Filed under: Hardware, Cool tools, Macbook Pro
That SD slot on the MacBook Pro? Not just for digital cameras
Hard Mac reports on a newly released Apple Knowledge Base article that reveals this nice little tidbit about the new MacBook Pro's SD slot. Not only can you use it to dump pictures off your digital camera, but you can use it as a boot disk if need be. The article also reveals:- You can use the thinner MultiMediaCards with the SD slot. Cards that have a thickness or surfaces that exceed 2.1mm should not be used.
- You can use standard SD cards (4MB to 4GB) and SDHC (4-32GB) cards in the slot. MiniSD, MicroSD, MiniSDHC and MicroSDHC can also be used with adapters.
- The SD slot will work with cards that exceed 32GB
- SD cards with the exFAT file system will not be read, will need to be reformatted as a FAT32
- SD cards are read as USB storage devices
- To use the SD card as a startup volume, change the default partition table to GUID and format the card to use the Mac OS Extended file format
- SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output) cards will not be recognized
- The SD card slot will work with Boot Camp for both Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fernando said 3:25PM on 6-10-2009
In other words, a pretty standard SDHC reader?
Reply
Byrdman said 3:34PM on 6-10-2009
Yep, couldn't agree more. Once again, its just TUAW making a big deal about something that Apple has released that has been around for years on PC's.
Joseph said 5:23PM on 6-10-2009
wait. how is it not just storage? seemed like the point of the article was to show, it isn't just storage. e.g. USB, has card readers, modems, printers, phones, ipods, etc... but SD card readers are just SD card readers amirght?
Cool that it supports 32GB+ because i wouldn't mind dual booting, using the SD slot, assuming it's supported and fast. speed tests? Engadget already got their new lappies. you guys get them yet?
Cycomachead said 6:34PM on 6-10-2009
Actually no! The single best and most important feature, imo was left out of this!
It has a max transfer speed of 240Mbit/s That's REALLY FREAKING fast. Current SD cards max out at 45Mbit/s. My point is while in most cases you may opt for a cheaper card, this will give you a lot of bonus speed by getting a faster card. Most camera's don't even do 30Mbit/s second...
So that actually makes it a pretty viable backup device.
zonak said 3:35PM on 6-10-2009
Considering that you can already boot from USB devices and that there are a bunch of card readers out there, isn't this the same and doable on all other macs?
Reply
brian said 1:16AM on 6-11-2009
The neat thing in is that this is built in. Being able to boot from one is sweet. You could put one in, take out your HDD, and you'd save a few ounces and probably a good amount of power. I'm sure it'd be slower than a proper SSD but if you just wanted to run a few apps, once they're up and running they're in RAM and they'd be fine. Makes me want to get one and try it out. :-)
Luis Menendez said 3:37PM on 6-10-2009
What? Boot Camp on an SD card? Ok, that's it I'm selling my MacBook and getting one of these new ones today...
Reply
Navarro Parker said 4:24PM on 6-10-2009
So when SDXC becomes standard, this will be a useless port and I'll have to resort to using a USB card reader anyway.
Or, I could buy an ExpressCard SD reader and when SDXC becomes standard, buy an ExpressCard SDXC reader. If only I had an ExpressCard Port!
Reply
Joseph said 5:27PM on 6-10-2009
you can get a firewire XC drive. then you could use that.
sodapop said 3:51PM on 6-10-2009
When I bought my MacBook pro I toitally wanted to fill that card slot but there are very few options for mac users. Now, with the SD slot, how are we supposed to get satellite wifi?
Reply
pskennedySOS said 3:49PM on 6-10-2009
Whether or not it seems redundant or not to you, it's still a useful reminder and a pretty nifty option.
Don't have to be dicks about it.
Reply
Buran said 3:52PM on 6-10-2009
Yeah, and how the heck can I insert my CompactFlash adapter? I have an ExpressCard CF adapter. And, as sodapop said, you're screwed if you have ExpressCard CDMA/GSM modems.
