AJ-PCD2 card reader "Cover Flap"

[Tom 4]

I just purchased the single card reader AJ-PCD2 , it works OK, much the same transfer times as connecting the camera to my computers,
I'm quiet surprised to see that the card entry slot has no protective cover for when the reader is not in use, that amazes me, when designing these readers Panasonic must have expected them to be put into bags and cases with lots of other gear, it's not just a studio reader, most shooters will use it when travelling.
Even a silver coin could fall into the slot and render the reader useless in no time, not to mention a build up of dust and crap.

I'd expect Panasonic to build in a cover for any future releases. all P2 cameras have a P2 slot cover in place, a mobile reader should have had one too.... Very very poor design indeed. I'd expect for the price of the reader that it would have a simple $2 cover flap, not just an open slot.

I'm going to make a cover that fits over the front, to avoid it being trashed when in my transit bag or case.

Cheers
Tom K.

 

[wgzn]

i suppose that given the nature of how a p2 card connects, they may have figured there wasnt much of a contamination issue

 

[Tom 4]

i suppose that given the nature of how a p2 card connects, they may have figured there wasnt much of a contamination issue

With Great respest wgzn, That's the "Logic" that pana must have used, so then why did they put covers on all other P2 gear, A BIG mistake in my opinion,
as I said earlier, I bet future releases have one....I'm not impressed, and i bet anyone who has bent or dirty pins down the track will not be etiher..

Cheers
Tom K

 

[wgzn]

then why did they put covers on all other P2 gear

id guess because there was possibly more going on inside the other devices that would be more prone to damage by contaminants...?

but i dunno. maybe a door would have made it too expensive... what i cant figure out is why if the duel adapter could do it (in most cases) for under $150. why panasonic needs $350 for theirs?

 

[Tom 4]

I was quiet peeved that for the cost it did not have some type of cover / protective mechanism for the slot, by the looks of the internals of the reader, I bet building the "USB driver" (Mac, kext) was the main cost, the mechanics are very basic indeed, probably only worth on the generic market less than $50 bucks, but because it's Branded Panasonic it's worth so much more.

Anyway it works that's the main thing, But I'd advise anyone buying or using this reader to do as i've done, that is to get a bag or even a small case to keep it away from small objects like pens or coins
that may get into the slot and render the reader completly useless.

Cheers
Tom K

 

[mule ferguson]

I use the AJ-PCD2 and have 2 laptops that have card readers for the p2. none of them have covers.
One of the laptops I have used since 20006 and no issues. I'm sure the laptop came with a cover but I never did use it.
Mule Ferguson

 

[wgzn]

to keep it away from small objects like pens or coins

what, do you carry the thing in your raver pants? ; )

 

[Tom 4]

I use the AJ-PCD2 and have 2 laptops that have card readers for the p2. none of them have covers.
One of the laptops I have used since 20006 and no issues. I'm sure the laptop came with a cover but I never did use it.
Mule Ferguson

Hi Mule,

My old Powerbook G4 even has a flap over the "PC card slot" to prevent foreign objects entering and bending pins and filling the area with dirt/dust/grit etc.
You must be in a very clean environment and be extreemly careful, well done to you. Just about all Mac lappies have reader slot covers, as do windows lappies. even most after market readers have cover flaps.

I'm just pointing out what I consider "Poor Design" or a "Design oversight" by possibly a designer who assumes that the reader will find a home in very clean places,
and save the company $1 by omiting a Cover Flap over the slot. Just about every other Card reader built into all other quality Gear over the years has some sort of flap, this one does not.

Wgzn... sorry , I dont wear raver pants. It lives in a Lowepro bag, wrapped in a plastic bag and in a cloth CD sized case now. I used it yesterday on a news job, working in the field from the front seats of my car,
it was used rapidly with my two mac lappies to ingest P2 marterial etc, so as to feed the material via wireless from the location, as you'd expect there was lots of gear across the two front seats,
I was extra carefull with the reader knowing it had no protection, thats and example of my "real world Usage" with the PCD-2.

It's a portable reader, not a studio reader in my opinion. If i wanted a studio version I would have bought the PCD35 or the PCD20 (they both have slots cover flaps) and have much faster transfers than the PCD2.
My HPX172 has a flip up, cover flap for the two card slots, surely it would not have been hard to build one for the PCD2, and no,I have not contacted Panasonic about this.
I suspect they will put one on later models when feedback from disgruntled owners builds over time.

Cheers
Tom 4

 

[Rob]

What disgruntled owners ? You're the only one.

 

[Tom 4]

What disgruntled owners ? You're the only one.

hi Rob, i'm only pointing out a design fault. Sorry if that has offended those that just take what their given without question.
disscussion is what improves products and services in the free world.

cheers
Tom 4

 

[wgzn]

hi Rob, i'm only pointing out a design fault.

i dont know that one person having a problem with it makes it a "design fault"
but then again, when the hpx170 first came out, i was all screaming here on the forum about how the P2 cover door wasnt as solid as the one on the hvx200 - so i guess we all have different things that bother us ; )

but i do see your point. youd think if a laptop could have a spring-loaded flappy thing, then why couldnt this device?

but id suggest that maybe since a camera, a laptop and a $2k multicard reader all have a LOT more going on inside them. things that would be MUCH more easily damaged by debris. maybe THATS why those things have a cover. and this does not

i wonder if the industrial designers at panasonic figured that since you have your computer there wherever youre using the reader. that youve already taken precautions to keep your coins and pens out of the equation. and if the reader is in jeopardy, the computer's pretty well going to be ruined first. so the end-users would have bigger things to worry about.

 

[Tom 4]

Hi Wgzn,

Plesae correct me if i'm wrong, This is the only P2 Panasonic card reader that has NOT have a slot flap/cover fitted, as I said earlier, for the cost it should have had one.
There's Many "cheap as" under $50 card readers on the market, most have no flap/cover fitted , but you'd expect that from a price driven cheap-as product.

I'll just be very very carefull with it as you suggested to.

cheers
Tom 4

 

[Rob]

Send it back for a refund, it's not like you saw pictures of it with a cover on it and yours came without one. The card does what it's supposed to do. In my opinion it's a very low price for a P2 card reader.

Rob.

 

[Tom 4]

Send it back for a refund, In my opinion it's a very low price for a P2 card reader.

Rob.

Hi Rob,
There are plenty, very Much cheaper PCI based P2 card readers out there, just google them, This Panasonic reader was designed to use the universal USB interface, and be "portable" to use with laptops , that mostly are used in the field environment. that's the only difference.
The USB interface satisfies Mac and PC users that's it's biggest asset.
Yes, and it does do what is says.

I'm sure the next generation PCD2 WILL have a cover/flap over the reader slot.

here's some links if your interested to some cheaper readers , some have covers some do not
I installed an Amtron reader in my old G4 some time ago and it was a great performer, but the apple hardware and OS has passed it by, back in "Tiger OS" days.

http://www.amtron.com/reader/p2card_reader.htm
http://www.shopdigi.com/product.aspx?pf_id=PCD-TP101CS-B
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-slot-Panas...327?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item255f39dbef
even the old "duel adapter" was a cheap fix, pity it wasn't re built to be USB.

and if your interested , I have no intention of returning it, and your comment re assumptions of having "seen pictures" prior to purchase is not worth answering.

Cheers
Tom 4

 

[David Saraceno]

I think this wraps up the discussion.