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MacBook Pro Q&A - Updated November 15, 2008
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Are ExpressCard/34 media card readers available for the MacBook Pro?
Readers not already familiar with the ExpressCard/34 standard may first wish to read the answers to:
- What is ExpressCard/34? Is it compatible with PC Cards?
- What is the difference between ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54? Speed?
Although a number of Windows laptops have integrated media card readers, Apple does not include one in the MacBook Pro models. Fortunately, yes, it is possible to add a media card reader or adapter via the ExpressCard/34 slot.
ExpressCard.org (no longer online) originally listed eight ExpressCard/34 media card readers and from digging through the applicable websites, it appeared that there was initially at least one compatible with the MacBook Pro.
Perhaps the first compatible with the Mac on the market, ATech Flash Technology introduced the PROExpress-7 (no longer available), an "ExpressCard[/34] 7 in 1 Media Card Reader" that supports with "Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD-Picture Card, xD-Picture Card Type H, and xD-Picture Card Type M" media cards. It can be used with MacOS X 10.4 or later as well as Windows XP.
Regarding support of CompactFlash, on January 13, 2006, the always excellent Rob Galbraith noted that:
It's not possible to create an ExpressCard/34 version of [a Cardbus CompactFlash adapter] that would hold a CompactFlash card entirely inside the slot, since CompactFlash cards are a bit more than 40mm wide. We may see an ExpressCard adapter in which the CompactFlash card inserts into a reader housing outside the slot. . . But at that point it may well be more convenient to use an external FireWire or USB 2.0 card reader.
Sure enough, on September 22, 2006, a company called Delkin introduced (archived PR) the "world's first" ExpressCard/34 CompactFlash adapter -- and it has the housing outside the slot. It works in both ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 slots and is compatible with MacOS X 10.4 and higher as well as Windows XP (no longer available).
Since that time, other companies -- including APIOTek, MacAlly, and Sonnet -- have released ExpressCard/34 Media Readers compatible with the MacBook Pro. Site sponsor Other World Computing has a variety of compatible products available for sale.
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