kickstarter: MacBook Pro "Mini Drive", $30, Pre-Order, Free Shipping (Hot!!)

[PokerPrince]

Hi Guys,

Pre-Order for $30 will start to ship in August! - Free Shipping!

Words can't explain it - you have to watch the video -- MacBook Pro & MacBook Air users only!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1342319572/the-nifty-minidrive/widget/video.html

Source: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1342319572/the-nifty-minidrive

**Please Thank if you found this useful!

[incidents]

Is this really that hot? If it's even a moderate success it will be replicated ad infinitum by every Deal Extreme-like website. It's basically just a microSD adaptor at heart.

Thanks for the heads up though. It's a cool product but not a hot deal imo, mainly due to the kickstarter risk (I've been burned a couple times by products that haven't lived up to expectations ie: iPen (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-active-stylus-for-ipad)).

[bargain man]

How could a microsd adapter for $30 be considered hot? How is this macbook only? If you have an sd card slot on your laptop/computer it should work as well.

[nellium]

I would wait till competitors release their own variations, then let the price wars begin.

[bigjee]

I just have to put this out there.

The video looked like they were trying to rip apple's way of presenting products (02:30 building the mini drive) Lol.
Its just a glorified SD card adapter. Sorry but stuff like this already ships with SD cards and isnt anything innovative.

For something that doesn't stick out that much I'm not wasting $30.
Just my $0.02

[zatnaf]

$30 microsd/sd adapter "hot"?

$2 on DealExtreme within 2 months. Also Kickstarters are not "Deals".

[phoomp]

I think it's a great idea. I'll definitely grab one when they're available from Hong Kong for $2 including shipping. I might even see if I can hack a micro-sd card to do the same thing.

[Jon Lai]

They better have the patent for this.

[ASharp]

I can't believe anyone would pay $30 for this worthless piece of junk. Granted, they sure did pick the ideal target audience in terms of people who will blow their money on rubbish.

[PurePsychism]

Fail sale but it isn't NCIX :facepalm:

[Goonish]

I can't believe anyone would pay $30 for this worthless piece of junk. Granted, they sure did pick the ideal target audience in terms of people who will blow their money on rubbish.
Agreed. They certainly picked the right audience to rip off.

[EmperorOfCanada]

I can't believe anyone would pay $30 for this worthless piece of junk. Granted, they sure did pick the ideal target audience in terms of people who will blow their money on rubbish.

Dont start with the anti apple BS please.

[bman77]

or pay a buck and don't wait

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/MICRO-SD-TF-ADAPTER-SD-CARD-ADAPTOR-Laptop-Digital-Camera-/320938570963?pt=US_Memory_Card_Readers_Adapters&hash=item4ab96df4d3#ht_2992wt_1052


unless you feel the urge to spend 29 more to get your mac looking flush, haha

[sircool]

wth is this? a card reader? an adaptor? for $30, is it a joke?:facepalm:

[vinaymal]

I disagree that this is overpriced and junk. If you are willing to spend money on a MacBook pro you are paying for quality workmanship. This is no different. Who wants something that looks like crap hanging out of there MacBook that looks nice ?

[Jon Lai]

or pay a buck and don't wait

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/MICRO-SD-TF-ADAPTER-SD-CARD-ADAPTOR-Laptop-Digital-Camera-/320938570963?pt=US_Memory_Card_Readers_Adapters&hash=item4ab96df4d3#ht_2992wt_1052


unless you feel the urge to spend 29 more to get your mac looking flush, haha

Just use regular SD card, why need an adapter?

[bman77]

Just use regular SD card, why need an adapter?

If you want micro sd because it is " indestructable", I would because I only have a few sd cards but I have so many micros, haha

[transisto]

Hi Guys,...

Words can't explain it - you have to watch the video...

How about : microSD card adapter for macbook pro.

You owe me 5 min of wasted time, and I want it back.

[tdracer]

It's not a bad product. It makes it sit flush, looks nice.

Although, If I just unloaded 1-2k for a Macbook Pro, I might ask.......

Why the F**K couldn't you dumb*SS engineers make the card slot deep enough to hold an SD card flush in the first place like every other FRICKING piece of equipment out there??????

C'mon! Really? Engineered from a SOLID BLOCK OF ALUMINUM and someone FORGOT what size an SD card is???????

Fer Chrissake, even HP knows how to put an SD card slot in their computers.

Didn't someone say "hey, when I put the card in, it doesn't go in all the way.....like it does with all the other readers out there.

Oh wait, that's not quite right. The $0.79 card reader I got from meritline has the exact same slot and the card sticks out.

