Smc Reader/writer Advantages?

[BaDToaD]

I keep seeing a lot of people mentioning SMC readers etc. I considered one in the past before Squidge brought out his excellent GPdrive but I'm wondering how good are SMC readers really?

I can see the need for one for anyone stuck using the official link software as it's slow (no wait it's SOOOO SLOWWWWW) and it's a bit clunky but can an SMC reader do anything that GPdrive can't do. What are the transfer rates etc. Has anyone who's got or used an SMC reader tried GPdrive. How do they compare etc.

To be honest this post is as much for those who haven't tried GPdrive and are considering an SMC reader as it is for me as maybe they can save themselves some cash (FYI GPdrive is I think Win XP only or Win 2k with some systems, correct me if I'm wrong people it has been known )

Personally I think an SMC reader will need to be pretty impressive if it's going to lure me away from GPdrive.

 

[TelcoLou]

Personally I think an SMC reader will need to be pretty impressive if it's going to lure me away from GPdrive.

With a card reader, you don't have to turn on your GP32, wasting battery power. Impressed?

 

[Dozer]

Ah just get one. Its only like what, £8? It's as fast as you're gona get, you dont have to worry about the cable socket messing up like it did on my last gamepark from pushing it in and out all the time (and i was careful as i guessed it might happen <_<). You dont have to wait to boot the gamepark and get into whatever linking program, just put the card in.

Basically its just worth it.

 

[skysnapper]

fill a 128meg card in just under 5mins, upload the lot back up in just over 2 1/2 mins

nuff said

 

[Tobriand]

And don't get corrupting on large files, no problems over-writing in 2K, likewise renaming.

GPDrive might be enough - I had my SMC writer before I got it, so I don't use it - but SMC writers are very nice regardless. Mine fills a card in what... 4 mins or so? Maybe slightly less... which is nice.

Though that said, GPDrive would be much better in theory for deving. No need to switch SMCs around...

 

[lizard808uk]

For GP Cinema needs where you're loading a 120MB file or so , an SMC reader is essential - no cock ups like with the cable. Also no errors when transferring multiple files when needed for stuff like KOF91.

I think £8 is worthwhile considering the shit I had to put up with the cable, and the blatantly annoying drivers

 

[BaDToaD]

Cheers for the info everyone. Apart from the usb socket possibly buggering up I haven't seen anything to convince me that I need a reader immediately so I'll stick with GPdrive in the very short term. But as they're so cheap I'll probably get one next time I'm buying some stuff online and as I need another 128mb SMC soon... well now really especially with the GBAX stuff being available tomorrow that's likely to be sooner rather than later.

For those of you that haven't got SMC readers Squidges GPdrive is a must.

fill a 128meg card in just under 5mins, upload the lot back up in just over 2 1/2 mins

It's not as fast as skysnappers SMC reader speed quoted here but it's not that much slower. Maybe aound 8 - 9 minutes to fill a 128 card. It's really much faster than the official link software.

 

[carlgeorge]

I have had a card reader for a while (my mac and camera weren't compatible) and I have to say I use GP Drive all the time because I prefer it to the card reader.

The comment that booting your gp32_console and loading the GPDrive is a hassle is nonsense -- when I use my card reader I have to mess about with that 'remove hardware safely' thing in windows, which is probably more annoying!!

* If you often change everything on the card in one go (all 128MB) then get a card reader.
* However if you only add a couple of roms and maybe a program each time, then stick with GPDrive.

 

[c0ncept]

meh, I have a card reader built into my printer so I use that. Speeds are excellent, the only thing that bugged me were FPK files until I discovered the unpacker.

 

[Dozer]

I have had a card reader for a while (my mac and camera weren't compatible) and I have to say I use GP Drive all the time because I prefer it to the card reader.

The comment that booting your gp32_console and loading the GPDrive is a hassle is nonsense -- when I use my card reader I have to mess about with that 'remove hardware safely' thing in windows, which is probably more annoying!!

* If you often change everything on the card in one go (all 128MB) then get a card reader.
* However if you only add a couple of roms and maybe a program each time, then stick with GPDrive.

I don't get any remove hardware warnings. I just push the card in, copy and paste what i want on it, pull it out. Surely thats more convenient and faster than linking the gamepark up and booting the fxe? Sure its only takes 30 secs or so but its just so much more reliable. You just can't go wrong for the amount of money they cost! I dont see what argument there could be against getting one :huh:!