SIIG rolls out USB-to-ExpressCard adapter

We know how it is to finally break down and buy an SSD, multicard reader, HSDPA modem, or an entire expansion dock just to have something filling the void in your ExpressCard slot, only to find a superior alternative the next week. Fret not, as SIIG has rolled out a handy new solution to your "too many ExpressCard gizmos, not enough slots" quandary with the JU-000012-S1 USB-to-ExpressCard adapter. As the title implies, this here adapter simply enables any USB 2.0 port on your lappie or desktop to play nice with an ExpressCard, boasts a maximum transfer rate of 480Mbps, supports hot swapping, and works on nearly every edition of Windows and OS X 10.3+ sans a driver. The only real dig here is that it's only compatible with USB-based ExpressCard devices, meaning PCI-Express based cards won't function via this device. Nevertheless, you can start cramming more ExpressCards than you ever imagined into your machine right now for about $32 per adapter.

[Via EverythingUSB]

[Coffeedragon @ May 18th 2007 3:22PM]

How can you tell USB EC's from PCI-E EC's? I've been looking for a USB to EC solution for a while but they are all so stinking expensive. At $32 this would be worth picking up.

[John Stracke @ May 18th 2007 3:49PM]

Oh. It's a USB hub. I'm so impressed.

[tekdroid @ May 18th 2007 8:44PM]

i got confused at the USB-based and PCI-E-based talk, too.

[Adam @ May 18th 2007 10:53PM]

I would think the data cards are PCI based, not USB based. So I would doubt this would work with any type of wireless data card.

[BigReg @ May 19th 2007 8:40AM]

Actually every consumer level data card that I've heard of (EVDO/EDGE/HSDPA/etc) and owned (Novatel Merlin 630 EVDO on Verizon and my Novatel Merlin XU 870 HSDPA ExpressCard/34) are indeed USB based.

[Lewis @ May 21st 2007 10:52PM]

We have this on up over at Sewell Direct, though I don't know where those guys are getting the $32 price point. Maybe we're getting our SIIG stuff through the wrong channels. To answer some questions, though:

1) They supposedly do work with most WWAN cards - our tech guys have been playing with this thing and found surprisingly pleasing compatibility levels.
2) I have no idea how to tell what ExpressCards are "USB based," but I think it pretty much implies that any ExpressCard with technology "inferior" to USB (Classic I/O interfaces like Serial/Parallel).

Here it is on our retail site:
http://sewelldirect.com/SIIG-USB-to-ExpressCard-Card-Adapter.asp
And here's SIIG's official page for it:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?pid=1131

I was surprised there wasn't a lot of hype out for this thing, though. It seems like our tech-greedy customer base was just screaming for the USB to PCMCIA adapter that came out and the recently released ExpressCard to PCMCIA adapter.