I am also thinking about getting a reader because like BlueFrog said, the pins at the USB plug on the camera can bend and I have ruined one camera this way. I did not know that batteries drained faster but maybe that explains my frequent battery replacing!! Faster uploading would be a plus if that really happens but I think that depends on the computer processor.

Staci - Imagestation can be so s l o w at times! Yet sometimes my pictures upload like lightening