ExpressCard/34 slot

what kind of cards? I take it CF cards if you aren't wanting the SD reader on the 15". you don't have to get an expresscard slot, lexar make or made anyway a CF reader that worked over firewire 800 & I bet there will be - hopefully - one for the thunderbolt port sometime.

Kmac: I may be wrong, but I interpreted the OP's post to mean he was using an adapter such as this...

http://www.amazon.com/SDHC-Adapter-Professional-Digital-Camera/dp/B0016G8DBA/ref =sr13?ie=UTF8&qid=1299112299&sr=8-3

...to enable the use of SD cards in his cameras, which are probably designed to use CF cards. And if that's true, he needs an SD card reader. It sounds like he wants something he can bury in his 17" MBP's ExpressCard slot, instead of carrying something external around with him.

ah good point eww, read over op's post again. he's wanting to jump up to the 17" & still have the SD card reader...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/MMRE34RW/

see my link above. plenty of options in this area. also check out www.newegg.com

Be extremely careful with expresscard adapters and MacBook Pros. I have a MacBook Pro 2007 and three different eSATA expresscard adapters:
OWC Slim ExpressCard to eSATA Adapter. T
APIOTEK EXTREME Dual eSATA SATA I/II Express Card 34 Adapter with the latest Silicon Image 3132 Drivers
OWC ExpressCard/34 eSATA SATA I/II ExpressCard/34 Adapter

None of these work on my MacBook Pro 2009. The card is recognized, the hard drive mounts, and reads from it. However after writing for 5-10 minutes. The hard drive is corrupted and I have te re-nitialize the hard drive.

Exact same Mac OS 10.6.7, same card and same hard drives: No problem on my MacBook Pro 2007.

There are many notes in xlr8yourmac about hard drive file corruption.
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/OSXeSATA_PMreports.html
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/express34cardreports.html#storytop

There are also several notes on macintouch

I have talked with Apple and they are unaware of these issues.

So be very careful when using expresscard adapters and depend them to be reliable with hard drives. I have given up and use Firewire 800. Unfortunately, Apple has not taken the time to debug this and admit they have a problem.