[molow]

I know that is a slot for TiBook call PCMCIA, what external hardware can I add to my computer? and is there any benifit by using this PCMCIA slot? Help please!!

[jwblase]

you could add PCMCIA hard drives, adapters, 2nd firewire devices...

I think the most usefulness out of a PCMCIA slot on a PowerBook would probably be the power savings, but I could just be blowing smoke here.

Afterall, with a full USB, monitor, DVI, and FW ports, who needs a PCMCIA slot?

JB

[Cellery]

I use the following stuff in my PCMCIA slot on my TiBook:

• Kingston 2GB PC Card Hard Drive for quick backups and file transfers
• Memory Stick adapter for quick digital photo importing
• Compact Flash adapter for transferring files to a PocketPC
• Cisco Aironet 340 802.11b card for better AirPort reception

The slot's become less useful as Apple's integrated new things into the PowerBooks, but there's still some good uses for it.

[molow]

Thank you for your suggestions, at least I know there are some uses for this slot.

Cellery: You indicated that you use this for compact Flash adapter, do you need any special software? Or does the software come with the adapter! Is it faster and easier than the USB Jumpshot to transfer my digital photo into the computer? Thanks!

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

I just leave a Smart Media adaptor in my TiBook/550 as sort of a semi-permanent removable storage drive between several other portables, digital cams, etc. I use the eject button on the adaptor to eject the Smart Media cards, rather than eject the whole PC card itself. With card adaptors in virtually every machine I use, it's often just the fastest way to transfer a file really fast as well as exchange files with others.


I thought this setup was pretty cool before using OSX... imagine my surprise when putting a Smart Media card in my TiBook for the first time... watching Image Capture launch automatically, presenting me with the option of previewing on the fly all the images on the card, downloading any or all of them, all with a single action. Image capture even lets me set up a sequence of events upon insert of a SM card... launch Image Capture, select photos or DL all- open iView Pro (still my favorite image manager) and create a new Photo archive... all in one step! Very cool!

For this reason alone, I find it far preferable than futzing with various USB card readers I own. (Drivers for the Jumpshot and Photochute readers I have... do they even exist for OSX?) I honestly don't know.

Also now and then I use the PCMCIA slot with a Compact Flash media adaptor. With CF memory these days down to $40 for 256megs it's a pretty decent storage alternative between my laptop and various cameras, other laptops, WinCE devices I use, etc.

Nope you don't need any special software for most any PC Card storage device. Formatting can be a slight issue though, depending on what you use the cards with. I keep all my cards DOS formatted for compatibility between all my devices.

Personally, I'd hate to do without a PCMCIA slot.

[molow]

Thanks for all the info. It is very useful, and I'll get an adapter for the Ti Book.