| If you’ve purchased a new laptop PC lately | | | | smaller systems, the slightly wider 54mm Express |
| you’ll probably have noticed a new looking slot on | | | | Cards can support applications that would not |
| the side of it. This is the Express card slot. | | | | physically fit into the a narrower 34mm Express Card. |
| ExpressCard technology has been designed to deliver | | | | Examples include Compact Flash readers, and 1.8-inch |
| high-performance (they support faster data transfer | | | | disk drives both of which are wider than 34mm. |
| with lower power consumption) and allow modular | | | | Additionally the 54mm Express cards give a little more |
| expansion to your laptop. If for example you’ve | | | | room for on-board components which in turn reduces |
| purchased a laptop without a Firewire port but you | | | | the amount of heat generated – sounds incredible |
| then find you need Firewire to transfer video from | | | | but the slight larger card does allow for the heat to be |
| your Camcorder you can add Firewire capabilities with | | | | dissipated more efficiently which can be important for |
| a Firewire Express card. | | | | some high performance applications |
| | | | | After a slow start there are now lots of Express |
| There are two standard formats of ExpressCard | | | | Cards on the market to allow you to upgrade your |
| modules: | | | | Laptop and these include: |
| 1. 34mm ExpressCards (size:34mm x 75mm) | | | | - eSATA Express Cards |
| 2. 54mm ExpressCards (size: 54mm x 75mm) | | | | - Firewire 400 Express Cards |
| Both sizes are 5mm thick, the same as the PCMCIA | | | | - Firwire 800 Express Cards |
| cards they replace. Both sizes of card use the same | | | | - USB 2.0 Express Cards |
| connector interface – so the “business end” | | | | - Solid Storage Express Cards (up to 32GB of |
| which actually connects internally inside the laptop is | | | | storage) |
| 34mm wide whichever size express card your laptop | | | | - Serial Port Express Card |
| supports. This is possible because the larger 54mm | | | | - Parallel Port Express Cards |
| Express cards are manufactured in an “L” | | | | - CF Card Readers |
| shape with what looks like the corner cut out to enable | | | | |
| the interface end to connect internally. | | | | USBNow carry a wide range of express cards and |
| Why two different sizes? Well, it’s to give the | | | | are always happy to offer any advice and guidance if |
| system manufacturers greater flexibility than in the | | | | you have a particular requirement. |
| past. While 34mm Express Cards are better suited to | | | | |