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  1. #1
    Jamie
    Guest
    I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.
    I was told by SIERRA WIRELESS that there is a AFTER MARKET adaptor for
    this that will let me use my standard size card until SIERRA statrs to
    make the EXPRESS size. Can any help me on this? I have no idea where
    to look for this as the SIERRA TECH could not tell or recommend a
    brand/company?




    See More: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT




  2. #2
    SMS
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    Jamie wrote:
    > I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    > new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.
    > I was told by SIERRA WIRELESS that there is a AFTER MARKET adaptor for
    > this that will let me use my standard size card until SIERRA statrs to
    > make the EXPRESS size. Can any help me on this? I have no idea where
    > to look for this as the SIERRA TECH could not tell or recommend a
    > brand/company?


    There is no such animal that I've found, and I've looked a lot!

    The two slots are very different, not only physically, but in terms of
    the interface.

    Sierra Wireless may have been referring to
    "http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u132.php" (also sold as the
    Quatech PCD-X/U132-E). See
    "http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail~dpno~7116294.asp"

    Check to see if this will work with your specific card.

    These are in short supply, and they cost $200.

    I would return the new notebook, and buy one that has a CardBus (PC
    Card) slot. You can still get notebooks with CardBus slots. It's not
    only the Aircard, there are many devices that need a CardBus slot. It's
    a real PITA to not have a CardBus slot.

    For example, professional video producers are livid over the loss of the
    PC Card slot on Apple notebooks. This is because the high end
    professional digital camcorders use a CardBus size card for storage.
    Without a CardBus slot, the users are forced to purchase a $2200 adapter
    from Panasonic
    (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=413448&is=REG)
    to read the memory cards. And of course they have to carry the damn
    thing, and have AC power to plug it into.



  3. #3
    Jamie
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    Great info thanks.........

    I also just checked CINGULAR's forum and someone else has the same
    question. I think this'll be a pain in the future for someone....


    SMS wrote:
    > Jamie wrote:
    > > I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    > > new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.
    > > I was told by SIERRA WIRELESS that there is a AFTER MARKET adaptor for
    > > this that will let me use my standard size card until SIERRA statrs to
    > > make the EXPRESS size. Can any help me on this? I have no idea where
    > > to look for this as the SIERRA TECH could not tell or recommend a
    > > brand/company?

    >
    > There is no such animal that I've found, and I've looked a lot!
    >
    > The two slots are very different, not only physically, but in terms of
    > the interface.
    >
    > Sierra Wireless may have been referring to
    > "http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u132.php" (also sold as the
    > Quatech PCD-X/U132-E). See
    > "http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail~dpno~7116294.asp"
    >
    > Check to see if this will work with your specific card.
    >
    > These are in short supply, and they cost $200.
    >
    > I would return the new notebook, and buy one that has a CardBus (PC
    > Card) slot. You can still get notebooks with CardBus slots. It's not
    > only the Aircard, there are many devices that need a CardBus slot. It's
    > a real PITA to not have a CardBus slot.
    >
    > For example, professional video producers are livid over the loss of the
    > PC Card slot on Apple notebooks. This is because the high end
    > professional digital camcorders use a CardBus size card for storage.
    > Without a CardBus slot, the users are forced to purchase a $2200 adapter
    > from Panasonic
    > (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=413448&is=REG)
    > to read the memory cards. And of course they have to carry the damn
    > thing, and have AC power to plug it into.





  4. #4
    SMS
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    Jamie wrote:
    > Great info thanks.........
    >
    > I also just checked CINGULAR's forum and someone else has the same
    > question. I think this'll be a pain in the future for someone....


    I'm disappointed that Compaq/HP would drop the CardBus slot. My nephew,
    who's a movie producer, ran into the problem of no CardBus slot with his
    new Apple notebook. He was using FinalCut Pro on a movie, an his older
    Apple notebook got stolen, and he replaced it with an Intel based model
    that lacked the CardBus slot. He didn't realize that there is basically
    no such thing as USB to CardBus slot adapter, other than some
    specialized devices such as the Elan/Quatech device (which only works
    with a few CardBus cellular modems).

    A lot of the on-set editors that use FinalCut Pro are now running OSx on
    the Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A, which has a CardBus slot. However it's slow.
    Unfortunately OSx hasn't been ported to a lot of notebooks.



  5. #5
    decaturtxcowboy
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    SMS wrote:
    > Jamie wrote:
    >> I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    >> new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.
    >> I was told by SIERRA WIRELESS that there is a AFTER MARKET adaptor for
    >> this that will let me use my standard size card until SIERRA statrs to
    >> make the EXPRESS size. Can any help me on this? I have no idea where
    >> to look for this as the SIERRA TECH could not tell or recommend a
    >> brand/company?

    >
    > There is no such animal that I've found, and I've looked a lot!


    I found several links about a month ago, but I didn't pursue them as my
    Compaq is mounted in my truck and uses wide area WiFi, and I only use my
    HP laptop in the field which does support the Cingular PCMCIA cards.

    http://sewelldirect.com/usb-to-pcmci...ss-adapter.asp
    http://www.addonics.com/products/pcmcia/
    http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cabl...38%2C464%2C468
    http://sewelldirect.com/usb-to-pcmci...ource=techblog
    http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/adapter/usb.php




  6. #6

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    SMS wrote:
    > Jamie wrote:
    >
    >> Great info thanks.........
    >>
    >> I also just checked CINGULAR's forum and someone else has the same
    >> question. I think this'll be a pain in the future for someone....

