SeeYa32

Q: USB 3.0 for Macbook pro? Isn't it 2012?

As we all know, the early 2011 13" and 15" Macbook Pros do not have the expresscard slot 34 that the 17" does. I realize there are cards that you are able to plug into this expresscard slot in order to achieve USB 3.0 standards. So with only a SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity), a Thunderbolt port, a firewire port, and no ExpressCard/34 slot, how can I get USB 3.0 to my Early 2011 15" Macbook Pro? Or is it even possible? I realize the ideal option would be to use Thunderbolt, but at the time of this writing, that is way above my budget for simply connecting an external hard disk drive (or hopefully a solid state drive) to my laptop.

 

(Also, I have found that there is no official support for Intel motherboard USB 3.0 integration, which is why no Intel Mac has native USB 3.0. But it's been 10 years since USB 2.0, can't we get an update that doesn't cost $500+?)

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 18, 2012 10:13 AM

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Q: USB 3.0 for Macbook pro? Isn't it 2012?

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  • by eww,

    eww eww Jun 1, 2012 4:54 PM in response to OrogenousZones
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 4:54 PM in response to OrogenousZones

    On the contrary, the tech support rep who misinformed you was not correct. As I write this, my sleeping iPad's battery is charging from one of the USB 2.0 ports on my late-2008 unibody Macbook Pro. Yes, its charge level really is increasing — I've verified that by waking it briefly every few minutes to check the charge level indicator. You may not be able to charge an iPad while you use it, but you can indeed charge it when it's shut down or sleeping, provided that your MBP is awake and no other Apple device requiring more than 500mA is connected to its other USB port(s). Read this article for more info:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049

     

    FYI, while this is going on my MBP's second USB port is powering the USB hub in my 27" LED Cinema Display. But the two devices plugged into that hub both have their own AC adapters and are currently turned off anyway, so the hub isn't pulling any significant power from the computer.

     

    Since I began writing this post, my iPad's charge level has risen from 71% to 76%.

  • by OrogenousZones,

    OrogenousZones OrogenousZones Jun 1, 2012 4:56 PM in response to eww
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 4:56 PM in response to eww

    Ii potentially stand corrected!!  Could this be different for an iPad 3?  Although my wife's iPad2 doesn't charge from her macbook pro, nor from a Dell laptop with USB 2.o ports.

  • by Menoc,

    Menoc Menoc Jul 11, 2014 5:14 AM in response to SeeYa32
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2014 5:14 AM in response to SeeYa32
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