Thierry de Coulon wrote:
> when I _mount_ the card (by clicking on it), a Konqueror windows
> opens BUT the
> icon disappears - which means I can't umount it with the mouse, I
> have to open a console and umount by hand.

I have no solution for you main issue, but there are at least two ways
to unmount from a Konqueror window. Since I always have the navigation
panel showing (I wouldn't know what to do without it), I open the
Services menu (red flag icon) > Storage Media and safely remove (or
unmount) from there. You can also Go (top menu) >  Storage Media.