    >
    >
    > I'm disappointed that Compaq/HP would drop the CardBus slot. My nephew,
    > who's a movie producer, ran into the problem of no CardBus slot with his
    > new Apple notebook. He was using FinalCut Pro on a movie, an his older
    > Apple notebook got stolen, and he replaced it with an Intel based model
    > that lacked the CardBus slot. He didn't realize that there is basically
    > no such thing as USB to CardBus slot adapter, other than some
    > specialized devices such as the Elan/Quatech device (which only works
    > with a few CardBus cellular modems).
    >
    > A lot of the on-set editors that use FinalCut Pro are now running OSx on
    > the Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A, which has a CardBus slot. However it's slow.
    > Unfortunately OSx hasn't been ported to a lot of notebooks.


    OSX running on Sony is a hack as far as I can tell. It's definitely not supported by Apple.

    Cardbus->Express is somewhat like ISA->PCI. Eventually there will be lots of Express cards
    available. Express is thinner, faster, and lighter than Cardbus:

    http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/qa.jsp


    -Jason



  7. #7

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    Jamie wrote:

    >>For example, professional video producers are livid over the loss of the
    >>PC Card slot on Apple notebooks. This is because the high end
    >>professional digital camcorders use a CardBus size card for storage.
    >>Without a CardBus slot, the users are forced to purchase a $2200 adapter
    >>from Panasonic
    >>(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=413448&is=REG)
    >>to read the memory cards. And of course they have to carry the damn
    >>thing, and have AC power to plug it into.


    To be fair, that Panasonic device has 5 PC Card slots.

    -Jason



  8. #8

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    Jamie <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    > new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.


    Amazing, that...
    A co-worker bought a new Dell, and it also has Card Express and no Cardbus.
    His Wifi card didn't fit, so it's a good thing that the new laptop has
    built in WiFi.

    How did Dell and HP decide to just stop selling Cardbus with an inadequate
    supply of Card Express options? Maybe you should return it and get
    something else. I once complained to Dell about the loss of some features
    on a new box, and said I was going to return the system. They gave me the
    missing options.

    For GPRS, he is using Bluetooth to a v3 Razr. The Razr in particular is
    not as fast as a card, but at least the built in Bluetooth means loss of
    the slot doesn't add any new pieces to carry.

    --
    ---
    Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5



  9. #9
    SMS
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    [email protected]lid wrote:

    > OSX running on Sony is a hack as far as I can tell. It's definitely not
    > supported by Apple.


    Correct. It's a desperation move by these editors. If they're using
    Final Cut Pro, they have to run an OSx platform. If they want to do
    on-site editing, without having to stop production to connect the camera
    directly to the computer, then they have to have a way to read the
    memory card off-line. To read the memory card off-line, they must have a
    notebook with a PC Card slot, or buy the expensive and bulky Panasonic
    AJ-PCD10, which isn't even USB powered, an AC adapter is needed.

    A lot of the producers are simply going back to something like AVID,
    which runs on Windows (or OSx) so they can use a notebook with a CardBus
    slot. The ones that are committed to Final Cut Pro, are using something
    like the VAIO, at least in the field. Back in the office, they use a
    desktop Mac with Final Cut Pro.

    > Cardbus->Express is somewhat like ISA->PCI. Eventually there will be
    > lots of Express cards available. Express is thinner, faster, and
    > lighter than Cardbus:


    Actually it isn't. PCMCIA is like ISA. CardBus is like PCI. Express Card
    is nominally like PCI Express.

    What would be great is if Final Cut Pro were ported to Windows. Or if
    someone came out with an external CardBus adapter that worked with all
    CardBus cards.



  10. #10
    SMS
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    [email protected]lid wrote:
    > Jamie wrote:
    >
    >>> For example, professional video producers are livid over the loss of the
    >>> PC Card slot on Apple notebooks. This is because the high end
    >>> professional digital camcorders use a CardBus size card for storage.
    >>> Without a CardBus slot, the users are forced to purchase a $2200 adapter
    >>> from Panasonic
    >>> (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=413448&is=REG)
    >>>
    >>> to read the memory cards. And of course they have to carry the damn
    >>> thing, and have AC power to plug it into.

    >
    > To be fair, that Panasonic device has 5 PC Card slots.


    It's a great device to use back at the studio, but it's a PITA to carry
    it around, along with the adapter. The digital editing business isn't
    like most people think. It's usually done by just a couple of people,
    often working as contract employees. This is especially true for
    advertising videos and commercials. $2200 for the card reader is a major
    expense, especially since not all studios have gone the digital HD
    camera route.



  11. #11
    SMS
    Guest

    Re: "EXPRESS CARD" SLOT

    [email protected] wrote:
    > Jamie <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> I just bought a new COMPAQ and can not use my 860 AIRCARD as the MOST
    >> new models have a EXPRESS CARD slot not the traditional PCI size slot.

    >
    > Amazing, that...
    > A co-worker bought a new Dell, and it also has Card Express and no Cardbus.
    > His Wifi card didn't fit, so it's a good thing that the new laptop has
    > built in WiFi.
    >
    > How did Dell and HP decide to just stop selling Cardbus with an inadequate
    > supply of Card Express options?


    They know what's best, or think they do.

    I still use a lot of CardBus devices. I have built in WiFi, but I still
    use a high-power wireless adapter on occasion, available only in CardBus
    (or USB but it requires an external AC adapter). I use a Compact Flash
    CardBus adapter a lot. I have a CardBus GPS adapter. It's very nice to
    not have a bunch of wires and AC adapters to carry around.



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