Buffalo outs USB 3.0 ExpressCard adapter, we see a trend coming

After our adventure in figuring out the particular ExpressCard version of the StarTech USB 3.0 adapter, here's Buffalo joining the fray and, naturally, there's zero indication about whether this is an ExpressCard 1.0 or 2.0 device. The difference is that with the latter you can get all the way up to 5Gbps theoretical throughput, which is just above the USB 3.0 max rating of 4.8Gbps (typically advertised as 5Gbps), whereas the former hardware will get you only up to 2.5Gbps. Considering there's a pair of USB SuperSpeed ports on there, you'll want to make doubly sure you're getting what you think you are. Or, given that early bird UK e-tailers are listing it for £35 ($57; no stock yet), you could just order one up and pray to Cthulhu that you get the maximally awesome stuff.

[Vylen Posted Dec 9th 2009 4:31AM]

I'm more partial towards praying to the Flying Spaghetti Monster myself...

[Outsider Posted Dec 9th 2009 4:44AM]

@Vylen
that is a great religion.

[toneh Posted Dec 9th 2009 4:47AM]

@Vylen i prefer cookie monster, but thats just me..

[kobachi Posted Dec 9th 2009 4:58AM]

Can we get this without the godawful black plastic brick? Reminds me of 1998 all over again =(

[UnsilentMajority Posted Dec 9th 2009 5:09AM]

Meh, more junk to carry. I am going to try real hard to ignore USB 3.0 until I have a full suite of peripherals to boot. I think by that time we should have a full set of USB3 ports in laptops. Chicken and egg here we come.

[KosherTelephone Posted Dec 9th 2009 5:52AM]

On the subject of ExpressCard slots, does anyone know if the 2009 17" Macbook Pro has ExpressCard 1.0 or 2.0?

[TGrant Posted Dec 9th 2009 6:45AM]

We want more USB ports, is that too hard to ask for?

[Information Central Posted Dec 9th 2009 7:21AM]

Too bad that three fourths of Apple's laptops (including the only ones you'd actually want to take anywhere) can't benefit from this or any other new high-speed I/O, thanks to their craptastic lack of ExpressCard slots.

[mbushnell Posted Dec 9th 2009 7:56AM]

I had the USB 2.0 version of this back when USB 2.0 was new. I hope that this thing works better than the one I had, because it sucked.

[pencilmind Posted Dec 9th 2009 9:39AM]

take $4.99 empty wine bottle.
scrape around the neck of it using your Holocaust-surviving great grandmother's $9,586 diamond ring.
break wine bottle in half.

ta-daa!

BOTTLENECK!!!

[Bowsa Posted Dec 9th 2009 3:43PM]

@pencilmind

They gave out rings during the holocaust!?

[kopmis Posted Dec 9th 2009 10:29AM]

Hmm... They should make a new ExpressCard standard thats directly connected to the processor northbridge, so that you can have exchangeable graphic cards for your laptop, PCI style.

[ammorsy Posted Dec 9th 2009 10:54AM]

Does my unibody Macbook pro 17 (late 2009) have ExpressCard 1.0 or 2.0 ?

[ferank Posted Dec 9th 2009 12:53PM]

Lulz, good thing apple got rid of those useless antiquated express card slots on their macbooks. Now you get to buy a new super awesome macbook next year to enjoy the USB 3.0.

[daewootech Posted Dec 9th 2009 4:14PM]

finally a use for the useless expresscard ports on my laptops??? maybe if the price goes down and they don't have that ugly dongle crap hanging out of the laptop, seriously, if network and Ethernet pcmcia cards could be flush with a pop out connector or a small adapter, why cant they do it today? theres no reason they couldn't have just switched to the 54 standard and wedged a pop out connector in there or adapter cable.

Im still waiting for a viable, logical use of my expresscard ports that doesnt require some crap hanging out of my laptop waiting to be bent or broken...

[sirthought Posted Dec 10th 2009 5:24AM]

Hey Engadget, are there any USB 3.0 peripherals?
I'm specifically interested in things for pro audio/studio recording.