My next machine is going to be a 17" because of this backward step. They, at least, still have the EC slot.
Reply
rg said 3:56PM on 6-10-2009
and since when are SD cards only for cameras?! I'm a little corn-fused as to what the big deal is here.
Reply
epa said 4:01PM on 6-10-2009
Not having an express34 slot makes the new 13/15 MB Pros a lot less useful for professional video applications. Bummer, I was looking forward to building a nice new edit/screening system around a 15".
Gonna have to go bigger to get express34 for my MXO2.
Reply
Johnny said 4:10PM on 6-10-2009
@sodapop and Buran: I know this means you would have to update another piece of equipment and I'm certainly not saying I think it was a great decision to drop EC, but other than a USB solution, doesn't someone make some sort of bluetooth or wifi connected adapters that you could leave in the bag? That would be pretty cool. Again, I do realize that a card would be a lot easier and there is plenty of room for both IMO.
I kinda hope that newer high-capacity SD cards will replace other forms of removable/rewritable media such as DVD-R(W)/CD-R(W). Yes, PCs have had them forever, but I think it's good that they added them now to Macs just to use as extra storage or, as Megan suggests, a boot disk.
On the other hand, it seems a little un-Apple to add new forms of removable media. It is certainly not necessary for cameras, as they suggest it is for, since most cameras have USB connections built-in. I usually don't switch the card unless I've taken a TON of pictures. Therefore, it is easier to me to plug in the camera than to remove the card from the camera and put it in the computer. Also, my camera uses mini-SD, so I would need to use the adapter which is another unnecessary step.
Reply
Albenheimer said 4:38PM on 6-10-2009
But with your solution you have to carry a USB cable as well. Built-in SD is a big win in my book.
Buran said 5:06PM on 6-10-2009
USB is too slow for transferring photos. Firewire and EC are much, much faster. But I can't seem to find any FireWire adapters that don't require a cable that's a hassle to deal with. I can find small/compact USB adapters; why not FireWire?
Apple apparently expects us to throw away our EC adapters (I also have one for SD; it's not very big physically). Yet they aim their machines at pro photographers and advanced amateurs like me (Aperture, anyone?).
I don't get it.
Joseph said 5:26PM on 6-10-2009
im gonna keep my MBP for a while, i wouldn't mind trading you my CF FW400 adapter for your express card. it is pretty fast.
Johnny said 5:34PM on 6-10-2009
Buron,
True, Firewire is faster and that is what I use for my movie camera although my point and shoot is USB only. I actually found a really cool compact cord made by the, gasp, Best Buy brand 'Dynex'. Obviously it isn't the best quality in the world, but it is compact and works great.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7304776&st=firewire+cable&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1118842475694
mabhatter said 12:34AM on 6-11-2009
"Apple apparently expects us to throw away our EC adapters (I also have one for SD; it's not very big physically). Yet they aim their machines at pro photographers and advanced amateurs like me (Aperture, anyone?).
I don't get it."
They expect you to buy the 17" version that still has the EC slot...Bwa,ha,haaa!!! Professionals can afford it and Advanced Amateurs are Apple's favorite customers to take money from. [I have two macbooks.. it's sad but true Apple thrives on fanboys buying kit they don't need to compare "sizes"]
The SD slot makes a lot of sense because that's what most cameras and the new consumer video cameras use now. So rather than have people bitch about "my camera isn't detected" just swap SD cards. I've had digital cameras for several years, and only plugged them in several times, it was always quicker to pull the card than wait for the camera's slow transfer speeds.
I do agree about the EC slot though. It was becoming standard and really extends the life of a machine... need a real serial port for talking to RS232/485 devices? (enterprises love things with serial ports) need 3G? need USB3 or other things not invented yet? with an EC slot you can have that and don't have to ask Apple's permission later!