Can anyone comment on why I might want to consider a straight-up USB interface over a card reader? My unit should come with a card, right? That would make the cost a wash.

I think it depends on the location of your cpap vs. the location of your computer.

I have a laptop, but prefer to keep it in my home office area. I open ResScan, then take the card to my cpap in the bedroom, download the data (just takes a few seconds), and bring it out to my laptop.

I'm doing the same as Katie. I think the Card Reader is more practical, cos with the USB interface, computer and CPAP machine need to be near one another. Card Reader allows for more portability. But both work, and as I recall the prices are comparable.

Interesting. The folks at my DME claim they have a lot of problems with ResMed's smart-cards. Maybe a cardless interface would be more reliable in the long-term. My primary computer is an ever-so-portable MacBook, so I have no trouble taking the mountain to Mohammed.

BTW, the ResScan software can only be run under windows, not on the Mac OS. I use boot camp and boot up Windows for the software. Just thought I'd mention it, since you mentioned you have a Mac Book.

I've already got it running in VMWare (unity mode,) with a nice MacOSX-ish theme for XP. Almost looks native!

From the way things read here, I assume you need to pick USB or smart card reader when you get your machine, right? Does the software download data the same way for USB as SCR? Is this a ResMed thing only, or are the others done the same way? I lug my antique out to the living room once a month to download data now. Wires don't scare me.

cv66er wrote:From the way things read here, I assume you need to pick USB or smart card reader when you get your machine, right? Does the software download data the same way for USB as SCR? Is this a ResMed thing only, or are the others done the same way? I lug my antique out to the living room once a month to download data now. Wires don't scare me.

Yeah - ResMed offers two products. A smart-card reader, or a direct USB interface. Of course, today I discovered a third option - a card reader direct from the manufacturer, minus the obscene ResMed markup. Not yet sure if I want to tinker, though. I'm too busy tinkering with ME at the moment.

Personally, I view the smart card as just another potential point of failure. As I said before, I'm already "wired", although the string of adapters, extenders, and wires I currently need to connect a '90s era blower to a modern computer makes a smart card look simple. When I upgrade, I will probably get a USB if they're still offered (Unless the antique outlasts me).

cv66er wrote:Personally, I view the smart card as just another potential point of failure. As I said before, I'm already "wired", although the string of adapters, extenders, and wires I currently need to connect a '90s era blower to a modern computer makes a smart card look simple. When I upgrade, I will probably get a USB if they're still offered (Unless the antique outlasts me).

I had thought about the point-of-failure thing. Multiple points, really. The interface could fail, or the card, or the reader. Maybe I will opt for the cardless interface after all.