

Secondly, it is a card reader, so you aren’t limited to a set amount of storage like with a USB flash drive. You don’t have to worry about transporting it or losing it. First of all, the tiny size allows you to insert it in your computer’s USB port and just leave it there. I think the ELAGO Nano Mobile Micro SD Reader has a couple of advantages over USB flash drives and external drives. But, hey! I felt I should show something to indicate that I tested it out. I’m not sure what the data, above, shows – other than the microSD card is much faster than the USB flash drive. I realize, of course, that the speed of the ELAGO is determined by the card inside it. I then copied over a single file that was 1.85GB. I tested each storage device by first copying over a folder with 457 pictures in it it had a total of 1.25GB of data. The flash drive is about the same vintage as the microSD card. I compared its copy rates to a 4GB Dane-elec USB flash drive I also had on hand. I decided I’d try out the Nano by doing a speed test for copying files from my computer to the Nano.
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There was no delay for driver installation and no problems reading the card. I plugged it in to my MBP, and the Nano was immediately available. You can see the yellow tab is fully exposed here, indicating that a microSD card is in place. This yellow tab is the ejector for removing the microSD card when you want to swap it out for another card. Note the position of the yellow tab on the back of the white plastic part. You can see the microSD card just peeping out of the Nano’s metal connector (above). I’ve owned this card for at least 3 years, so it’s probably not the latest and greatest technology.

I used a 4GB Dane-elec microSD card I happened to have on hand. (It’s also much smaller than other USB card readers.) You’ll have to supply your own microSD card. The Nano is certainly not as big and bulky as standard USB flash drives. I was afraid that I couldn’t fit the laptop inside with the Nano installed, but it slipped in with absolutely no problems. I use the Built Neoprene Tote Bag for the 13″ MacBook with my MBP, and the laptop sleeve inside the bag is a very snug fit. The top side of the Nano has a blue LED that lights up when it’s plugged in and blinks as it is accessed. When inserted into the USB port, it protrudes from the computer about 0.25″.
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As you can see from the top picture, it comes with a tiny lanyard so you can attach it to a keychain.ĮLAGO says the Nano is compatible with Windows Vista and is certified for Windows XP and Mac OS X. It’s about 0.6″ wide X 0.3″ thick X 0.9″ long with the cap in place or 0.7″ long without the cap. You’ll see that the ELAGO nano I purchased is white, but there is also a black version. The Nano Mobile Micro SD Reader from ELAGO will allow you to add memory with microSD cards, and it’s small enough that you can put it in a USB port and leave it – even while your computer is in your bag.

Not all netbooks or Airs have built-in card readers, so you can’t just opt for leaving an SD card in for extra storage. You can use a USB flash drive, but again, it’s another thing to keep up with. You can connect an external disk for more space, but having to lug around another device defeats the purpose of getting those tiny computers in the first place. A limitation that some netbooks, especially older ones, and some MacBook Airs have in common is low amounts of data storage. When you purchase a netbook or a MacBook Air, you want a lightweight, compact computer that you can carry in a small bag or even your normal purse/gear bag. If you buy something through the links on this page, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
