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Chris Jacob
Uh... MacBook Pros, at least until recently, all have ExpressCard slots. I can't think of anyone more likely to be an early adopter than a Mac person. Half the Mac users I've met get a new laptop every time a new model comes out.
@thebigcheese: "people who still have laptops with ExpressCard slots don't strike me as the early adopter type."
I agree... I have a MacBook Pro that's a couple of years old from work, and I didn't realize ExpressCard was on the way out - I thought it had yet to come IN since this is the first time I've seen a device made to use it! PCMCIA was around forever... but then, I've never had a use for the expansion slot in the side of any of my laptops.
The key selling point is the huge black block at the end making this a martial arts geek weapon of choice for taking down USB2 users in your home town technology ghetto.
I agree that without any must-have devices to plug into it, this is nothing more than a propeller-head coffee table discussion.
@License_to_iLL: I've seen StarTech hardware for at least a decade... my introduction was at an old employer about 10 years ago - they're the only guys I've seen who could screw up something like 1 in 10 ethernet cables. Seriously, someone in the office would develop network issues, and I'd unpackage a new patch cable, pull theirs out of the switch, and plug in a new one, solving the problem. Then I'd test the old cable, and it had gone bad. Mind-boggling...
On the other hand, I got a USB 1.1 hub of theirs ages ago and it never gave me a single issue, but... those cables will always make me question their ability to make hardware...
@COCOViper: Dude, ExpressCard technology is soooo nine days ago. Heck, why we are still talking about USB 3.0 when USB 12.0 is only a decade away is beyond me.
@estenh: Why bother anyway? The Express Card slot on your Macbook Pro can't take full advantage of USB 3.0, and you could just as well get an Express Card with an eSATA port, or you could simply use the FW800 you already have.
@Kaiser-Machead: True - that's exactly what I do use, a handy little ESATA adapter with a 500gb external 2.5" and a USB power adapter. Works like a charm, but I can see how if you were working with USB 3.0 on other machines you'd want this card. I think we are all just reacting a to rather categorical statement that seemed to equate ExpressCard with 100mb Zip Disks.
12/01/09
What, do you guys think everybody uses MacBook Airs or something?
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I agree... I have a MacBook Pro that's a couple of years old from work, and I didn't realize ExpressCard was on the way out - I thought it had yet to come IN since this is the first time I've seen a device made to use it! PCMCIA was around forever... but then, I've never had a use for the expansion slot in the side of any of my laptops.
12/01/09
12/01/09
I agree that without any must-have devices to plug into it, this is nothing more than a propeller-head coffee table discussion.
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12/01/09
or a name like StarTech...
12/01/09
On the other hand, I got a USB 1.1 hub of theirs ages ago and it never gave me a single issue, but... those cables will always make me question their ability to make hardware...
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12/01/09
Are you perhaps confusing ExpressCard with PCMCIA/Cardbus ? ExpressCard is what they put in NEW laptops.
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I drank a lot that year.
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-and the laptop is now too old to warrant the upgrade...