# Do they make a USB memory drive that takes SD cards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113 "2005-09-23T20:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/1 "2005-09-23T20:00:20Z")
OK, I have a 1 gig SD card. It cost almost as much as a normal USB flash drive. I would like to be able to use it as such (right now, it’s just used to transfer stuff to my PDA.) So, is there a company that makes a “blank” (for lack of a better term) USB drive? By that, I mean a flash drive that has no internal memory of its own, just an interface for and SD card. I would love to be able to take a flash drive here, there, and everywhere, but don’t want to stend anothrt $80 for a gig of memory if I already have a gig of memory sittin’ right there on my desk (well, two gigs if you count my iPod shuffle, but that’s 90% full of music, so can’t use that.) ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/2 "2005-09-23T20:05:26Z")
Any SD card reader will function like you’re looking for. Obviously the smaller, the better. [Like this?](http://images.crucial.com/images/prod_images/flash_reader/ctr2mmpu2/ctr2mmpu2_big.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/3 "2005-09-23T20:05:33Z")
Of course there is. All-in-one card readers are very cheap too (like $10 - $15). Here is one. There are lots of others. Search [Newegg.com](http://Newegg.com). > **[SYBA SD-U2CR-ALL 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Portable Card Reader/Writer - Newegg.com](https://www.newegg.com/syba-sd-u2cr-all-12-in-1/p/N82E16820199101?Item=N82E16820199101)** > > Buy SYBA SD-U2CR-ALL 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Portable Card Reader/Writer with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/4 "2005-09-23T20:08:52Z")
For your purposes I would stay away from the all-in-one, since they are pretty bulky for a pocket drive. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/5 "2005-09-23T20:49:33Z")
> [@Jayrot](#): > > Any SD card reader will function like you’re looking for. Obviously the smaller, the better. > > [Like this?](http://images.crucial.com/images/prod_images/flash_reader/ctr2mmpu2/ctr2mmpu2_big.jpg) Bingo. For some reason, my mind blanked on a card reader, probably because I have a bulky all in one unit that has a long cord. But that one is the perfect size. Now, to find one that has a key ring attachement… ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/6 "2005-09-23T20:52:04Z")
You might try [this one](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820240002) and hey is only $5 plus $5 shipping. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/7 "2005-09-23T20:57:51Z")
oh wait, [here’s](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820163601) another one. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/8 "2005-09-25T19:45:22Z")
Argh! I have been searching non-stop, and none have a key ring attachement, which is tolerable, but pretty much all the reviews on the ones I think look good/by a reputable company, have people mentioning the caps are crap. Why can’t these manufactorers make all USB caps like the one on the iPod Shuffle? Stays in place PERFECTLY. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/9 "2005-09-25T20:11:20Z")
For an expensive and superbulky solution, why not use an SD card-equipped digital camera? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-usb-memory-drive-that-takes-sd-cards/323113/10 "2005-09-25T20:19:00Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > For an expensive and superbulky solution, why not use an SD card-equipped digital camera? That defeats the whole purpose of having a small, very portable, storage solution.