What does the ExpressCard/34 slot do?

Question

Level 1

6 points

What does the ExpressCard/34 slot do?

Please give me the for dummies version. I have looked on Wikipedia and other sites. It tells you what it is and the different cards you can get for it but WHAT DOES IT DO?

I want to understand what I have on my computer. Thanks in advance for any answers you can provide.

MacBook Pro 17-inch, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 16, 2008 6:35 PM

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Answer 1

Harry

Level 4

1,026 points

Oct 17, 2008 4:51 AM in response to "80 GB" iPod

+> "80 GB" iPod wrote:+
+> What does it expand? Is it just for more memory?+

No, it allows you to "expand" the features and ports of the machine. For example if you needed another FireWire port you could buy an ExpressCard FireWire Card., if you needed wireless internet you could get a subscription with Sprint, Verizon, ATT, etc and they would give you an ExpressCard wireless card to link up with the service. If you needed an e-SATA port you could buy and e-SATA ExpressCard. The options are many.

If you do ever need to buy an ExpressCard thought make sure it's OS X compatible. There are a lot out there that are Windows only.

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

741,851 points

Oct 16, 2008 6:39 PM in response to "80 GB" iPod

That slot is an expansion slot, which enables the computer's capabilities to be increased through the addition of a card. It doesn't do anything itself when there isn't a card in it.

(36594)

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Answer 3

"80 GB" iPod Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 17, 2008 4:09 AM in response to Niel

What does it expand? Is it just for more memory?

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Answer 4

Oct 18, 2008 11:34 AM in response to "80 GB" iPod

A really useful thing you can do with that ExpressCard slot is to put a memory card reader in it. SanDisk sell a product called a "Multi Card ExpressCard™ Adapter". Stick it in your MacBook Pro and it can read SD and SDHC memory cards:

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1371)-Multi Card_ExpressCardAdapter.aspx

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Answer 5

"80 GB" iPod Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 18, 2008 2:23 PM in response to Harry

Thank You!

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Answer 6

"80 GB" iPod Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 18, 2008 2:24 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

Thank you!

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Answer 7

Oct 20, 2008 12:29 AM in response to "80 GB" iPod

Lots of great info here...

http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/

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Answer 8

natemp32

Level 1

15 points

Oct 21, 2008 12:56 PM in response to "80 GB" iPod

I use a SD - multi card reader in my ExpressCard/34 slot since I transfer pictures frequently from my camera to my macbook pro. They are very cheap on Ebay and are well worth it!

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Answer 9

Oct 21, 2008 2:38 PM in response to natemp32

I use mine with a Sprint wireless card like the guy a few posts above suggested. When I'm in an area with 3G service, the speed is really snappy and it's usable just about anywhere.

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