what do u put in an ExpressCard/34 slot? im new to MACS

New cards are coming out very soon. I do know that you can get a Firewire Card. There is more out there but that is the only thing that I can think of off the top of my head.
http://www.firewiredirect.com/product/423/

Joyce,

The ExpressCard slot replaces the older PCMCIA, or "PC card" slot. There are not many devices on the market yet that will make use of the new standard, but when they do come ot, they will provide the same services that PCMCIA cards did.

There are media card readers, cards that offer additional USB and/or Firewire ports, cards for communication with specific expansion devices, etc.

One of the most looked-for ExpressCard devices is an "Aircard." These devices provide an internet connection via cell phone service and infrastructure. Verizon's service is currently the best and widest, and their "Aircards" provide broadband connections in all major US cities, and much of the surrounding areas. Outside these zones, the connection that you get is more like dial-up, but it is very useful to have any kind of internet connection just about anywhere there is cell phone service.

Scott

I just converted to MACS like 4 months ago and Im
wondering what stuff can i put in my ExpressCard/34
slot because i have no idea.

I want to use it but I dont know what to put in there.

I recently read that none of the major manufacturers of PC-Card type devices are planning on supporting the new "standard" due to the fact that (except for MPBs) there are close to no other notebook computers with this kind of slot.

I think Apple made a huge mistake in putting these in too early. Many business people and commuters won't buy MBPs because there are no 3G/4G mobile cards for this type of slot. According to customer service, Swisscom, for example, won't be releasing ExpressCard UMTS cards for at least another couple of years.

So, to answer your question: nothing, really. Except for some Firewire adapters (which you don't need, as the MBP already has Firewire built-in) there is absolutely nothing that could be put in this slot and there won't be anything for the foreseeable future.

While I do like the fact that Apple is a very forward looking, progressive company, this definitely wasn't very well thought through. The ExpressCard slot is completely useless and unnecessarily increases the cost of the product.

How about modem or 3G - cards?

eSATA cars are also available, for attaching external SATA hard drives via eSATA cables. eSATA is quite a bit faster than Firewire800.

How about modem or 3G - cards?

don't exist, as far as I can tell. At least nothing that would work in European 3G networks

im lookin for an antenna that jsut goes in there and airport uses to extend reange

Novatel, partnering with Verizon Wireless, just released an ExpressCard/34 EV-DO Broadband Card; and before that, Dell had one as well. It's called the XV640.

Also, Novatel is releasing an HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE capable ExpressCard for those of you who use GSM.

So, yes...there are cards available...

Anyone interested in the XV640 and EVDO in general can check here:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/Tips/PC5220/MacBook_Pro_and_EVDO20060111671/

Webb

There is a Card Reader out it is a 7 in 1. I would not be so negative about the future of the expansion slot and production of cards. In the coming months you will find all sorts of new cards.

Hi!

I'm about to buy a MacBook Pro, but I was deciding between the 15 or 17 MBP. The 17 MBP sounds perfect for me, because it has the FW800 port for my LaCies, which the 15 does not have.
I visited the site you put in your previous post, and found this ExpressCard, is the one that I need to get my 15 MBP that I like (even more than 17) and having even more than one single FW800 port.
But is it really compatible with MBP? Does anyone have worked with this express Card? http://www.firewiredirect.com/product/423/

Indeed, new cards are coming out like crazy now it seems (and granted this thread is three months old now).

Merlin has just released a Mac-compatible Express/34 UMTS card. I know Verizon people love their EV-DO, but Cingular's UMTS is not only going to blow it away, it's going to have the advantage of being a worldwide standard already deployed all over Japan and parts of Europe.

Of course for those who don't travel outside of the US, EV-DO cards are available in Express/34.

I've got a media reader that blows away my old USB2 card reader. I just wish it supported CF (for that DSLR I'm buying myself for Christmas).

Card Reader...

http://www.datafab.com/product/flashcard_adapter_express8in1.htm

Clint Bradford

I recently read that none of the major manufacturers
of PC-Card type devices are planning on supporting
the new "standard" due to the fact that (except for
MPBs) there are close to no other notebook computers
with this kind of slot.

Not true. Apple's MBP was not the first laptop out with this kind of card slot. There were other computers that came out before (like 2 years ahead). I believe they were HP and Dell.

The one thing you CAN'T use the ExpressCard slot for is wireless connection to the Internet! THE ONE THING I REALLY WANTED; if it weren't for the fact that Macs are wonderful computers, I would drop them in a second and go over to the Dark Side, their lack of a wireless PCMCIA-like card for the computer is just incomprehensible.

Why, Mac, why do you do this to us?

MacBook Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.7)

MacBook Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.7)