Ainex AKB-88 keyboard packs a 10-in-1 card reader

by Cyrus Farivar, posted Sep 27th 2006 at 8:45PM

Given that we've already seen some rather strange memory card readers, it's high time that a company came out with one that's actually convenient to use. We've always thought that a card reader directly built-in to a keyboard would do the job nicely, no? Fortunately Ainex has used its engineering powers to read our minds, and has released the AKB-88, a new compact keyboard with four, count 'em four, card slots on the far side of the keyboard, featuring all your favorite types, including CompactFlash, Memory Stick, SD and the oft-neglected SmartMedia. Sadly, this flashy little keyboard is Windows-only, even though we think it would compliment the MacBook nicely, given that it comes in both white and black. The AKB-88 was just made available on the company's website for the ever elusive "open price," but if these 'boards ever surf across the Pacific, we'll let you know.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Peripherals

Tags: ainex, akb-88, compactflash, memory card reader, memory stick, MemoryCardReader, MemoryStick, sd, smartmedia

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Dirkus @ Sep 27th 2006 9:50PM

Cool, now I can stick memory cards in my Ainex!

Wow. That was terrible. I should be banninated. Even I am ashamed of that one.

Neutral

bobgorila @ Sep 27th 2006 10:43PM

Wait... how can a USB keyboard (and, indeed, a USB card reader) not be mac-compatible?

Neutral

anonymous @ Sep 27th 2006 11:18PM

because they didn't make a driver for the mac...

I think this is cool, much more useful than some of the other stupid card reader and something else in one gadgets.

Neutral

John Stracke @ Sep 28th 2006 8:19AM

Yeah, but they shouldn't *need* a driver. It should just show up to the computer as a USB hub with a keyboard and a Mass Storage device attached to it.

Neutral

Murphy @ Sep 27th 2006 11:32PM

That's great.

When are you gonna announce the Commercial Contest winners?

Neutral

Ebzy @ Sep 28th 2006 5:50AM

hahahah
you said ainex.

jokes aside this is cool

Neutral

netposer @ Sep 28th 2006 11:16AM

I was thinking the same thing. I would assume that the Mac should see this as a USB KB and other Mass Storage devices. Unless there are some included applications?

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