Beginner's question about using SD card readers

[Rouleur]

I'm having a nightmare trying to get my new Sony camera to talk to my laptop, the PMB software that comes with it just won't recognise that the camera is connected via a USB cable. I've tried all the recommended fixes and got nowhere, so I maybe it's a Vista problem.

Anyway I wonder whether a card reader might be the easy way around it. If I use one how do I get the images on to the laptop? Do they just go straight into Windows Photo Gallery or Picasa?

TIA

[kevin63]

All I do with either a camera plugged in or a card reader, is go to my computer section, open that up and double click on whichever shows up depending what you've connected, then copy (or cut if deleting from card) and paste into my pictures or a file in my pictures you create so as to keep things neat. I'm no expert though so someone may come up with something better.

[14-7]

I have used a card reader for the last few years now and it only cost me a fiver from tesco and works fine. It also transfers files quicker than the camera tethered to the computer. It also means that when out shooting a lot I can connect the card reader to my media player and download images whilst continuing to shoot.

[Rouleur]

Thanks for the replies. I bought one last night and it works perfectly