May 20, 2011 06:35 GMT  ·  By

While most laptops today have memory card readers by default, desktops don't, since motherboards lack these components, meaning that one has to buy an accessory to read off those storage units, one like the one made by Lexar.

Memory cards are, one might say, fairly wondrous storage solutions, in that they can hold quite a few photos, videos or whatever else on in very small physical package.

They have also been getting high transfer speeds as of late, although not really close to the 500 MB/s that the USB 3.0 interface can handle.

Speaking of the SuperSpeed standard, it is this connection that a new PC accessory from Lexar Media employs.

Basically, the outfit created a USB-connected card reader with support for SD, SDHC and even SDXC UHS-I cards, plus CompactFlash UDMA ones.

Known as Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader, it has a pop-up mechanism and should be available for $50, complete with a five-year warranty.

“USB is the most popular connectivity option for PCs, and it’s critical that professional photographers and videographers have convenient and versatile tools to maximize their workflow and fully leverage the performance of their high-speed memory cards,” said Manisha Sharma, director of product marketing for cards, Lexar Media.

“The Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader combines extremely fast performance with a versatile, innovative design to provide pro and hobbyist shooters with a reader that dramatically reduces image transfer time. The speed offered by the reader enables users to move large volumes of high-resolution images and HD video faster than ever, allowing them to spend less time at the PC and more time on other activities.”

Needless to say, the newcomer is backwards compatible with the USB 2.0 interface, although transfer rates will be limited to 60 MB/s in that case. The product page can be found here.