Laptop with a SD card slot

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

I'm looking to buy a 17.3" screen laptop with an SD card port! It seems that they don't come as standard on higher spec models these days which seems a bit silly. I need the SD Card to transfer files to my 3D printer after generating .STL's in Fusion 360 and to download files from my camera.

These are the recommended specs from the Autodesk site:

1.7Ghz minimum but I'd prefer 2.6GHz or greater, 6 or more cores, 16gb memory, Dedicated GPU with 4 GB or more VRAM, DirectX 12 supported, 1920 x 1080 or greater at 100% scale resolution.

Scan Computers (Bolton) can build me a special but I'm thinking it will be out of my price range so I'm guessing I will have to get an adapter, before I press the buy button on one without has anyone any other suggestion please?

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Seems they are out of fashion!

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

My Partner has just bought a smaller Lenovo laptop. No dvd drive, SD slot or USB. What it does have is 2 USB C ports to charge & do all other jobs. With a USB to USB C adaptor. £2.00 off ebay. All items can be plugged in to those ports. Tried it the other day & DVD work fine , as do memory sticks & my 5 slot memory card reader.

I think it is the way new laptops are going.

Steve.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Yes, it may have to be the way forward Steve but what a faff! I use my laptop on my lap so anything that has to be added or sticks out is a nuisance tbh, The one I nearly bought has 4 USB ports and numerous others, however most Creality 3D printers use SD (my adventures into wireless/Octoprint are away off) as does my camera so an SD card would be preferred.

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

Might be worth checking out PCSpecialist. It's a couple of years since I used them but they still seem to have a good assortment to choose from. If you 'customize' to your requirements they build to order so might be a few weeks delivery time.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

why not go for a desktop + larger monitor as much easier for CAD use to have a large 4k screen (tho of course this could be plugged into a laptop as many of my monitors are) – desktops can also be loaded with more memory + interface cards.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

I bought an adaptor that takes SD, MMC cards, works fine and fits into the USB port

Edited By Clive Hartland on 12/04/2021 12:52:29

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Welcome to the brave new world of laptops ! I found the same thing when I had to replace mine.

When I asked about the slot for playing discs, they looked at me as if I had asked for a piece of moon rock.

They then explained, as if talking to a half wit, that "these things" are old hat. Such kind words !

I used to burn discs on my old unit, but I have no idea how this could be done on my present laptop.

Sad to say, due to the current "lockdown", I cannot even call on the services of the local 6 year old consultant.

Life is not simple.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

You might want to look at a tablet computer with a keyboard.

Most of the Windows 10 tablets seem to have an SD card slot. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (at the top end) for example has an SDXC reader built in. Amazon have a Fusion 5 tablet which also has an SD card slot (towards the bottom end).

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

Larry – I have an external CD drive/burner that connects via USB (the old style, not USB-C) which comes in very handy at times.

Just did a quick search and they are still available for under £30 from Currys, Argos, etc.

Rob

[Matt HarringtonParticipant @mattharrington87221]

I use this type of reader:

**LINK**

Just make sure that it doesn't foul nearby USB ports. I tend to transfer from the SD card and then remove ( or the otherway around!)

Matt

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

These from a South American Rain Forest for about £10.

John

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

It frees up a usb slot which is more flexible

[modeng2000Participant @modeng2000]

1+ for PC Specialist

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Just had the same problem, solved by spending ~£7.50 at Argos for a USB C adapter that takes SD and microSD cards and also gives you an ordinary USB port (my laptop has only one USB A but 2 USB C ports). My new phone and tablet also have USB C.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I have an old router plugged into my home network (via powerline adaptors) that is configured just as a switcher. I have plugged a Wavlink network USB port into it and a 4 way USB hub into that and can run USB memory sticks, USB printers and USB external hard drives on it. I have not tried it with external CD but have just tried a USB SD card adaptor and that works fine. The Wavlink server allows plugged in items to be connected or disconnected so I leave the external 4TB drive disconnected most of the time as it slows printing down if it starts indexing. This is using a Windows 10 laptop.

Martin C

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Buy an adaptor! Cheap as chips. Mine does 4 different connections, two of which I don't recognise!

I feel for Larry because the same happens to me even though I know computer technology changes every few years. Floppy Disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, SCART Cables, Internet Exploder, USB 3.0 and much else are all going the way of the Raphus cucullatus.

Decades ago I laughed at that comedy sketch were a middle aged customer tries to buy a needle for his gramophone and is thoroughly humiliated by the sales-yoof asking about stylii, woofers and such. Now hi-fi shops have gone and my children bark orders at Alexa. I haven't a clue what they listen to, or if I have Disney Channel or not. Most worrying is my kids are starting to complain technology is leaving them behind too…

Dave

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Another +1 for PCSpecialist. Last week my 550W power supply gave up on my PC. As the PC has a lot of addons I opted for a Corsair 850W modular P/S. Arrived next day. Excellent service.

regards

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

My Dell Inspiron 17 3000 has a dvd player/ writer, Radeon graphics, Intel core i5 8th gen' 4gb ram, 1Tb hard drive, 3 USB ports, HDMI port. I still have a CD writer bought back in the 90's,still with it's mains adapter !, 2 x 500Gb ext hard drives, I think I am pretty well covered for most needs.

George.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 12/04/2021 15:01:34:

Most worrying is my kids are starting to complain technology is leaving them behind too…

Dave

In my experience, no matter how old said children are the solution always appears to be an injection of Dad cash

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Rant on:

This moving to 2x USB C wth one taken for power and no CD/DVD/Blueray just seems to be a plot to push us into using "the cloud" and streaming services. Trouble is you then don't have assured access to your data and don't own the music or movie. Then they have killed the "old tech" off I bet the costs of the alternatives go up.

Rant off:

Robert G8RPI

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I had the same issue!

Now just use an adapter.

Jim

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I had to check my Lenovo ideapad 310 and it has got one, the pc is young enough to use DDR4. I simply stick the SD cards in a USB adaptor and bung them in the top of the desktop case.

[Stuart Munro 1Participant @stuartmunro1]

I think a pencil and paper is the solution here – no wait, pencils are old hat, we now have scarpies…..

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I use an external, self powered, 7 way USB hub. I can connect an external hard drive, CD/DVD burner, printer, memory cards and sticks, using suitable adapters where required. It has a 1 metre cable to connect to the laptop, so it sits out of the way when using the computer on my lap.

Just as well it's out of the way as it's a bit messy.

Edited By Anthony Knights on 13/04/2021 10:04:53

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