Looking for new Windows 11 laptop with a deep SD card slot

[newbury]

Like the title says. One of the more important features to me is a full size SD card slot that I can put a SD card in, ideally so it is flush.
I like to backup to SD cards.
Other features -
~ 15" screen
8GB RAM, preferably more
Bluetooth
Good wireless chip

I had one years ago, my present one (Dell 15 3000) An SD card sticks out for most of it's length.
Any recommendations from TBN'ers?
No gaming features required

 

[mikester]

Good luck. Seems like the industry is moving away from ports and conveniences.

Apple has eliminated all aux ports, charging ports, and reduced the number of USB ports. They are also pushing to turn the operating systems into iPhones where you can't do anything except view a tiny window of text on a giant screen with blanks spaces all around.

 

[Tinhack]

I got a mini-PC a couple of months ago. It came with Windows 11 Pro installed. It has four USB 3.0 slots, three display ports (USB-C, HDMI and DP). The USB-C port can also be used for an external drive or an expansion port for additional USB 3.1 devices if not used for a display. I use external SSD disk drives for File History and System Backup. I only plug them in when I use them. It came with one internal SSD disk drive, and I added another. The SSDs are about 5-10 times faster than typical Thumb Drives. The mini-PC can mount to the back of the display so the display(s) can be any size you care to use. I have a DP to HDMI adapter so I can use my TV as an additional display when I'm working on projects.

Oh yeah, this one is FAST too. 4.2Ghz at full boost.

 

[MikeFarm]

Just make sure the laptop has USB 4 ports for high speed USB (40 GB/sec) and use an adaptor to a full size SD card.
That will help to make your laptop useful for as long as possible. If you look for a laptop with an SD card you will get something older.
8 GB for Win 11 is not much as Windows is a huge resource hog just to run itself, let alone manage anything else.
Mike
PS. Those mini-PCs that Tinhack suggested are quite good. The fast USB 3.x is good.

 

[oosik]

I have a three year old Apple. 128 Gb of Ram and 2 TB onboard storage. I take and store LOTS of pictures. I've gone to SSI offboard storage. I've tried the Cloud and DO NOT like that feature.

 

[Oaktree]

Good luck. Seems like the industry is moving away from ports and conveniences.

Yeah. Lotsa luck finding one with an ethernet jack on it anymore. Also, many have very limited ability to power an external device with much more draw than a flash drive. A colleague of mine had to use a powered hub to be able to use some specialty device on his laptop (I think it was a spectrum analyzer).

I got a mini-PC a couple of months ago. It came with Windows 11 Pro installed. It has four USB 3.0 slots, three display ports (USB-C, HDMI and DP). The USB-C port can also be used for an external drive or an expansion port for additional USB 3.1 devices if not used for a display.

No VGA?

 

[hube2]

Lenovo, not one of the cheap ones you can get a Best Buy, go to their site and get one of the higher end model work stations. Be warned, they are not cheap.

Here is an image of the SD slot with a card in it. I think that's as "flush" as you're ever going to get.

 

[coldsteelva]

Ever changing form factors and smaller must be better. You might wish to switch to a NAS instead of individual SD cards. Then any device can use the storage.

 

[drssg]

Since you are already investing in a new laptop, it might be a good time to switch to an external solid state drive with a usb-c connection. The difference in backup speed is night and day.

 

[BryceSteiner]

Good luck. Seems like the industry is moving away from ports and conveniences.

Apple has eliminated all aux ports, charging ports, and reduced the number of USB ports. They are also pushing to turn the operating systems into iPhones where you can't do anything except view a tiny window of text on a giant screen with blanks spaces all around.

I don't think so. I have the latest MacBook Pro and it has MagSafe, SD Card, 3 Thunderbolt3/USB3.1, earphone, and HDMI.

Years ago they had eliminated quite a few things but their newer models they put it back in.

As for a recommendation, There are good models out there of about every brand. Find the OS you like and then choose.

 

[LukeL]

They make short SD cards for those half depth slots.

https://a.co/d/46koFHW

 

[Xfaxman]

Does it have to be Windows 11?

Check out Cromebook.

Does it have to be a laptop?

Check out Chromebase.

This is what I have: HP Chromebase All-in-One Desktop

With a rotating display:

But would need a USB SD card reader.

 

[mikester]

I don't think so. I have the latest MacBook Pro and it has MagSafe, SD Card, 3 Thunderbolt3/USB3.1, earphone, and HDMI.

Years ago they had eliminated quite a few things but their newer models they put it back in.

As for a recommendation, There are good models out there of about every brand. Find the OS you like and then choose.

Wow, what will they think of next...maybe they will start including chargers with their new $1,800 iPhones?

