A host device with a memory card slot and an associated fingernail recess is provided. In one embodiment, a host device is provided comprising a housing with an outer surface, a memory card slot formed in the housing and accessible for memory card insertion through a slot opening in the outer surface, and a plurality of electrical contacts exposed in the memory card slot for engaging corresponding contacts on a memory card. The host device further comprises a recess in the outer surface associated with the slot opening, wherein the recess is sized to allow fingernail access to a fingernail grip of the memory card in the memory card slot. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.