Expresscard/34 Compact Flash card reader?

Their seems to be a big market for EC/34 Compact flash read/writers? It ca't be that hard? If I had a manufacturing facility I would probably make them :/. CompactFlash speeks ATA! A 'simplified' CF reader would consist of a PCI Express---ATA convertor IC----CF card.....an even easier design (but Slower) would consit of a USB2----->ATA convertor------CF Card using EC's USB2 interface. I would love to make a homebrew solution just for fun but the newest computer I have is a 400Mhz iMac. I hope the Mac Book (iBook Replacment) has an ExpessCard slot in it. If the price is $999 I will buy one for HighSchool! Then I can also experiment with EC

Hint...Hint...Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!

Currently the only solution that really stretches the capabilities of USB 2 is 4 lexar pro card readers stacked on top of a 4 port hub. You'd need like 20 card readers to really take advantage of express card slots.

I can't see a real need as USB 2 or Firewire is quick
enough and fits most pros requirements.

When you are downloading 2 Gigs of data from a CF card or dSLR via USB 2.0, this statement is unsupported. Firewire, I agree... but Nikon pleased the PC crowd with the D200's USB2 interface compared to the D1x's FW.

I'm a Pro photographer and I just got my MBP 17" My main disappointment is that there isn't a CF Card reader for the Express Card Slot. On my Powerbook I kept a 32bit Cardbus adaptor (which is way faster than the older card reader adaptors that people have mentioned here) in the PCI slot. I could just pop the CF card into the side of my Powerbook and have speedy transefers and no cords and external readers flopping around. CF cards are going to be used by Pros for quite a while - while my MarkII ds uses both, unfortunately my new Canon 5d only uses CF cards. Since I use both cameras often, I use ten 2 gig CF cards since they will work in either camera. I wish this MBP had the 54 Express Card that could take a CF card reader and all 34 Express Cards too - bummer.

MacBook Pro 17", G5 dual2.7 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

MacBook Pro 17", G5 dual2.7 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Quick Google search found:

http://goodmemory.stores.yahoo.net/pcexcocaad.html

I'm also a pro photographer and have two rather new FW card readers (one lexar, one sandisk) and the Belkin 32 bit cardbus adapter. In my tests, both FW readers are consistently and significantly faster than the cardbus adapter on my Powerbook.

Eric, that product is ExpressCard/54, not 34, unfortunately, and is not compatible with any Macbook/MBP.

Rev A iMac G5, 17", 1.8 Ghz, 2GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4)

Hear, hear.

-j (another disappointed pro)

Anyone have any transfer rate numbers on a SATA card reader/card? Perhaps using the free version of HD Tach? It would be interesting to see the performance difference. My USB 2.0 card reader goes 10.7 MB/sec average read and 1.6 ms random access. Thanks for any help.

I'll just add to the noise if Apple engineers read this thread, that for pros, an ExpressCard/54 would be much better for our use.

I realize we're probably some 2% of the overall sales of MBPs, but still!

External Firewire and USB readers work too, but it's the convenience of a flush-mounted CardBus CF reader that follows the MBP that is great. An external reader is a bit cumbersome especially in the car. It's one more thing for the MBP to fall off the front seat onto the USB connector and break it off, etc. etc.

Once more, "hear, hear" from another pro that never got it why Apple made such a strange choice.

-j

I'm very puzzled by this ENTIRE thread.

Compact Flash cards are wider in BOTH width and length than the Expresscard/34 opening. So this "flush mount" wish is just nonsense.

So we're back to the reality of some sort of external dongle. If so, what's the difference between an external dongle relying on the ExpressCard/34 port, and a the FW solutions out there already? As has been previously stated, limitations in FW400 transfer speeds are due to slow (relative to FW 400) CF cards, not the theoretical limitations of FW.

A Ferrari goes the same speed as a Honda Civic in heavy traffic. And transfers via the "high speed" ExpressCard will be the same speed as FW.

We were expecting the 5/4 highway, the one where both Hondas and Ferraris could drive.

Mark,
Thanks for that information, I am also in the UK, do you think the UK Delkin distributor will be stocking it or will I have to order direct from America ?.
Art