Get a 4GB Eye-Fi wireless SD card for $59.99

Though still pricey, the 4GB Eye-Fi card is now a much better deal.

(Credit: Eye-Fi)

I really dig Eye-Fi memory cards, which wirelessly beam photos from your digital camera to your PC (and/or an online sharing service). But I always thought they were overpriced.

They still are, but at least you can score a deal on one: Costco has the Eye-Fi 4GB Anniversary Edition for $59.99 shipped. Nonmembers pay an extra $3, and nearly everyone pays sales tax.

In case you're not familiar with it, the Eye-Fi is a standard-size SDHC memory card (meaning it's compatible with most cameras) that happens to have built-in Wi-Fi.

When it's in range of your home network and your camera is on, the Eye-Fi automatically transfers photos to your PC. Alternately, it can upload photos directly to the online service of your choice: Facebook, Flickr, Snapfish, Photobucket, etc.

Ultimately, it's a convenience. A pricey one, yes, especially considering that you can get an ordinary 4GB SDHC card for about 8 bucks. On the other hand, the last time I posted this product, it was $99.

So now that it's $40 less, will you jump on it? Or are you satisfied with your perfectly cromulent SD card reader and/or USB cable?

[DetJMunch]

Can it configure with Picasa so it automatically and seamlessly transfers? Or, does it just transfer to a folder on your computer and you have to move it to your photo organizer of choice later?

[rickbroida]

Just configure Picasa to monitor whatever folder is the default for Eye-Fi transfers. Alternately, I think you can configure the Eye-Fi software to use whatever folder you want as its repository--including your default Picasa folder.

[stbrown9]

Your post has embiggened my interest in Eye-fi.

[rickbroida]

Exxxxxcellent.

[diglow1]

I would love one of these, it's fairly high on my list of sexy accessories that I can't afford, but I wouldn't pay more than $20 for it.

[mogley2005]

Rick,

Does this only work with pictures, or could you say transfer music files etc from a mp3 player to your pc? Is it a program that automatically detects the pictures? Just curious.

[rickbroida]

Pictures only. Some of the higher-end versions of the card will copy videos as well. I'm not sure if you can upgrade this one to add that feature.

[bryanb867]

Love the idea, still can't deal with the price. I look at it this way: It's not worth an extra $50 over the price of the regular cards to save me the two or three seconds it takes to take the card out of the camera and slide into the card reader (or even less time to plug in the USB).

Now, if it could beam the pictures through wi-fi or something from a location (say a waterfall where I was taking pictures) to my home computer...that would be an awesome feature!

But, keep us up-to-date on the prices...I'd serisouly consider it if it fell below $20 for a 4GB. Of course, by that time, the standard 4GB cards might only be a dollar (if available at all)!

[PandaSage1221]

An Eye-Fi card is definitely on my tech wishlist. But since I'm a poor college kid.. I won't be buying one anytime soon. But whenever I do, I'm getting one of the nicer ones, with geotagging and all that.

[Tod Smith]

What SDHC class is this? How fast is it?

[dan07734]

These would be great if you could do two way communication. Then you could place one in your digital picture frame and automatically view your pictures on the frame. Just a thought

[Mikeybabes]

I heard about this but the pricing was too high for me to consider. At this price I think it reasonable. Plugging in cables, or ripping out SD cards not only wastes time but also wears out the connection ports. My only thought is - does this drain out the battery of the device much quickler?

[joshetanner]

Just remember that SD and SDHC cards are really two different types of cards... SDHC might not work for some older cameras and devices.

[rayzor_blade]

Long term this buiness model is flawed. It would be cheeper to have wifi built in to the camera, then have it built in to each memory card, especially if you use more than 1 card. But the option of adding wifi to an exiting camera, well at this cost its going to have limited success.

[DHWeaver85]

Do they make any cards that fit into Sony camera? W290 perhaps?

[Chrisnonstop]

Great concept. Unfortunately the transfer rate is painfully slow, making the device almost useless if you plan on shooting printable images. Unless that's changed???

[Macajuel]

Damn........out of stock already.
Pity.

[joellowsky]

That product embiggens my photography.

[NervClaX]

I wish my Sony devices could use this. Anyone know where I can score some cheap Pro Duo memory?

I love this SD. I got a 2GB for Christmas and it is the only SD I use in my camera. Eyefi just updated the firmware so now video is transferred as well. I have the geotag feature turned on so everywhere I take pics it labels with location. I love it. I purchased this 4GB for my other camera. I can toss the other SD.