Thinkpads Forum

If I understand correctly, the x61 tablet has a PCMCIA card slot. But it sounds like many laptops are being switched over to Express Card slots instead as the next wave of technology is introduced.

Is there much functionality that we are missing on these x61 models as a result of not have the Express Card capabilities?

I thought I also read somewhere in the specs that there might be some PCMCIA functionality on these that could support Express Card functions, but not sure if I was reading that correctly.

Also, since the Express Card is smaller, is there any way that one could use an 'adapter' in the PCMCIA slot to convert it into an Express Card, or would it not have the access electronically to the system that would make it function fully?

X61 (including tablet) has a CardBus (effectively 32-bit PCMCIA) slot, and it also includes an ExpressCard/34 adapter that allows you to plug in an ExpressCard/34 into the same slot. (The physically larger ExpressCard/54 is not possible, though.)

Thanks for this info. What are the differences between the 2 types of express cards and what they can do? And are the devices being introduced primarily for one of those express card types vs. the other?

There is no functionality difference per se, just the size difference. ExpressCard/34 is probably more common as that's all the MacBooks will accept. ExpressCard/54 slots will accept both types of cards -- and an ExpressCard/54 card is large enough, for example, to accept a CF card without it jutting out of the slot.

FWIW, has anyone received an X61 with an adapter? I didn't get one with mine, and when I asked support guy, he just changed the subject (I had other, bigger issues to deal with). Just interested...

Wow - thoroughly confused. I thought that most PCMCIA card slots could support EITHER ExpressCard/54 OR ExpressCard/34.

I ordered a X61s and also plan on buying the new MoGo mouse when it comes out.

http://www.newtonperipherals.com/mogo_mouseX54pro.html

I was under the assumption that it would fit into the X61s cardslot - am I mistaken on this??

after further research - the X61T SHOULD have both Expresscard 54 and 34 capability.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8272 ... ot1gh5.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3063/s ... ot2gr1.jpg

Notice second picture - it specifically lists the two.

I don't think there is a big size difference between PCMCIA and Express 54. By the looks of it, the PCMCIA card and an Express 54 card are the same width, but the Express 54 is a bit shorter. So if the X61T can accomodate a PCMCIA card and Express 34 (which it says in the first picture), it should be able to accomodate an Express 54 card too. This is all my observation and rationalization, but see picture below.

The Express 54 and the 34 section that connects to the board are exactly the same width (34mm). The Express 54 card just gets wider about halfway out, where it is the exact same width as the PCMCIA card.



But this shouldn't matter..since picture two says it should be fine for both 54 and 34...truly confusing.

I started a thread on notebook review forum too to try and get an answer to this - link below if you're interested.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthr ... ?p=2207205

Mod edit: turned x-large images into links

tomh009 wrote:X61 (including tablet) has a CardBus (effectively 32-bit PCMCIA) slot, and it also includes an ExpressCard/34 adapter that allows you to plug in an ExpressCard/34 into the same slot. (The physically larger ExpressCard/54 is not possible, though.)

Were these adapters included with the X61's? I never received one, I have see na couple third party manufacturers that sell PCMCIA to Expresscard 34 adapters. I tried to insert an expresscard into my PCMCIA card slot and it did not work, its too short

My x61 did not come with an adaptor either, and yes i have tried sticking an express card in as well.

No such adapter received with my X61t I received three weeks ago either.

There is a difference between ExpressCard and PCMCIA, so the adapter probably only lets you use USB ExpressCards.

As I understand it, ExpressCard can either use a USB or PCI-Express interface, whereas the PCMCIA only goes through the PCI interface. This means there is a significant difference in bandwidth between the two different types of cards.

So for example, you won't be able to use one of the upcoming external video cards that goes into an ExpressCard slot, because the adapter will only support the USB interface, and not the PCI-Express interface.

Anyhow, I hope someone who knows this better can confirm or deny this.

Wikipedia wrote:The host device supports both PCI Express and USB 2.0 connectivity through the ExpressCard slot, and each card uses whichever the designer feels most appropriate to the task

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpressCard

If it supports express card, then it needs also PCIe. And according to tabook.pdf, the x61 supports express card.

So do you know If I could use such a UMTS/HSDPA-ExpressCard with my X61T?
And if yes, which adapter I would need to do so.

There are converters comming out.
They aren't fully expresscard compatible. They just mimic the USB compatability part.

One example

http://sewelldirect.com/Duel-Systems-Du ... dapter.asp

ExpressCard Compatibility: All standard USB electrical interface ExpressCards, Cellular broadband cards, Memory cards, Modem cards, 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN cards

So basically all low bandwith devices that would normally work on a Cardbus slot.

broman wrote:So do you know If I could use such a UMTS/HSDPA-ExpressCard with my X61T?
And if yes, which adapter I would need to do so.

That should work just fine.

BTW, you should wait a few months, all the cards will soon be released with HSUPA also, the two will be thrown together as HSPA. Sony ericsson's pc300 card is just launching and is a great piece of equipment. (believe me I work for SEMC and I've put that card through HELL)

Thanks a lot mgags7 and mrgetalife!

I was a bit confused, cause the only adapter I found was that. And there it is written the exactly opposite which type of express cards can be used and which not:

The PCMCIA adapter to Express Card enables you to use Express Cards 34mm. Just insert the adapter into your standard PCMCIA slot and upgrade your notebook with the latest Express Card standard. Thus you can expand your notebook by additional ports, e.g. USB, SATA or FireWire, etc.

Please note that the PCMCIA adapter to Express Card is not suitable for UMTS cards !

But the information of sewell definitely makes more sense if only USB and no PCI Express is available for the card.

broman wrote:So do you know If I could use such a UMTS/HSDPA-ExpressCard with my X61T?
And if yes, which adapter I would need to do so.

Novatel makes a HSDPA/UTMS ExpressCard and a PCMCIA adapter that can be used with it.

Merlin XU870 3G HSDPA 3.6/7.2 Mbps ExpressCard

Novatel Wireless XCA-3 ExpressCard to PC Card Adapter

Page with Novatel products

Note the caveat regarding the Novatel Wireless XCA-3 ExpressCard to PC Card Adapter: This product is only compatible with Novatel Wireless Products

The one thing about this I *really* don't like is that Lenovo has been intentionally vague on this.