The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Express card is an update to the older PCMCIA. Companies have express card sound cards, video card adapters (plug in the express card and it connects to an external video card which plugs in to an external monitor), and other various things.
And, courtesy of Google:
A smart card contains more information than a magnetic stripe card and it can be programmed for different applications. Some cards can contain programming and data to support multiple applications and some can be updated to add new applications after they are issued. Smart cards can be designed to be inserted into a slot and read by a special reader or to be read at a distance, such as at a toll booth. Cards can be disposable (as at a trade-show) or reloadable (for most applications).
Smart cards died with WebTV (now called MSNTV lol). Why get a card slot when you can just enter your credit card information? Get the expresscard slot for system upgrades like Wi-Fi N, eSATA ports, more USB2 ports, etc.
Yes, I agree. I'd get the express card slot unless your work specifically requires the use of a smart card (in which case, you can always get a USB smart card reader and use it for work-only stuff).
I have a follow-up question, as I'm looking at buying a new notebook. The only card slot I need is for compact flash. Is that a type of express card or smart card slot, or neither?
It is neither, but you can get an express card CF card reader. There are also firewire and USB CF readers available. I have never seen a notebook with a built-in CF card reader.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
