I just picked up a new digi cam that uses the SD memory cards. The common way to transfer pictures from the card is to move them to a computer. When traveling, I would like to create a backup of the pictures by copying them to one of the USB memory sticks that are so common these days.

Is there a device that would allow me to not burn my camera battery by taking the memory chip out and plugging it directly into the computer or even better is there a memory stick that has a slot for these SD cards? I don't know if I'm being clear or not...sorry if not.

On to displaying printed pictures. I've seen those frames at Pottery Barn that allow you to display 16 to 24 pictures at once. Has anyone run across some more unique frames or way to display several pictures at one time? I don't have anything against the ones I've seen, but if there are some more distinctive frames I'd prefer to get those.

Thanks folks!

If the computer has a slot for your memory card, why not simply connect to the Kodakgallery and upload your pictures there? However, I am not sure that you can subsequently download your pictures to disk or whatever other storage you wish to have. Others might have better ideas.

"...why not simply connect to the Kodakgallery and upload your pictures there?..."

This is an option but not a great one b/c:

1. On my last trip I had around 800 pictures taking up around 400 megabytes. I don't know that any online site would allow that much space AND that would take a ton of time to transfer...hours.

2. That method still requires me to have the camera turned on which burns my batteries.

3. I don't know of a PC that has a slot for the SD chips found in the camera (Nikon) that I use.

SD cards aren't that much more expensive than USB memory sticks, so the obvious answer is to buy another SD card. Then you can leave your photos on the card until you get home. These cards are virtually indistructable, so the only way you could lose your photos is to accidentally format the card, or to lose the card itself.

If you feel you do need to back up your photos, having them burned to a CD is one way. If you plan to take thousands, as opposed to hundreds, of photos, then it would be more economical to invest in a portable hard drive than buying more SD or USB stick memory.

Some computers do have slots for memory cards - mine does, but I never use them. It doesn't take very long to download your photos to a computer, so it wouldn't drain the battery all that much. At any rate, you should always have a spare battery and the charger while travelling.

Having two chips would help with volume (allowing me to take more pix) but does little for backup. Burning to a CD is good once I get back home, but doesn't help much while on the trip itself.

On my last trip I spent several hours copying from my old camera to the HD in the business center (thankfully they had a biz center and the PC had a USB slot), then transferring them to my memory stick. That was fine but for the drain on my camera's batteries.

Check this out...I think this is what I need.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/06/s...n-usb-adapter/

Or this one:
http://www.transcendusa.com/

Anyone use one of these as of yet?

Here is another nice looking device:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/silicon-...d-reader.html#

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...7?node=3019151

...many examples of "photo collage frames"

Thanks Travelnut!

Son downloaded his pictures from a card to an MP3 player.

That would certainly be an option as well (IPod) but presents really the same question or problem that I have with a PC...battery time and connectivity.

Some photographic shops will burn a CD for you from your memory card. I think Jessops in the UK will do this.

But for the DIY option, we have a device with 4 different slots for different memory types that plugs into the USB port on our PC. It is called a Belkin Hi-speed USB 2.0 8-in-1 Media Reader and Writer. I think it is very like the one you described above, and it works fine.

Ruth, this looks like what I was looking for indeed. Any problems with it, or other notes of interest?

It's amazing how we all managed without backup when we were using film cameras. Memory cards are far more secure than film ever was, but if backing up your cards makes you feel better, go ahead. Many of the solutions, eg PHD and CD are normally used so the memory cards can be formatted and reused rather than as backup.

mdtravel: sorry for the delay - asked my husband who bought the device.

(1) it works fine if you have Windows XP, then you can ignore the software disk included with the reader and it works straight away, as soon as you plug it in.

(2) it is much faster if you have a USB 2 rather than a USB 1 port on your PC. (I have transferred about 50 MB in a few seconds, not sure about larger amounts of data).

(3) newer laptops now come with data readers for various media - have you checked you can't plug your memory card into your pc?

Ruth, thanks for the answers. It isn't really my PC I am concerned with but, rather, the PC's in various hotels around the world

Heimdell, isn't it amazing how we used to live without seatbels, car seats and polio vaccine...the world moves on and we get more intelligent. Now if you'd mentioned parachute or painters pants or those multi-colored suspenders that Robin Williams used to wear...

Film is vulnerable to light, x-ray, etc; and therefore on extended trips, I'll have them developed on the road before coming home. Once developed, film is a lot more reliable than memory cards are...

mdtravel, speaking of suspenders, some people wear both belt and suspenders, while most most of us think it is unnecessary backup. If you wait until you get home you won't have to worry about those hotel computers. If, however, you want to look at your photos before you get home you can use a card reader. Personally I think the greatest danger to your photos will be while transferring them to the backup memory.