are there any moving parts in a compact flash card reader?
Flash memory does not have nor does it need any moving parts. When you plug in a flash card, the pins connect and that is how the data is transferred. So, in short, no, no moving parts :)
No, other than your hand moving it into or out of the slot.
Only if something is broken and it's rattling around inside :-) That's why they are so good for storage. There are no moving parts. Almost indestructable form G forces. Static discharge is their greatest enemy.
No. The reader is just a plug-in port for the particular size/shape of the flash memory used. Compact Flash is just one type of flash memory. No moving parts, less power used to read/write and the memory is non-volatile (e.g. memory does not disapear when power is gone.) Some flash memory have a slide to write protect the media, compact flash does not. That would be the only moving part, on the media card itself not in the reader.
