I second the notion of getting a card reader. I have had my digi cam for years now and I have never plugged it directly in to the pc.

Plus, I think its faster to download pics when you use the card readers.

There are many new card readers that actually will read many formats of cards, not just compact flash or whatnot, take a look at those in case you upgrade and get a different camera someday that uses another type of media.

The new ones read compact flash, sony memory sticks, smartmedia, secure digital, and a few others that escape me at the moment. One of those and your covered.