Anyways.....

[andriykoua]

I disagree that this is overpriced and junk. If you are willing to spend money on a MacBook pro you are paying for quality workmanship. This is no different. Who wants something that looks like crap hanging out of there MacBook that looks nice ?

Apple marketing owns you :)

[PitchyDawg]

It's so ~-* magical *-~ and ~-*revolutionary*-~. This changes everything. Again.

(No hate, haha - I'm platform agnostic. Android phone and Win 7 on a Macbook Air. The MBA really is a beautiful machine.)

[Tornado F2]

I can't believe anyone would pay $30 for this worthless piece of junk. Granted, they sure did pick the ideal target audience in terms of people who will blow their money on rubbish.

Sadly even Apple sheep won't fall for it unless there's an "i" in front of the name. And Apple's lawyers have the letter so well guarded that even Sesame Street are afraid to touch it. :razz:

[thunderca]

I agree. This is an over priced micro sd card adapter made by a few young people hoping to get rich.

It is definally not a hot product. Wasted of my 5 mins watching the video. OP need to change the title from HOT to COLD as most of use agree this thing is overprice.

[nellium]

It's not a bad product. It makes it sit flush, looks nice.

Although, If I just unloaded 1-2k for a Macbook Pro, I might ask.......

Why the F**K couldn't you dumb*SS engineers make the card slot deep enough to hold an SD card flush in the first place like every other FRICKING piece of equipment out there??????

C'mon! Really? Engineered from a SOLID BLOCK OF ALUMINUM and someone FORGOT what size an SD card is???????

Fer Chrissake, even HP knows how to put an SD card slot in their computers.

Didn't someone say "hey, when I put the card in, it doesn't go in all the way.....like it does with all the other readers out there.

Oh wait, that's not quite right. The $0.79 card reader I got from meritline has the exact same slot and the card sticks out.

Anyways.....

The sd card slot sticking out is useful for some users. Photographers for instance need to quickly swap cards, quite often the flush mount ones need finger nails to pull out. I've used a small 11" for a few years now, and the sd card sticks out of that, it isn't just apple, a lot of other companies dont waste space on something that is meant to be temporary or quick to swap out.

This of course doesn't change the fact that this unit is over priced.

There was a post before this, patents are useless most of the time. Someone, out there will make a copy of this design. If there is a demand, it will be met.

[Asad_A203]

The sd card slot sticking out is useful for some users. Photographers for instance need to quickly swap cards, quite often the flush mount ones need finger nails to pull out. I've used a small 11" for a few years now, and the sd card sticks out of that, it isn't just apple, a lot of other companies dont waste space on something that is meant to be temporary or quick to swap out.

This of course doesn't change the fact that this unit is over priced.

There was a post before this, patents are useless most of the time. Someone, out there will make a copy of this design. If there is a demand, it will be met.

x2. I prefer the SD card sticking out so I can easily swap it in and out. I don't care about the look as I only use my SD card to pull photos/videos on my laptop and that is it. I don't keep my SD card mounted on my MBP for extended periods of time.

[aasoror]

funny how they labelled to mSD they use inside the "ADAPTER" to say "miniDrive" as if there is a real circuitry in there .. :facepalm:

[MXMike]

I got one of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/usb-multifunctional-tf-card-to-sd-card-adapter-black-101441
*(I actually found one a little cheaper on ebay)
Cut off the USB adapter with a utility knife, then put a piece of tap over the cut end to act as a pull tab. It works fine with the USB part cut off and fits completely flush in my macbook air SD card slot. Currently using it with a Lexar 32GB class 10 micro sdhc card.
I got the idea from here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=14724887&postcount=67).

[PitchyDawg]

x2. I prefer the SD card sticking out so I can easily swap it in and out. I don't care about the look as I only use my SD card to pull photos/videos on my laptop and that is it. I don't keep my SD card mounted on my MBP for extended periods of time.

I prefer the opposite. I have an 128 GB SSD so space is an issue. I'm running full blown games like WoW and LoL right off of an SDXC card at fast speeds so it's more of an permanent augmentation to my SSD instead of paying $300 upfront for the 256GB SSD upgrade. Apple, if nothing, is about iconic industrial design and aesthetics. I find that the SDXC card not sitting flush to the machine is a bit of an eyesore... detracting from the clean lines and visual streamline of the unit.

Certainly, there had to be other options in designing the modern Macbooks - concave eject buttons, even having two card reader slots [one flush and one for quick removal, with the user opting to use either or both together.]

