VST

SRP/SP:	$139.95/$120
Requirements:	Mac OS 8.5.1 or higher, available USB port
What’s Hot:	Compact, works, removes the need for a hub (in some cases)
What’s Not:	Manual ejection of media, can’t handle old 800k disks

Frustrated by the over-abundance of digital media standards? Unsure what
to do with a digital camera that takes SmartMedia, an MP3 player that takes
Compact Flash, and a friend that insists on using floppy disks? Not
to worry. VST, uber-manufacturer of PowerBook peripherals, has created the
PowerBook equivalent of the “Batman utility belt”.

This device, called the Tri-Media Reader, reads and writes
floppy disks, SmartMedia, and Compact Flash-based media — all in one
compact form factor. Connection is a snap, and the device works as
advertised.

The device is a marvel in simplicity: There’s the reader itself (in a sleek
graphite & ice scheme), a USB cable, and a CD with both Mac and Windows
drivers. No AC adapter is needed. Just install the driver, restart the
computer, connect the device, and you’re in business. Transferring files
from a digital camera is lightning fast, between 500 - 800KB/sec, thanks to
the speediness of SmartMedia and Compact Flash. Floppy disks are another
story, of course, and will poke along at barely 20KB/sec. There are
several types of Sony Mavica cameras out there that still use this media,
though, as does the Panasonic PalmCam.

VST touts the Tri-Media Reader as being a “hub-free” solution, meaning it
combines three traditionally separate USB devices into a single one, that
uses a single port. Technically this is accurate — if this was one of the
only USB devices being used. Most of us, however, have a plethora of
graphic tablets, printers, input devices, hard drives, and related USB
peripherals. The Tri-Media Reader certainly does reduce some of the
desktop clutter, though, and it does cost slightly less than what separate
floppy drives and SmartMedia/Compact Flash readers would normally go for.

Using the Tri-Media Reader is pain-free. Virtually no errors occurred
after prolonged testing on a PowerBook G3/300, and a Rev B iMac (both
running OS 9.0.4). Connecting and disconnecting the device while the two
systems were awake, asleep, and off produced no problems. About the only
glitch experienced happened when disconnecting the device while
transferring data from a floppy disk. This locked the system up. In
retrospect, it probably wasn’t such a good thing to do, anyway.

The Tri-Media Reader has few downsides, all of which are fairly
insignificant. It won’t read old-style 5 volt SmartMedia cards, so those
of you with QuickTake 200 cameras (myself included) are out of luck. On
the plus side, you can’t accidentally insert a 5 volt SmartMedia card, as
they are notched differently than the current, 3.3 volt ones. As with many
USB floppy drives, the Tri-Media Reader won’t read 800k Mac-formatted
disks. While not a huge concern, some will undoubtedly vex over the
inability to install Stratego or other classic games. Such is life.

Unfortunately, media doesn’t auto-eject. While I fully realize we Mac
users have been spoiled by auto-ejecting zip disks, floppy disks, etc., I
just can’t get used to dragging a disk to the trash and having nothing
happen.

There are some minor discrepancies between the device, the press releases,
and the manual. For example, the press release states full compatibility
with IBM Microdrives (also known as CF+ media). However, the readme file
flatly contradicts this by stating that it is “not advisable” to use the
device with this media. In addition, there is an undocumented
Kensington-style security slot on the back of the Tri-Media Reader. A
quick email to VST indicated that CF+ is indeed supported and the security
slot is indeed there. Updates to the written documentation are apparently
forthcoming.

If there were a wish list for future enhancements to this device, I’d opt
for a SuperDisk version, or possibly one that also reads Multimedia Cards
(MMC). Would it then be a “Quad-Media Reader”, or “Quint-Media Reader”?
Who knows. All I know is the more functionality you can cram into it, the
better. Auto-eject media would be nice, as well. Aside from my own
personal biases, though, the VST Tri-Media Reader is an excellent addition
to any road warrior’s Bat Mobile …I mean, PowerBook.

Filed under: Reviews