I was unhappy when Apple decided my last macbookpro had been recharged "too many times" and would unexpectedly shut down when the battery dropped below 98%. There was a battery recall, but, my machine was 5 years old so Apple had discontinued stock so they wouldn't replace my battery under the recall. I could get it replaced by an authorized apple dealer though for $800 because they also had to replace the keyboard the battery was glued to.

My new MBP came WITHOUT magsafe, no aux ports, only 4 firewire ports, and one had to be used for charging. Surprise!

 

[Oaktree]

Since you are already investing in a new laptop, it might be a good time to switch to an external solid state drive with a usb-c connection. The difference in backup speed is night and day.

Not to mention a LOT more storage capacity as well as compatibility with more devices. Other than cameras, what uses SD cards these days?

Does it have to be Windows 11?

Check out Cromebook.

Does it have to be a laptop?

Trouble with Chromebooks is that they have (or at least used to) built-in obsolescence...in that they stop working after a certain length of time after manufacture, and I don't think there's much you can do on one without an internet connection. At least with a more traditional OS, it will continue to work even if the software isn't supported anymore.

Unless you really need the portability I agree that a desktop of some sort gives a lot more bang for the buck, and with a full-size keyboard and traditional mouse is a lot easier to use.

 

[2manyrocks]

Briefly searching, it looks like laptops with internal SD card slots are about as available these days as laptops with firewire ports. You might find that your least expensive option is to buy a laptop that generally suits you, but be prepared to connect an external card reader or switch to some kind of external hard drive storage option instead of using SD cards.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_4?crid=31NP7HN4BDSF8&keywords=ssd+enclosure&qid=1671211000&sprefix=ssd+enclosure%2Caps%2C1746&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-240GB-Solid-SA400S37-240G/dp/B01N5IB20Q/ref=sxin_15_ac_d_mf_brs?ac_md=2-1-S2luZ3N0b24%3D-ac_d_mf_brs_brs&content-id=amzn1.sym.1d3b962f-00ed-4296-9689-8bc4c83edc14%3Aamzn1.sym.1d3b962f-00ed-4296-9689-8bc4c83edc14&crid=13HOC4EYWV7M8&cv_ct_cx=ssd&keywords=ssd&pd_rd_i=B01N5IB20Q&pd_rd_r=e0a396fd-0137-4356-8b0f-5bc1409d76c2&pd_rd_w=wjiVx&pd_rd_wg=i8D6D&pf_rd_p=1d3b962f-00ed-4296-9689-8bc4c83edc14&pf_rd_r=EB62HX7SEGWJRSH64088&qid=1671211027&sprefix=ssd%2B%2Caps%2C112&sr=1-2-df9394e9-2684-45bf-8eee-ec356375596d&th=1

 

[TheMan419]

Amazon has the USB adapter you need to read SD card if the lap top does not have a built in reader. Looks like this one is mostly flush when card inserted.

https://smile.amazon.com/Reader-uni-Adapter-Aluminum-Memory/dp/B08P1T8R46/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=sd+card+reader+usb&qid=1671225975&sprefix=sd+card+reader%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFVNzFIMzBTV01WVk0mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwMDMwMjgyMUoxQ1pXVkpINVNNJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NzM1MTkxVVdRQUlPUkRJNjg4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[jaydee325]

Like the title says. One of the more important features to me is a full size SD card slot that I can put a SD card in, ideally so it is flush.
I like to backup to SD cards.
Other features -
~ 15" screen
8GB RAM, preferably more
Bluetooth
Good wireless chip

I had one years ago, my present one (Dell 15 3000) An SD card sticks out for most of it's length.
Any recommendations from TBN'ers?
No gaming features required

Here is one. Can't tell how flush the SD card will be though.

IdeaPad 5i (15” Intel)

 

[2manyrocks]

Has card reader, but no idea if the card would be flush

HP 15 ef1183od Laptop 4Z4W0UAABA - Office Depot

Stay productive on the go thanks to the HP 15 ef1183od Laptop. The new Windows 11 Home operating system features integrated apps and widgets to promote efficiency. Integrated speakers and an HP True Vision webcam allow you to chat with friends coworkers and family face to face.

www.officedepot.com

 

[2manyrocks]

Dell with card reader, but no idea if it's flush.

Dell Inspiron 15 3511 15.6" Laptop Computer - Black; Intel Core i5 11th Gen 1135G7 2.4GHz Processor; 8GB DDR4-2666 RAM; - Micro Center

Get it now! Whether it's checking email, posting on social media or streaming music & movies, Inspiron delivers on what matter most to you.

www.microcenter.com