There's definitely a market for this accessory (hell, people even pay $30 for a small piece of polycarbonate to join an Apple wireless keyboard and magic trackpad together. (http://twelvesouth.com/products/magicwand/) )

I don't know if I'd pay $30 for it though. Waiting for the $5-10 free ship Chinese/HK knockoffs to appear on Ebay this winter. Or 99 cent Meritline/DealX coupon codes. :D

[sfu_lifer]

Definitely not hot for a micro sd adapter. You will see clones for a lot cheaper if this takes off since the technology is too easy to rip off. Kudos to them for seeing an untapped market of style over substance.

[PurePsychism]

$300 upfront for the 256GB SSD upgrade
It was $335 + tax to get a 512 GB Crucial M4 recently. Apple pricing :facepalm:

[cgg123321]

I do this with my X220. I just shove in a standard SD card and boom, extra storage.

[time space]

It was $335 + tax to get a 512 GB Crucial M4 recently. Apple pricing :facepalm:

There's lots of hollow space in the MBA's to pop in one of those...

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/06/27/DSC_4387_610x407.JPG

:lol:

[tdracer]

The sd card slot sticking out is useful for some users. Photographers for instance need to quickly swap cards, quite often the flush mount ones need finger nails to pull out. I've used a small 11" for a few years now, and the sd card sticks out of that, it isn't just apple, a lot of other companies dont waste space on something that is meant to be temporary or quick to swap out.

This of course doesn't change the fact that this unit is over priced.

There was a post before this, patents are useless most of the time. Someone, out there will make a copy of this design. If there is a demand, it will be met.


x2. I prefer the SD card sticking out so I can easily swap it in and out. I don't care about the look as I only use my SD card to pull photos/videos on my laptop and that is it. I don't keep my SD card mounted on my MBP for extended periods of time.

Really? photographers need the 'speed' of swapping. The time difference between pushing the card in, and having it release vs. having it stick halfway out has got to be, maybe 1/4 to 1 second.

While not a photographer per se, I take hundreds of pictures per week with dozens of cameras which all have spring loaded ejection of the cards, and the time to get a card out or in is really inconsequential to me and I am certain I swap out cards more than 99.9% of people out of there.

It's a stupid design, and one that is probably not overlooked by designers, but intentional in order to appease the crowd that wanted SD access, but inconvenient as a secondary storage, so as to drive more people to iCloud where you can pay iMoney, to access your iFiles.

Anyways, I won't derail this thread anymore.....

[Techgeek32]

Cool product but I think it does not worth to spend $30 for it.

[ShaTR]

Hate to dig up an old thread, but anyone know of any clones yet? I only have a 40GB SSD in my x120e, so i use the SD card slot for additional permanent storage.

Already did this


I got one of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/usb-multifunctional-tf-card-to-sd-card-adapter-black-101441
*(I actually found one a little cheaper on ebay)
Cut off the USB adapter with a utility knife, then put a piece of tap over the cut end to act as a pull tab. It works fine with the USB part cut off and fits completely flush in my macbook air SD card slot. Currently using it with a Lexar 32GB class 10 micro sdhc card.
I got the idea from here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=14724887&postcount=67).

but it isn't completely flush. Would like something a bit more stealth if possible.

who thought finding a half-height TF to SD adapter would be so difficult :mad:

[illbashu]

I think people should really read up or watch the video before commenting. This is not just an ordinary adapter, it's a niche product for apple users. Apple SD card slot is ***** (from watching the video) so the SD card doesn't sit flush with the computer so you have a flimsy and rather annoying half as SD card sicking out of the computer. This product fixes it by making something that is smaller than a standard product that sits flush with the computer. The reason it's more expensive than a regular SD card is because it's custom made and isn't being mass produced by massive amount of companies.

BTW This is coming from someone who has no interest in apple products or has ever owned one. Read the basic information before you bash something.


Definitely not hot for a micro sd adapter. You will see clones for a lot cheaper if this takes off since the technology is too easy to rip off. Kudos to them for seeing an untapped market of style over substance.

Hopefully for them they did the legal work and got copyright/patents.

[spandexninja]

Hopefully for them they did the legal work and got copyright/patents.
a patent for a slightly shorter microSD adapter?...

[fatestkid]

From 2011 SD adapter mod (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1206894)

[xalex0]

a patent for a slightly shorter microSD adapter?...Well, it's rectangular.

[george__]

iSHEEP

probably another epic fail from APPLE

[canadiankorean]

Although DX might copy it, it's a smart idea and fits well into the design of the macbooks.

[illbashu]

a patent for a slightly shorter microSD adapter?...

Apple has proven you can get a patent for anything.