340MB Microdrive help!!

[iclick]

>> 1) What reader do you masters recommend?

You asked for a master, but I'll chime in anyway. I use a Microtech SCSI "Digital Photo Album," and if you already have a SCSI card this is the way to go for speed. It is a PCMCIA device, which requires an adapter for CF cards and MD's, but allows the use of PCMCIA Type I and II if needed. I can attest that it works very fluidly with the MD and Win98SE.

If you don't have a SCSI card already, go for a Firewire, again if you're so equipped--or one of the cheaper USB readers, and there are many of these on the market. Make sure they'll take a Type II CF form factor, which is the format of the IBM MD.

>> 2) Can I use the Lexar Jumpshot with the Microdrive??

If it accepts Type II CF cards.

>> 3) Should I Format the drive after I download & empty the Microdrive?

I am not in the habit of formating, except occasionally a "quick" format in Windows, which does little more than erase folders and files--and never format in camera. I don't have any problems with this procedure.

I've also heard you don't erase files in the D-series cameras, especially when the file isn't the last created, but I do it fairly frequently and have never had a problem.

[Bill_Dewey]

Paul, on this one we totally agree. I built my first PC back in 1979 (gosh, I'm old) and I don't think I've done a low-level format more than half a dozen times in that time, and then only as a last resort. You folks are correct, the quick format "in-camera" just whacks the directory, really quickly. Now, I must admit, my experience up until now is with a Fuji S1, soon to grow up to a D1H, but I can't believe there are any real differences here. As to using the format in the computer vs. the camera, I'd rather not have Windows leave recycle bins around when I'm not looking. For this reason I also never open files directly from the MD, but copy them to the hard drive first. In my S1 I have done this hundreds of times, even to the point of starting a "file delete", realizing it would take forever to erase 200 or so images and shutting off the camera, then restarting and formatting. All is well. Quick and easy.