Brown_V

Q: USB 2.0 ExpressCard

Looking for a USB 2.0 ExpressCard.  Can someone please recommend

a good Mac compatible brand.  This is for a PowerBook G4 1 GHz.

running 10.2.8.

VB

PowerBook G4 1Ghz 17" (10.2), Mac OS X (10.2.x), iBook G4 1.33Ghz 12" (10.4.11)

Posted on May 16, 2011 9:49 AM

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Q: USB 2.0 ExpressCard

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  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones May 16, 2011 11:50 AM in response to Brown_V
    Level 8 (35,151 points)
    iPad
    May 16, 2011 11:50 AM in response to Brown_V

    The G4 PowerBooks use Cardbus cards, Here's a link to an IOGEAR card, a well-known brand:

     

    IOGEAR Hi-Speed USB 2.0 CardBus 2 Port USB 2.0 for Laptops

     

    Have you considered upgrading the OS to Tiger? I hav teh same model with only 1GB RAM and Tiger files on it, and I can use more modern browsers. Jaguar is rather limited today.

  • by Brown_V,

    Brown_V Brown_V May 16, 2011 12:20 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2011 12:20 PM in response to Allan Jones

    Hey Allan,

     

    I am still looking for some Tiger install discs.  Wanted to buy the CD version as I heard they are easier to make a backup copy (the DVD's are DL) and that with the CD's you had access to the disc utilities without having to boot from disc?  Although, as of late I am starting feel like it would easier to get the DVD's.

     

    As for the Carbus, I heard these can only be used with powered devices.  Is this true?  The only things I would use that are non-powered are a flash card reader and a thumb drive.

     

    Thanks for all your help, Allan.  You have been a great resource.

      VB

  • by Brown_V,

    Brown_V Brown_V May 16, 2011 1:30 PM in response to Brown_V
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2011 1:30 PM in response to Brown_V

    Allan,

     

    Any experience with the IOGear GUF-202.  http://www.iogear.com/product/GUF202/

     

    It's $10 cheaper than the one OWC, but includes 2 FireWire ports.  Although, it looks

    of lower quality.

      VB

  • by old comm guy,

    old comm guy old comm guy May 16, 2011 2:42 PM in response to Brown_V
    Level 4 (2,244 points)
    May 16, 2011 2:42 PM in response to Brown_V

    Brown_V wrote:

     

    Hey Allan,

     

    I am still looking for some Tiger install discs.  Wanted to buy the CD version as I heard they are easier to make a backup copy (the DVD's are DL) and that with the CD's you had access to the disc utilities without having to boot from disc?  Although, as of late I am starting feel like it would easier to get the DVD's.

     

    As for the Carbus, I heard these can only be used with powered devices.  Is this true?  The only things I would use that are non-powered are a flash card reader and a thumb drive.

     

    You can find fresh Tiger CD sets on eBay.  The DVD 10.4.6 is 3.5 GB and is probably not DL.  It fits on a regular DVD-R, which makes a decent protection copy. 

     

    If you want to use Disk Utility repair on the boot volume, you need to boot from the install.

     

    I have a CardBus flash card reader that is probably powered from the host.  It's actually pretty slow so I rarely use it, preferring a little Lexar FW reader I've had for six years now.

  • by Brown_V,

    Brown_V Brown_V May 16, 2011 4:40 PM in response to Brown_V
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2011 4:40 PM in response to Brown_V

    Thanks for the input Old Comm Guy,

     

    I thought I had read that Tiger DVD's were dual-layered; therefore, harder to copy and that blank dual-layered discs were pricey.

     

    Also, I thought on the DVD's the utilities (Disk Utility, Apple Hardware Test,...) were accessible only through booting the DVD (they're imbedded in the disk).  Were as on the CD's, these applications were accessible through the CD without booting.  Therefore, you could create a bootable volume on an external HD, copy the applications to the HD and run these applications via the HD.

     

    Or am I really confused?  Happens quite frequently!

      VB

  • by old comm guy,

    old comm guy old comm guy May 16, 2011 6:25 PM in response to Brown_V
    Level 4 (2,244 points)
    May 16, 2011 6:25 PM in response to Brown_V

    If you load the system on an external drive, you would normally have those utilities on that HD as part of the installation.

     

    Bear in mind that most Powerbooks will not boot off an external except by way of FireWire connections, and some early Firewire chipsets didn't support boot, though anything from maybe 2005 onward should be OK.

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones May 17, 2011 8:25 AM in response to Brown_V
    Level 8 (35,151 points)
    iPad
    May 17, 2011 8:25 AM in response to Brown_V

    Sorry I was slow getting back. Yesterday got busy.

     

    "I heard these can only be used with powered devices. Is this true?"

     

    I don't know. I use my MBP more than my PBG4 so haven't invested in Cardbus. However, many notebooks have trouble providing enough power to bus-powered drives even with built-in USB 2.0 ports, so you may not be creating an additional problem. Some devices draw more than others, and some will demand more power as they age. Keeping a powered USB hub around is pretty much a cure-all for this. So is a USB "Y" cable:

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/USB2AYMBPB/

     

    It plugs to two ports to gain more power.

     

    I think others have answered the question about Tiger disks well enough. I would add a caution about eBay or any other auction site. I have looked over Mac OS disk listings there and found all too many are incorrectly described as "Full Retail" when they are not. One seller even offered to sell you the right to download Tiger--that's a criminal offense.