Lexar 300x Speed-Rated Professional Flash Memory Cards & Flash Card Readers
By Shutterbug Staff February 21, 2007 — Lexar has introduced Professional UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) memory cards, the latest addition to the company’s Professional line of high-performance cards. When paired with a UDMA-enabled device, such as Lexar’s new Professional FireWire 800 Reader, UDMA cards improve the professional photographer’s digital imaging experience by reducing the time needed to download captured images to a destination computer. In addition, the benefits of Lexar Professional UDMA memory cards extend well beyond card-to-computer transfer rates, to improved in-camera performance in several UDMA-enabled digital camera backs and digital SLR cameras expected to be announced later this year. Speed-rated at 300x, or capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 45MB per second, and available in capacities of 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, new Lexar Professional UDMA cards deliver a 125% performance improvement over Lexar’s previous generation 133x CompactFlash® product line when the card is used with a UDMA-enabled device.

Like all products in the Lexar Professional line, the new 300x speed-rated cards come with a limited lifetime warranty, free dedicated technical support, and a comprehensive suite of software that includes a full version of Corel® Paint Shop Pro X, Lexar Image Rescue 3 and Lexar Backup n Sync. Lexar Professional 300x speed-rated flash memory cards will be available in April.

Lexar Introduces Two New Professional Flash Card Readers for Maximum Performance and Versatility

Lexar has introduced two new professional-grade flash memory card readers designed to deliver increased download speeds from the card to a computer. One reader features a new and unique industrial design and is fully compatible with two new flash card interface standards: Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) CompactFlash, a high-performance flash memory protocol based on the CompactFlash form factor, and Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), a memory standard that supports capacities of 4GB and higher in the Secure Digital (SD) form factor. The second reader is an upgrade to Lexar’s already-existing stackable model that allows for concurrent download of information from multiple flash memory cards. Lexar’s two latest card readers offer superior download speeds when working in conjunction with new Lexar Professional UDMA 300x CompactFlash and 133x SDHC flash memory cards.

Like its predecessor, the Professional UDMA FireWire 800 Reader has a unique stackable design and allows for concurrent download of images stored on multiple cards when up to four readers are daisy-chained together. The Professional UDMA FireWire 800 Reader is compatible with all CompactFlash (Type I and Type II), MicroDrives™, and UDMA-enabled CompactFlash cards, including Lexar’s recently introduced 300x speed-rated family. It ships with one 1-meter and one 18-centimeter FireWire 800 cables. The 18-cm cable is convenient when two or more readers are daisy-chained or when the reader is used with a laptop. The reader is also compatible with FireWire 400 devices when used with an optional FireWire 800-to-400 cable (sold separately).

Lexar’s new high-performance Professional Dual-Slot Reader is USB 2.0-enabled and fully compatible with SD, SDHC, CompactFlash and UDMA-enabled CompactFlash memory cards. The unit’s unique compact design makes it ideal for professionals working in-studio or on the road, and allows for both card slots to be accessed simultaneously.

The Professional UDMA FireWire 800 Reader will be available in April for the suggested retail price of $79.99, while the Professional Dual-Slot USB Reader will be available in June for the suggested retail price of $49.99. Both new flash memory card readers require Windows XP or later, or Mac OS 10.2.8 or higher.

www.lexar.com