There are a couple of un-used eSata ports on the motherboard of the MacPros that can be connected to a low cost external eSata back-plane adapter, or you can add a PCI adapter to give you a couple of external eSata ports.

If you use the PXU-MS240 you can copy directly from the SxS card to the computer, you don't have to copy to the device first.

My need are a cardreader that can hold more than one SxS card. When I record a footballgame or handball with 2 or 3 cameras - I often have between a half and a hole hour before I shall deliver a final program. I cannot use the time with tranferring data to a disk - I must edit directly from the cards. Today I can use my SDHC adapters and take the SD cards out and place them in small USB2 converters - its just a lot of messing around with the small cards. The panasonic solution with the PCD-10/20/35 just do that job with P2 cards. We need one for SxS with lightning speed - I hoped for the Sonnet with use of at least 2 SxS cards - but no driver for windows yet - not even a beta.....

If you use the cameras you can access 2 cards in each camera. There's no reason why you can't connect multiple cameras.

I cannot lock my cameras to the editing system - Of course I can buy an extra camera as a cardreader - but still just two slots.

Yes, I am aware of their existence and in fact, some time ago I purchased an extension or externalization kit but have been reluctant to dismantle the computer to accomplish the installation. BTW, the nexto allows for copying to itself and computer simultaneously via USB, firewire or eSata and has ports for SDHC and CF, a feature that the Sony lacks, although I am not certain that one can copy SDHC simultaneously to drive and computer via eSata. Therefore, if I were to make the decision to install the eSata kit there would be little justification to spend another $1300 for the Sony device. As for a Pci adapter, there is no more room at the inn—all slots taken.

That said, doesn't it seem a tad odd, that in this day of technological innovation, high end camcorders and the assumed desire of manufacturers such as the Sony corporation to increase their market base, that we are still faced with Rube Goldberg—makeshift—solutions to something as basic as data transfer? Leaving us to struggle with consumer grade data transfer devices for our professional grade cameras. From my perspective, it's analogous to building a Formula one racing car without the availability of high speed tires—it makes little sense from any viewpoint. While I have recently transitioned away from Panasonic cameras, I must admit that they deserve credit for anticipating the aforementioned missing link with the release of their high speed, multi-card, albeit costly, P2 readers.

I wonder if the e-MCR readers work with the Sony SD adapter. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/662242-REG/E_Films_1501_e_MCR_High_Speed_Multi.html
I guess they would since both use USB 2.0 as their interface.

About my SD speed comment: I was referring to offloading data from the adapter, which only uses USB 2.0 - and that limits the xfer speed.

"About my SD speed comment: I was referring to offloading data from the adapter, which only uses USB 2.0 - and that limits the xfer speed."

Thank you for the clarification. But it would seem that the point is moot, since I haven't found a reader that will recognize the Sony SDHC adapter ... unless I missed one in my search.

Hi Doug:

I found this article that addresses the above question and more in regards to the Sonnet Qio, here is the link:
Varicam in Los Angeles - The P2 Blog - Sonnet QIO ? Not SoFast

I hope the delay in the windows driver is because they want it to work faster than the mac combination....

Thanks. That was interesting reading.
Fortunately I find the SxS workflow fast enough for my needs, but I have to agree that faster is always better. What I wish for is a faster way to ingest XDCAM optical without spending $20K on a deck that has a bunch of features I don't need. The PDW-U1 is convenient, but it's slow.

I had my computer out of the rack to install my new GTX 470 card and at the same time I put my PCIe extension card in it for my Sonnet QIO . Now I tried to put both an SxS adapter with SD card and a P2 card in the Sonnet reader and they both works !!!! But just one P2 slot. The controller for the extra esata drives dont work. Installed P2 drivers with P2 cards in both slot and SxS drivers from SONY site - made the SxS card working too. Sonnet reader works in Windows 7-64 bit.....

Nice to hear that you've got the Sonnet working and with the SxS adapter no less. Did you get a feel for the transfer speed with, what I assume was as SDHC card in the SxS adapter, as compared to the usual desktop SD card reader?

Have not mesured time exactly but it seems to be the same speed as USB2 card readers.........

That is disappointing, but thank you for your reply.

I guess I will continue to use the SxS cards exclusively, retaining the Sony adapters and SDHC cards for absolute emergencies as suggested by Sony. Between the Sony adapters and the Sandisk Extreme 32 gb class 10 SDHC cards, a lot of money was spent unnecessarily and would have been better spent on one extra SxS card ... well, at least the SDHC cards don't expire.

On another note, I have noticed that the ingestion of data from the aforementioned SDHC cards is extremely fast when plugged into the Nexto NVS2500, which represents an optional alternative. However, it does not recognize the Sony adapters and the SDHC card must be removed from the adapter for use with the Nexto.

SD card ingest on the Nexto is fast, but still not as fast as SxS.