SD vs Expresscard slot?

I don't keep up with the latest tech trends but, it isn't clear to me why there's any great advantage in have a built in SD card slot?

Hi,
I agree with you. The ExpressCard provides the ability to add fast external eSATA storage or other special connections. The SD slot really does nothing that a standard card reader cannot do. I stayed away from the new MacBook Pro 15" as a result of this limiting design change.

My guess is that the new battery may have required more space which could have caused the ExpressCard slot to be bumped. I cannot think of a functional reason why an SD slot would be preferred. It removes too many expansion options. If size was a problem, I would have preferred Apple provide two external eSATA connections instead. 🙂

I obtained the 2009 MacBook Pro 17" with ExpressCard slot instead. The 2009 model does not have the slow ExpressCard performance issue that I experienced with the 2008 MacBook Pro. This provides superior write performance with all Silicon Image, Marvell and JMicron based eSATA ExpressCards.

Have fun!

So, what is the real benefit of having a built-in SD card slot? Did they make this change for any good reason or, just throw it in for the heck of it?

Hi,
The only benefit I can see is that now users can insert an SD card without a USB card reader.

As to why this was really done? Only Apple knows. In my opinion, removing the ExpressCard slot is a downgrade for anyone wanting to add high performance external eSATA storage to the MacBook Pro.

' Hey guys...

' Honestly? From a technical perspective there is no advantage to the move they made. The ExpressCard format allows for one to use SD for example, and so much more besides. It makes the systems far more flexible and thus makes them more attractive to those that might not find everything they want in a model's basic specifications but which can be made up for in ExpressCard add-ons...

' Unfortunately it seems to be something that was done from the perspective of the advantage brought to the marketing of these systems! What Apple has essentially said is that the research they did showed that only a single-digit percentage of their clients used ExpressCard, ever, but that a far greater percentage would use or were interested in SD.

' Boggles my mind a little as I wonder how come all those people Apple refer to never used the ExpressCard at all, even for SD readers. I mean that would change the numbers, not so? But, oh-well...

~Menageryl
-Jack of All Trades, Master of Some!-

Just a thought, not really an answer to your question, but I find I have the "best" of both worlds. I have the Late 2008 unibody and get to use both. Since I have the following in my ExpressCard slot. I just recently upgraded my USB-based broadband card to an ExpressCard broadband card so I've gained both USB ports again.

If I need my SD card slot, I use the adapter. If I need web on the go, I use the new ExpressCard broadband card in the slot and can just choose to use the USB SD card adapter. Best of both worlds. As opposed to having a dedicated SD slot which would be nice too, but you can't have your cake (SD) and eat it too (ExpressCard) with the new models.

This is what I have (it runs SD and SDHC cards, as opposed to the Belkin brand which only does SD):

http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=39 41

I agree with everyone here. The removal of the express slot was a tremendous downgrade in the system. While the 17" offers an express slot, it is a large machine, and in my opinion defeats the purpose of portability.

The idea move would have been to have an SD card reader slot for the lower end models (13 inch and low end 15 inch models) and offer express slot for the high end 15" model & 17" model - Seeing as how there are more professional users at this level of configuration - who actually use the express slot.

Is there a model which is available that will offer the express slot on a 15" macbook pro, while allowing for upto 8gb or memory / ram configuration - whether it be clearance or referb?

I have been looking at the following model:
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0GR3LL/A?mco=MjE0NDk5Mw

i know the specs stipulate a max of 4gb , but I really believe there is an error in the information provided.....

especially given the below link, which outlines the differences between the recent Macbook Pro models and their perspective specs (toward the bottom of the page) :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

If anyone can elaborate, please advise.

Thank you.

I think this was a bad move as well. They could have made a SD card for the Expresscard slot, but now I can't use my creative or common access card reader.

' Pismo 900: You essentially make my point for me. Case closed. Point in case. Whatever. 🙂

' Parag Sha: If it's a "late 2008" unibody MBP then it supports 8GB (or it might be a maximum of 6 - I'm not entirely sure which now that I think about it, though I'm pretty sure it's 8 as it did run a pretty-equal race with the 17-inch in all but screen resolution) and has the EX/34 instead of SD. The only thing missing from the equation is the sealed battery from the newest boy of the same name.

' Honestly I couldn't agree more that the most logical step that would have catered to everyone would have been to just include a nice, flush ExpressCard SD-Reader ( installed already if necessary - so that it would appear to be part-and-parcel of the system to those who wouldn't know any better as they unpacked it).
' The other option that has some sense to it was the suggestion of SD in the lower-end models (say, those without any discrete NVidia chip) and ExpressCard in the others. Would make sense considering the slightly different target-market and so-on. Problem with that idea is the cost involved with two slightly different manafacturing processes - something Apple avoids if at all possible it would seem.

' <Sighs> We can only hope that Apple will reverse course on this decision as they did with the whole 13-inch and FireWire story.
' I suppose time alone will tell.

~Moi

You are right. Also, thanks for the advise / clarification.

Hi all,

I've been (on a tight budget) working with refurbished bric-a-brac and running Linux for years. Working as an IT consultant and studying to be a Sound Engineer, I got together a decent sized studio over time, and just recently headed down to the Apple store in Tampa, licking my lips the whole way down - I was FINALLY gonna get a Mac Book Pro.

I am very happy with it - all the POSIX apps I'm used to using on Linux have compiled and run just as well on OS X; the system is fast, responsive, Logic works GREAT and sounds awesome, all the Adobe apps are a blast to work with using the new trackpad (thank you Apple!)

Then, planning out my future upgrades with the small change I [will hopefully] make off of my new studio (which are some discreet, studio-quality mastering plug-ins from UAD), I looked at the side of my mac - and my blood ran cold.

I've been working as an IT consultant for years, I've dealt with a LOT of mac book pros both in the US and in Europe - they all had expresscard slots. I hadn't event thought (stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid!!!!!) to look and make sure the new 2009 model had it - and sure enough, I have this useless excuse for an "enhancement" where a bloody expresscard slot by all rights should have been.

As far as my budget is concerned, I've gotta make this new rig amortize itself over the next three years; no new computing hardware in that time. But have I just really, royally messed up here?

Anyone have any advice?

To Whom It May Concern (I hope people from Apple actually read this):

It would be great if there was an option to have an ExpressCard/34 Slot on the new 15" MacBook Pro instead of the SD Card Slot. I rely on the ExpressCard for several features and am unwilling to buy a 17" laptop simply for that feature (when it has nothing else that I would want). I was hoping to upgrade my mac laptop when the new 2009 Pro line was released, but will have to wait until the Expresscard/34 is an option on the 15" Pro. I've been reading online about the lack of
the ExpressCard Slot on the new 15" and it seems that many other users are frustrated by this as well. Thanks for listening. I hope the option is made available soon, so that I can upgrade my laptop. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Deniz Ayaydin

P.S. I know that the PowerBook G4 has a PC Card Slot only, but if there was an ExpressCard/34 Slot on the new Macbook Pro, I would still be able to use my PC Cards by means of an adapter.

Deniz: To reach the right people at Apple, use this link:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html