Gotcha: Where's My PC Card Slot?

The ExpressCard slot--a new standard as of 2003--replaces the PC Card slot but doesn't accommodate current PC Cards.

Tom Mainelli

Technology is always on the move--and sometimes it moves faster than we'd like. Recently, with the arrival of the ExpressCard slot, some unsuspecting notebook buyers have experienced that phenomenon first-hand. Based on a standard announced in 2003, the ExpressCard slot replaces today's PC Card slot, improving performance and using thinner, lighter cards. Unfortunately, it can't support today's PC Cards.

What does that fact mean to you? If your new notebook has only an ExpressCard slot, you'll have to replace all of your existing PC Card-based hardware--such as Wi-Fi cards, memory card readers, and port adapters. Otherwise, if you're in the market for a new notebook and need a standard PC Card slot, you can still find a unit that offers both slot types.