So Framework has been taunting us with exciting videos about building a full size SD card reader expansion card, but, as far as I know it is not ready. In fact, the marketplace placeholder currently says:
there’s a chance it could change or even be canceled
So. Right now I read my SD cards with a very old, USB-A card reader. It’s sloooow. I’m not sure exactly why: it used to feel pretty fast, but maybe it’s getting old? Or my photos are bigger?
In any case, I can’t help but feel that having a native, USB-C card reader, would be much faster. I don’t absolutely need it to be an expansion card per se, but it would sure be nice…
What’s the pronostic on actually getting a device directly from Framework? Any news? It seems like the tinkerers in this category have struggled to make existing controllers fit. For example, in DIY full size SD card reader? - #9 by Charles_Borsos, it is said:
And in I found an SD card reader that fits - #49 by ATi
There’s also SD Card Expansion Card but that’s based on the GL823 which, as far as I can tell, is USB-2.
Full size SD Card Reader Prototype - #28 by Ramon_Gonzalez Is quite promising, as it mentions a " Monoprice USB Type-C to SD 4.0 Card Reader" but that link died some time back. Amazingly, it’s not even available on monoprice itself which is kind of infuriating: if you’re going to deprecate a product, sure, okay, not in stock and never going to come back, but could you at least keep the spec on there ffs? Amazon, usual evilness aside, does this correct and still has the product listed, of course also unavailable: https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-USB-Type-C-Card-Reader/dp/B071FBSVWJ. Amazingly, some reviewer there even says it can be hacked into the Framework laptop. Other reviews, unfortunately, claim the reader is slower than others…
Full size SD Card Reader Prototype also has discussions on designing a case and which chips to use, but nothing definitive…
So, what should I buy? Assuming that Framework itself is not going to give us a nice new year gift, is there anything that might eventually fit in a 3d-printed case and provide decent performance?
Or is the answer just “go get an anker already”?
Thanks!