Expresscard or USB to PCMCIA?

[prestor]

So if you need to add a PCMCIA slot to your computer which is better - USB to PCMCIA or Expresscard to PCMCIA? The Expresscard to PCMCIA is a lot cheaper so I was just wondering if any of you tech guys see more compatibility problems with these or if they are comparable?

[sam-i-am]

Not to mention PCI to PCMCIA... 

[Jonathan]

The expresscard to PCMCIA is supposed to support a much wider range of cards.  It's also supposed to be compatible with your cell phone providers software, which can be a big benefit over the USB adapters.  Unfortuantely Vista and Mac OS 10.4.9 drivers for that adapter are just in the beta stage and may not be working perfectly.

If you have an HP (or compaq since they're the same company) 6000 or 9000 series laptop the Expresscard to PCMCIA adapter will not work at all.  This has to do with the way HP has written the BIOS for those laptops.  They just won't work.

For a laptop using XP or Mac OS 10.4.8 the ExpressCard to PCMCIA adapter seems to be the best way to go.  Especially since it supports cards other than the Cellular air cards. You should be able to use most of anything.

Using other specs it may be better to use the USB adapter.

If you're using a desktop computer, the PCI to PCMCIA is definitely the most compatible way to go.  The only downside is having to reach the back of the computer to remove / insert the card.

[Jordan]

It looks like Duel-systems has removed the beta comment on the Vista drivers.

[Ryan]

If you have a desktop then I think the PCI to PCMCIA adapter is the best way to go, especially because you can use the cheaper products and they work just as well. PCI to PCMCIA

[Jonathan]

It looks like Duel-systems has removed the beta comment on the Vista drivers.

Yeah, but some people have still been complaining that they still act like beta drivers.  I guess we'll see.

[mark]

If you have an HP (or compaq since they're the same company) 6000 or 9000 series laptop the Expresscard to PCMCIA adapter will not work at all.  This has to do with the way HP has written the BIOS for those laptops.  They just won't work.

Duel says this could be fixed if HP would write a bios update.  The current bios is a little weak, it can only recognize 1 device through the express card slot.  I'm sure there are a lot of devices that have problems.  So hopefully that patch will come soon.

[mark]

The expresscard to PCMCIA has been selling really well.  New products often have high compatibility issues but this has done surprisingly well.

Aside from that, it is quite a bit less expensive than the USB adapters.  If you have the slot, I'd go for that.

[Mel]

I tried the USB to PCMCIA adapter and I found that it will not work with a Sony Ericson card. The Sony Ericson card is a 2G card and the USB to PCMCIA adapter is only for the 3G cards. My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite X205-S9349.

[mark]

Unfortunately the USB adapter is not compatible wit the Sony cards.  You can however get our ExpressCard adapter, or possibly look into getting a USB modem.