera to the Digital Camera Link.
Sure, it sounds easier not to worry with the memory card, but more cables? I would have been more sold if the unit had a better use of battery life, or fewer batteries, or maybe perhaps it had a faster transfer rate. None of that is true. The battery life is poor, the size is only one quarter less than its predecessor and with the need for a cable you look more like a geek using it in public. I used to get looks while switching memory cards and moving pictures to the iPod, but when you have three expensive things hooked up with cables it just looks poor.
The Belkin Digital Camera Link is twenty dollars cheaper than the Media Readers since it does not require all of the outlets for memory cards, so that is a definite plus. I would have been sold on the new unit if the USB cable that plugs into your camera was built into the unit and was retractable, but not all cameras use the same USB cable so this was the only logical choice for Belkin. I feel they could have made a better unit that saved more power and had more options like the USB option and card reader in one for 20 dollars more, instead of less. All in all, it is a new way to transfer pictures. If you have the old Belkin unit, I see no need to upgrade now.