'Expresscard' format on Dell laptops?
 

I'm in the market for a new laptop and was just about to buy a Dell 640M, when it mentioned something about not supporting PCMCIA cards. Looking through the consumer Dell machines, it seems even the higher end XPS doesn't support them. Dell seem to be pushing this 'Expresscard' format instead..which is a problem for me as a I wanted to use my Vodafone 3G card with my new laptop.

So:

1) Is it correct that my UK Voda card won't work with a new Dell laptop?

2) If it will work, has anyone successfully used a cellular data card with this new type card format?

Cheers.

Not only Dell... It's appearing in most new highend machines (Apple machines for example).

There are some Expresscard 3G cards out there, but your current PCMCIA one won't work. You'll either need a new card, or you could get the Vodafone USB 3G modem...

Expresscard is the sucessor to pc card (pcmcia). It's a pci express for laptops, just like how pcmcia was based off PCI.

At least in Italy Vodafone has a 3G PCExpress card in its offer...

On my Apple MacBook Pro I use a Merlin XU870 which is not branded and works with any carrier. A bit pricey but a really great product!

maclover

My wife's newest HP laptop has Expresscard which we didn't realize until her pc card CompactFlash adapter didn't work. Delkin and a few others are making ExpressCard devices but there aren't very many out yet.

Er, almost.

PCMCIA is equivalent to ISA, not PCI. You're one generation too advanced there. ;)

But there are PCMCIA cardbus cards that can operate at 32bit full speed.

Most Sony VAIO laptops by the way include both PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots - even my diminutive SZ. ;)

That's because Cardbus is based on PCI.