12/13/07 - ExpressCard is a rapidly growing replacement for the older and slower PC Cardbus expansion slots on notebooks. While most laptops that feature this new slot come standard with USB ports, some still do not feature FireWire. If you happen to need to add or get extra of either of these ports and have an ExpressCard slot, check out which laptop cards I feel are currently the best based on my research and experience.
1. ByteCC FireWire + USB 2.0 ExpressCard/34
©ByteCC Inc.
ByteCC has a good balance between the price and features for this combo I/O ExpressCard. The BT-ECU2FW comes equipped with two 6-pin FireWire ports and a single USB 2.0 port on a small ExpressCard/34 stick that will work in either size ExpressCard slot. The FireWire ports are compatible with the original and updated FireWire 400 specifications but do not support the new FireWire 800. One nice addition to this competitively priced expansion card is the inclusion of the Ulead VideoStudio 9 SE video editing software to be used with digital video importation from a camcorder.
2. Startech EC1U2F
©Startech
Like the ByteCC card, the Startech EC1U2F features two 6-pin FireWire ports and a USB 2.0 port on a slender ExpressCard/34 stick. The FireWire ports are compatible with the original and updated 400Mbps speed specifications but does not support the new 800Mbps speeds. The reason that the Startech card falls behind the ByteCC card is that it costs slightly more and does not include the digital video editing software.
3. SIIG FireWire+Hi-Speed USB ExpressCard
©SIIG Inc.
SIIG has been a long standing company that produces high quality interface boards for personal computers. The SIIG FireWire+Hi Speed USB ExpressCard differs from most combo I/O boards in that it only supplies a single FireWire 400 port and single USB 2.0 port. This reduces the number of peripherals one can attach, but most people only require a single port. The FireWire supports all of the 400Mbps specifications but does not support the 800Mbps speeds. The card uses the slender ExpressCard/34 format and can be used in either size ExpressCard slot. No video editing software is included with the card.
4. ADS Tech Pyro 1394a+USB 2.0 ExpressCard
©ADS Tech Inc.
ADS Tech is the newest entry into the Combo ExpressCard market. The Pyro 1394a+USB 2.0 uses the ExpressCard/34 format and features a single FireWire 400 port and USB 2.0 port. The FireWire port is compatible with all of the FireWire 400 speeds but does not support the new 800 Mbps specification. Once again, no video editing software is included with the Pyro combo card.
5. Syba SD-EXPC34-2F1U
©Syba Tech Ltd.
Syba is nto a very well known company in the PC expansion card market. What they do offer though is the least expensive combo ExpressCard model on the market. The SD-EXPC24-2U1F packs in two FireWire 400 and one USB 2.0 ports into a slender ExpressCard/34 design that will work in any size ExpressCard slot. No video editing software is included with the card at all. In fact, support is very limited for the card and it is generally recommended to spend a bit more for better product support and compatibility.
