SD card slot vs Express Card/34 slot?

[No Regrets]

I notice the MBP 15 has the SD card slot and the MBP 17 have the Express Card/34 slot.

What is the difference between them?

I am using SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1 Card in my Olympus XZ-1 digital camera. Can this card be used in both the MBP15 and the MBP17?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

An SD card slot is for SD cards, like the one you have in your current camera.
The ExpressCard slot is for ExpressCards, and ExpressCards come in a variety of options.
There is an SD card reader ExpressCard for example, but you can also use other cards like eSATA cards, Firewire cards, USB 3.0 cards and so on. It is just a method of adding another interface to your Mac.

 

[No Regrets]

Thank you for the reply. So it would seem that the Express card slot would be preferred over the SD slot as it has many more options/uses?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thank you for the reply. So it would seem that the Express card slot would be preferred over the SD slot as it has many more options/uses?

If you actually can put the ExpressCard to use, then yes. I use mine for an eSATA controller, thus I can transfer a lot of data faster, and that is something I do a lot.

 

[eron]

The size difference of the 15" vs 17" should be a determinant for you as well.

The SD card slot of the 15" mbp will read your sd card without no problems.
If you get the 17", you will need the adaptor that will cost >$50. However, it will read the extreme cards faster.

http://www.sandisk.com/products/rea...express-card-adapter-for-sdhcsdxc-uhs-i-cards

 

[No Regrets]

The size difference of the 15" vs 17" should be a determinant for you as well.

The SD card slot of the 15" mbp will read your sd card without no problems.
If you get the 17", you will need the adaptor that will cost >$50. However, it will read the extreme cards faster.

http://www.sandisk.com/products/rea...express-card-adapter-for-sdhcsdxc-uhs-i-cards

So the card that I am currently using (SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1 Card) will not work with this http://www.sonnettech.com/product/memorycardreaderwritere34.html ?

I will be going to an Apple reseller store to look more closely at the 17", but right now I think having the larger screen might be nice. On paper, the physical size and weight increase does not appear to thatmuch bigger. I will be using it on my lap quite a bit though, so more thought will have to be given.

 

[eron]

So the card that I am currently using (SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1 Card) will not work with this http://www.sonnettech.com/product/memorycardreaderwritere34.html ?

I will be going to an Apple reseller store to look more closely at the 17", but right now I think having the larger screen might be nice. On paper, the physical size and weight increase does not appear to thatmuch bigger. I will be using it on my lap quite a bit though, so more thought will have to be given.

The Sandisk express card adaptor will most likely be faster. The Sonnet should still work.

Coming from a 2008 15" mbp, to a 2011 17", I liked the 17" more for work due to its screen estate. As long as you don't mind the weight, the 17" is definitely more superior.

 

[thatoneguy82]

I have a SD Sandisk Express Card that I had in my MBP 17" to make up for the one I had in the 15" I had. I do a lot of photography and needed a quick and simple way to offload the SD cards. And it's flush with the case, so you can leave it in there and just insert an SD card anytime you want. There's no protrusion at all of the express card.

 

[No Regrets]

The Sandisk express card adaptor will most likely be faster. The Sonnet should still work.

Coming from a 2008 15" mbp, to a 2011 17", I liked the 17" more for work due to its screen estate. As long as you don't mind the weight, the 17" is definitely more superior.

Thanks eron for helping me better understand.