TechBlog from Sewell

Do you have some PCMCIA cards laying around that you’ve been dying to use on your new laptop?

We’ve got a new solution that should be arriving in our warehouse on 6/15/2007. The new Duel Systems ExpressCard to PCMCIA adapter will solve your compatibility issues and save you from having to buy new cards. Check out the ExpressCard to PCMCIA adapter here.

This adapter plugs directly into the new ExpressCard slot (either the 34mm or the 54mm slot) that is coming on almost all new laptops. This adapter provides much higher reliability and compatibility than the currently available PCMCIA to USB adapters. The USB adapters are limited to compatibility with a select few Air Cards models. The Duel Systems adapter is compatible with a wide range of different card types (see list below).

Duel Systems PCMCIA Card Compatibility:

-32-Bit CardBus PC Cards
-16-Bit PCMCIA cards
-Wide Area Network cellular cards (Your wireless Air Cards)
-Memory cards
-802.11a/b/g wireless LAN cards
-Ethernet LAN cards
-ATA cards
-Port expansion cards
-Modem cards
-Also works with CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Smart Media, MMC and SD cards using suitable adapter (available separately)

Another benefit for some of you is that this adapter, unlike the USB adapters, is compatible with the Macintosh operating sytem (version 10.4.8). It is also compatible with Windows XP (no word for certain on Vista at this time).

The package includes:
-PCMCIA to ExpressCard Adapter
-Driver CD-ROM
-Install Guide
-1-year limited warranty and support card
-Product registration card

This item is currently available for pre-order. In order to get on the list to get some of the first available adapters you can place an order and it will be shipped as soon as we get it. You can do that from the product page for the ExpressCard to PCMCIA adapter here.

If you have any further questions about it feel free to give our tech support team a call!

I just want to know if the sound Blaster PCMCIA card will work with this adapter

It should probably be mentioned that this part is a pre-order per the website. I ordered this product only to find out that a new ETA was established for the middle of June 2007.

“availability: pre-order
eta: 6/15/2007″

I apologize about that. At the time i posted this the ETA was for 4/2/2007, but that was unfortunately delayed by the manufacturer. I will change it, hopefully the pre-order ETA on the order page will be enough notification on top of that.

Does this new adapter slide into the expresscard slot and then you slide your pcmcia card into it, or does it have a short cord like what the link shows? as I don’t really care having my Sony Ericsson wireless internet card flopping around on the end of a cable?

Thanks,

be aware!still not vista compatible,which is the whole point, so does not solve express card problem for new computers. I still cannot connect to internet after four months trying broadband operators/adapters, thanks to vista. today, XP installed & still will not recognise O2/ Aircard 850.

While the adapter does not currently ship with windows Vista drivers. Vista drivers are available via download from the manufacturer and are proving to work well.

The driver for Windows Vista beta does not work with HP or Compaq laptops, it says there is a conflict due to resource issues and the card gets never activated. I called support and they couldn’t give me an ETA of when this would be fixed. I send an email to support and got no answer. I am not very happy at this point. If the driver does not get fixed in the next few weeks I am going to return the product

The HP and Compaq laptops version 6000 and 9000 do have issues with the adapter. The problem is that the manufacturer wrote the BIOS control for the expresscard port to only support one device. The problem is that the adapter counts as one device, and the PCMCIA card counts as a second. So it can’t read the PCMCIA card. The manufacturer is working with HP hoping to get this issue resolved. With HP and Compaq laptops other than those the adapter should work just fine.

I also can’t get my adapter to work on my HP notebook running Vista. When the fix in the driver or in the BIOS or whatever will be avaiable? Duel should have included this information before people bought this adapter! I wish I had bought the USB PCMCIA adapter instead!

These prices are REDICULAS!!! Just to use a £10-£30 cards, they expect us to FOCK out £70+!!!

I’m sure it cant have cost that much of a fortune to design something like this!

If I dont see it cheaper anywhere else, I might as well make my own adapters and sell them for 20-30pounds each. Sure as hell will get more customers and break even quicker on what I would have spent!