Thinkpads Forum

I ordered a T61 with the CardReader option in place of the ExpressCard slot. I 'm thinking I've made a mistake. All I really need is to read is SD cards. Aren't there ExpressCard / PC Card adapters that can do this? I don't have any ExpressCard devices but do have a bunch of SD cards, so I made a snap decision, but maybe not best for the long term.

My order is schedule to ship Aug 11 but I don't know I could change it even if I decided to.

Update: 14.1" Screen version

Answered here. ExpressCard seems the more logical option as it gives you greater expandability options in the future, including SD readers.

-- Nathan

Thanks for the info. Can I change my order or is it too late? I ordered via the web and don't see any way to to change it on the lenovo.com website.

I could be mistaken here, but my thinking was that the card reader was merely an expresscard adapter.

Carlton Bale wrote:Thanks for the info. Can I change my order or is it too late? I ordered via the web and don't see any way to to change it on the lenovo.com website.

You probably should try calling 'em.

kelchm wrote:I could be mistaken here, but my thinking was that the card reader was merely an expresscard adapter.

I was thinking/hoping that might be the case, too, but from everything I've read it sounds like the Media Card reader is actually built-in/molded into the casing plastic in the space where the ExpressCard slot would be.

If it were a separate ExpressCard adapter, why wouldn't they just sell you an ExpressCard SD reader as an accessory while you're checking out?

However, it seems to me that implementing the Media Card reader this way would be an incredibly moronic thing for them to do. I mean, why would they sacrifice the ExpressCard slot instead of the CardBus slot to do this? There are already laptops on the market from other vendors that have only one expansion slot, and it is ExpressCard; CardBus has already been dumped. Maybe they figure that most business users have legacy CardBus cards that they are not ready to dump?

This is also why I asked if someone knew where one might find a picture of a T61 14" with the Media Card option; I want to be able to confirm or deny the possibility that it is built-in vs. being an actual card.

-- Nathan

My GUESS is that it uses the internal ExpressCard connector, but that it is not removable (is part of the cover.) So I'd probably actually be getting more hardware for the same cost, but I'd lose the flexibility of removing the card reader and using some other type of ExpressCard device.

I'm going to call to see if can change to an ExpressCard slot. It will cost me an additional $30 or so to get an ExpressCard to Card Reader adapter, but it would give me the flexibility. If I can't change it, I guess I'll at least be able to report what it looks like.

I'm also thinking about ditching the upgrade from a 60GB -> 100GB and put the $60 toward a Hitachi Travelstar 7K200 200GB.

I just got my T61p, and I have a cardbus slot, express card slot, and multi-card slot. The multi- slot is, at least in the 6465 type, a totally separate device that does not take up the cardbus or expresscard slots. I remember on my order status page, the multi- reader did not show up (since its an unchangable part of the 6465 type config)... so I suggest you check your type and see if it is common to all units of that type. If so, dont worry about it.

I ordered a 14.1" ThinkPad T61. It was definitely one or other on the configuration page. I"ve been on hold for 20 minutes waiting to talk to a rep about changing. . .

22 minutes on hold, 1 minute taking to the rep, order changed to omit media card reader. He confirmed that the media card reader is not removable. Thanks everyone for the info!

medevilenemy wrote:I just got my T61p, and I have a cardbus slot, express card slot, and multi-card slot.

The difference is that you bought a T61p, which only comes in the 15.4" variety. All 15" WS T61s have the Media Card reader standard and built into the FRONT of the unit. 14" WS T61s didn't have room for a Media Card reader in the front, so Lenovo made it an "either/or" option (either ExpressCard or Media Card reader) on all 14" WS models (don't know about 14" 4:3) and put the reader on the SIDE where the ExpressCard slot would be.

-- Nathan

Actually, no, I didn't get a T61p -- I didnt mean to write that. Mine is a T61 type 6465-CTO. I do have the media card reader on the front. I wasn't aware that the OP was referring to the 14" model. Sorry for the confusion.

Carlton Bale wrote:My GUESS is that it uses the internal ExpressCard connector, but that it is not removable (is part of the cover.)

I think I *might* have actually found a picture of a 14" T61 with the card reader on it. It seems to me that it is undoubtedly using the ExpressCard bus internally, but is not connecting via the ExpressCard SLOT; there is probably a separate card housing with only one CardBus slot and the reader integrated into it. The reader looks like it is on the BOTTOM slot (where the CardBus slot would normally be) and the CardBus slot is on TOP with a single eject button (where the ExpressCard slot would normally be). So the fact that they flip-flopped would suggest that there is actually no true ExpressCard "port" behind all the plastic:

see here for picture

-- Nathan

I'm trying to figure out what my new T61 is configured for. It's a 7663 -2EU, 14" widescreen. IIRC, the specs call out a 4 in 1 card reader, but I can't figure out how or where.

I've got two slots. The top slot does accept (and eject) a traditional PCMCIA card. The bottom "slot" is very thin, I can't tell if it's a dummy.

Photo: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4735 ... 751cm6.jpg

It would be great to have a card reader so I don't have to pull out my various readers for different cameras.

I've also got a RICOH driver that loads (RICOH R/RL/5C476(II) ) whenever the machine powers up.

Am I missing something? Do I need to purchase another "card" to utilize this feature?

Thanks.

The choices are:

1) Express card slot
Probably the most useful for consumers.

2) Media card slot
If you have many SD cards or Sony crap.

3) Smart card slot
Secure login with special cards. Business users like them, I guess.

Yours is a smart card slot. Good luck with it... How come its new yet you don't know how its configured? Did it fall off a truck?

Volker wrote:
Yours is a smart card slot. Good luck with it... How come its new yet you don't know how its configured? Did it fall off a truck?

It was a panic purchase due to the failure of my other work machine. We only had two choices: a T61 or a Dell laptop.

The machine showed up, we have no input whatsoever on configuration.

So, I'm stuck with this Smart Card slot? Any alternatives?

uberT wrote:I'm trying to figure out what my new T61 is configured for. It's a 7663 -2EU, 14" widescreen. IIRC, the specs call out a 4 in 1 card reader, but I can't figure out how or where.

I've got two slots. The top slot does accept (and eject) a traditional PCMCIA card. The bottom "slot" is very thin, I can't tell if it's a dummy.

Photo: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4735 ... 751cm6.jpg

It would be great to have a card reader so I don't have to pull out my various readers for different cameras.

I've also got a RICOH driver that loads (RICOH R/RL/5C476(II) ) whenever the machine powers up.

Am I missing something? Do I need to purchase another "card" to utilize this feature?

Thanks.

Guys, can I ask about this again? I'd like to be able to read SD cards (at a minimum) on my T61. See picture referenced in quote above.

Can I buy one of those PCMCIA cards that accepts an SD card and stick it in this slot? I've never had a clear understanding of what the Ricoh 4-in-1 card reader is. Thanks for any suggestions.