Good things to use for the express card slot?

[88888888]

What are some useful things i can use?

 

[James Cole]

I was going to ask the same question... never used the express card before...

 

[TEG]

ESATA Cards, TV Tuners, Cellular Broadband Internet/Wi-Max, card readers, etc.

The Express Cards are just the PCIe version of PCIMCIA (PC Card) on other/older laptops.

TEG

 

[eldy]

You can buy a slot holder for it to hide cash.

 

[peskaa]

Storing fluff.

 

[NickM]

I think a 3G card would be cool.

 

[L0s7man]

You can buy 32/64GB flash cards that go to ExpressCard slot. Only problem is that they fall into 2 categories:

(i) crap, slow and rubbish
(ii) nice fast and VERY expensive

The advantage is that you've got lot's of extra space and the card stays inside the chasis all the time (unlike usb stick that, well, sticks out).

There was also this funny thing -> a small expresscard computer with linux and everything that did the antivirus, firewall, whatnot, using all it's internal hardware rather than your cpu. Kind of funny, but don't see why I'd use that over just software.

Overall, ExpressCard is mostly pointless....

 

[xoggyux]

multimedia card reader and esata adaptor in my opinion are the most useful expansions.

you can also add internet cards but they are mostly rubbish as the internet is painfully slow (you are better off finding free hotspots and using the wireless card)

 

[RKpro]

Belkin SD card reader from Apple store. It completes my MBP, in terms of ports/connectivity. Works great, doesn't stick out the side, so I keep it there permanently.

 

[NickM]

multimedia card reader and esata adaptor in my opinion are the most useful expansions.

you can also add internet cards but they are mostly rubbish as the internet is painfully slow (you are better off finding free hotspots and using the wireless card)

I have to disagree with that opinion.
For being available across my whole city, I enjoy 3G very much on my iPhone.
Sure, it's no T1 connection, but like I said... it's available everywhere at any time. For on-the-go connection, when you probably wouldn't be downloading gigs of information anyway, it's pretty nice to have.

 

[Patriks7]

Belkin SD card reader from Apple store. It completes my MBP, in terms of ports/connectivity. Works great, doesn't stick out the side, so I keep it there permanently.

I so agree with that! I also have the Belkin and it works great!
I have to admit, though, that at first I wanted to hide some condoms and illegal drugs in there.. you know.. for school..

 

[mbpnewbie]

I have to admit, though, that at first I wanted to hide some condoms and illegal drugs in there.. you know.. for school..

Doesn't work

 

[NRose8989]

I have to disagree with that opinion.
For being available across my whole city, I enjoy 3G very much on my iPhone.
Sure, it's no T1 connection, but like I said... it's available everywhere at any time. For on-the-go connection, when you probably wouldn't be downloading gigs of information anyway, it's pretty nice to have.

I agree with you as well, plus it's a secure connection so you can do your online banking and not be worried about someone sniffing your packets.

 

[Regaj]

Broadband Card! Mine gets T1 speeds.

Internet everywhere, not just in the city near a WiFi spot...

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

Broadband Card! Mine gets T1 speeds.

Internet everywhere, not just in the city near a WiFi spot...

What card and carrier are you using?

 

[Regaj]

What card and carrier are you using?

Verizon Wireless
Verizon V740 Card

 

[hippo206]

Verizon Wireless
Verizon V740 Card

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/...First&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=

 

[Scottsdale]

I have a 3G AT&T Wireless card in mine. Really cool. I wish my MBA had one!

 

[NickM]

I have a 3G AT&T Wireless card in mine. Really cool. I wish my MBA had one!

How much does AT&T charge for the card?
How much for the service?

 

[Scottsdale]

How much does AT&T charge for the card?
How much for the service?

Card is $99 (for one year contract or free for two-year contract), service is $59 per month. Works really great. Surprisingly fast. We can even watch streaming HD content on it. Great when away from wireless network.

I give it to my kids sometimes to use when go to their mom's house as she doesn't have Internet (or has dial up). Then with me, we take it with us places on weekends so they can watch movies in the car and etc. I use an MBA as my primary Mac, and use the MBP one day per month for work... so really it is for the kids primarily.

I definitely recommend the AT&T 3G Data Service. It's really nice for $59 per month.

 

[belvdr]

I like having the internal one. Simply dialup.

Not sure if any Mac laptop has a WWAN slot in them, but it's definitely nice not having to install any card.

 

[dmmcintyre3]

I use my PCMCIA slot for a card reader. I leave it in the computer all the time.

 

[Fonzijr1964]

multimedia card reader and esata adaptor in my opinion are the most useful expansions.

you can also add internet cards but they are mostly rubbish as the internet is painfully slow (you are better off finding free hotspots and using the wireless card)

nah i tether my iPhone (yes i have net share) with my air all the time and it's slow but it gets the job done

 

[pyromaniaque]

nah i tether my iPhone (yes i have net share) with my air all the time and it's slow but it gets the job done

Use PDANET, it uses true 3g speed as netshare uses a SOCKS proxy.
http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/10/16/how-to-tether-with-pdanet/

 

[Fonzijr1964]

Use PDANET, it uses true 3g speed as netshare uses a SOCKS proxy.
http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/10/16/how-to-tether-with-pdanet/

i have an edge phone so it does not matter