[NTLK] Playing with PCMCIA to USB Adaptors

[DoctorClu]

Found out a few things about this device.   Seems the earliest this 
showed up on the interwebs was in 2021 at this site:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/PCMCIA-Memory-Card-Reader-USB-2_1600186135382.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_image.44d413a0CB5TB7&priceId=baebdd1d68c54832865fb867e579f06f

One website, Electroshop, gives the most information about this device 
which some are calling "SZBJ PCMCIA CARD READER"

https://electroeshop.com/products/szbj-pcmcia-card-reader-usb2-0-plastic-version-interface-pcmcia-card-reader-read-flashdisk-pcmcia-pc-card-ata-mass-storage-ata-flash-pc-card

There is a FAQ on that site which says this was designed for Windows 
specifically.  No Mac support.

I did try the device on a Windows 10 machine and it was able to see the 
Samsung ATA cards no problem, being Newton formatted it didn't know what 
it was.  Have yet to try making a ATA image for Einstein with Windows yet.


Speaking of Mac support, I did see readers that DO mention Macs OS 9 and 
higher and they go for on average around $150 USD

https://www.shopdigi.com/products/u2atasd-digigear-usb-3-0-dual-ata-flash-pcmcia-pc-card-sd-card-reader

http://www.psism.com/uatasd.htm


Curious, I looked at what the prices were going for a PowerBook G4 15" 
(which has the PCMCIA port), and those working are going for $100-$150 
USD, though you could probably rebuild one for cheaper.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/327362987879


Summary:

Too bad the $22 - $40 PCMCIA to USB SZBJ PCMCIA CARD READER haven't 
checked out in the Mac world (so far), and generally a lot of ebay sales 
you might be able to get your money back.   Verdict is still out on the 
Windows machines and the SZBJ for making a Newton ATA image, but we'll see.

An older G3 or G4 Mac Laptop with Disk Utility might be the way to go 
for now in creating ATA images for Einstein.


Greg / "Doc Clu"






  [NTLK] Playing with PCMCIA to USB Adaptors

*DoctorClu* doctorclu at gmail.com 
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/Mon Sep 28 16:10:40 PDT 2026/

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's cool that you're trying it too.  So far, no luck over here.
Asking around for possible Mac drivers for this adaptor.

We'll know soon.

Greg / "Doc Clu"


>//On 28. Sep 2026, at 22:49, DoctorClu <doctorclu at gmail.com /<http://lists.newtontalk.net/mailman/listinfo/newtontalk>> wrote: />//>/And the other variety of this USB adaptor currently on eBay looks like 
this: />//>/https://www.ebay.com/itm/306499824785 /
I did get one of those from eBay as well. It arrive yesterday. Looking forward to testing it. I hope you get yours to run on your hardware. The smalles CF-Card I could get was 32MB, but those are hard to find these day. The next step was 8GB. Oops.

   - Matthias