Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card

Reviews: Storage

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Editor:
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Max Slowik
Beth
Eye-Fi
Jul. 30, 2008

Specifications

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Conclusion

I'm of two minds on this wireless SD card. It's clever, unique, relatively inexpensive, and essentially universal. It's pretty, in a memory card sort of way. It has a couple of flaws that would be far from deal-breakers if, as a whole (hardware and software) it just did more. Without raw image support, this Eye-Fi creation will never be the memory card for professionals. Without open wireless networking support, it won't help the traveling photographer. The direct-to-online photo service feature is cool, but indiscriminate, posting every underexposed, blurred up-nostril without remorse.

And where are Eye-Fi CF cards? Or even MS? xD?

It's very friendly, but less helpful than it could be: a well-intentioned memory card. With better firmware, better software... It's perfect for getting home, setting your camera next to your computer, and knowing that your handful of photos will be copied over while the kettle heats up or beer pours. Owning this first Eye-Fi SD card is like buying a multi-tool and getting a screwdriver--good for tightening screws, and doubles as a dull chisel!* It's dead simple but decidedly rudimentary.

Beyond that, there's more to wireless photo transferring than novelty, and it's a feature that won't wear thin. It's just bogged down by the current shortsight.

I do hope that Eye-Fi puts out an expanded line of products, because they're definitely pointed in a cool direction. Down the road, maybe they'll put out a product that's a little more... serious?

Note: The specific model in this review has reached end-of-life, replaced by three different models. They're the same thing, except now there are optional services for the more expensive models. Basically, they've turned 1 product into 3 models.

The Good

Orange

Doesn't seem to affect battery life

Ironically packaged with a card reader

Wirelessness

The Bad

Broken image preview function

No full-screen image preview

Featureless, inflexible software

No roaming wireless support

For $45 you can get a 150x (20+MB/s) 4GB SD card

For $60 you can get a class 6 (6MB/s) 16GB SDHC card

No. Raw. Support. (.jpg only)

*Also OK for

Loosening screws
Miniature crowbar
Substitute tiny butter knife
Punching air holes in: lids, boxes, stoolies

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Page 1: Introduction and First Looks
Page 2: Installation, In Use
Page 3: Conclusion

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2 User Comments

1 - Posted by aireiq on July 30, 2008 - 11:10 pm

I may have read too quickly. Any info on compatibility with Mac/Loonix?

2 - Posted by Max Slowik on July 31, 2008 - 2:03 pm

http://support.eye.fi/downloads/

Mac and Windows XP/Vista officially, Linux, unofficially:

http://dave-hansen.blogspot.com/

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