Changing ExpressCard to PCMCIA

I'm very disappointed that my e1505 doesn't have a pcmcia slot for a tv tuner that I just purchased. I was wondering if it will work if i put the pcmcia from a several months old 6400 into my e1505. Considering that these two are basically the same model, I think it will work; however, will my e1505 recognize the pcmcia slot? Also, if I take out the harddrive from my e1505 and put it in the 6400's harddrive bay will it work?

Need some help. Any will be appreciated

 

Sometimes I just don't get it.

Isn't this the kind of question you should have asked before you purchased a E1505 or atleast bought a USB/Dell TV tuner?

 

the answer is no.

but if you try, please videotape it.

 

Yeah really. Even if you just bought the thing why would you want to replace your ExpressCard moduel with a PCMCIA one? Thats like replacing an PCI-E motherboard with an AGP one, just stupid. If you didnt know PCMCIA is being phased out and ExpressCard is whats going to become more widely supported in the near future. And like Hiker said, why wouldnt you have checked before buying the tuner?

 

Ha ha, yeah please video tape it. I would love to see someone screw up a new system like that. Then when he calls Dell crying they'll say he just voided his warranty.

 

The only Express type tv tuner card is offered by HP - it'll set you back around US$170-180

 

not really, i have the accidental damage protection. the worst case scenario is to smash the **** thing and say it fell from my balcony.

 

ok pcmcia is being phased out, but i did a search for any expresscard modules and i did not find a **** thing. this is similar to buying a 64bit processor right now that wont allow you to run 32 bit. i did not want the tuner in the first place , but i decided to get it after seeing how inexpensive it was (25 dollars). i purchased the tuner thinking that the laptop would have a pcmcia and not a expresscard. actually, there is no regret for purchasing the card because i can use it on the 6400. im just wondering if it would work if i swap the express card slot and the pcmcia slot. it looks feasible after looking at the e1505's manual on dells website, but my main concern is will my system pick up the pcmcia.

if you think youre smart and youre here to bash people then leave. i politely requested help and all you have given me is a rant. oh and by the way, if you think youre smart, good for you because there are other people just as smart as, if not smarter than, you.

 

You could consider a USB based tuner if you need one for the e1505. As far as your harddrive question: as long as they are both 2.5 inch SATA drives you can switch them; you would likely have to format though.

 

USB tuner is probably the best option.

the reason there is no PCMCIA but there is expressport is because expressport is the new standard for mobile cards that is just being phased in. So e1505 is 'futureproof' in that sense, but unfortunately since expressport is so new there aren't many expressport devices available.

 

Swapping an PCMCIA controller for Exrpesscard controller is not possible.

Are you sure you have an Inspiron 6400 with a PCMCIA slot? I am typing this post on an I6400 and it has an Express Card slot. The previous generation Inspiron 6000 had an PCMCIA slot.

 

Umm, not trying to be a jerk or piss you off or anything, but 32-bit apps and OS' run fine on a 64-bit chip. That's how you can get computers with Pentium Ds and Athlon 64s that don't run XP x64.

As far as the whole Express Card thing, it does suck that there's not that many Express Card peripherals right now. On the other hand, if the E1505 had a PCMIA and a year from now you were having a hard time finding good peripherals for that, you'd be more screwed than you are now. Right now you can just sit and wait, but nothing turns back the hands of time or technology.

 

Welcome to the club. The only difference for me is that I bought the pcmcia TV tuner BEFORE buying the S73G.

Don't feel despair though; there may be light at the end of the tunnel. I heard from a friend who claimed he saw a pci-express to pcmcia converter available somewhere. Being in Hong Kong we get these weird but wonderful "Made in China" gadgets. But don't get your hopes too high, sometimes these "Made in China" gadgets are scams - they do not work as advertised.

I'll keep you informed if I find it...

PS. Try searching this HK mail order website. They have lots and lots of weird and wacky gadgets. One of them was my favorite...a telescopic lens for the camera of your Nokia phone that can do up to 6x zoom...

http://shop.brando.com.hk/

 

i know 32 bit can run perfectly on 64. maybe if you think about what i said you wouldnt need to post that. having a 64 computer that cant run 32 means you can only run 64 bit apps. since there arent many 64 bit apps out there, youre screwd, just like having expresscard without any expresscard modules out there.

 

The thing is that 64-bit systems also support 32-bit programs, so once again, your analogy is still incorrect. The one I said before is better for this arguement. Replacing an ExpressCard module with a PCMCIA is like replacing a PCI-E motherboard with an AGP one. Its old technology. So once again what your asking to do is impossible. If you want a tuner for your 1505 you can either get a USB one now or wait 6 months or so for ExpressCard ones to become avalable.

 

Try to read carefully guys/gals...
The original poster didn't say 64-bit system can't run 32-bit programs. What he/she said is not being able to use PCMCIA card on an expresscard slot is like not being able to use 32bit apps on a 64bit system....

 

i was not happy with the expresscard slot either on my e1505.

i would be happy with a pcmcia slot, especially if they are being phased out cause that means there is gonna be alot of cheap equipment out there.

by the time expresscard is up to speed im sure my laptop will be nearly outdated...

and despite expresscard claims, i seriously doubt expresscards will be cheaper

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...01-1208&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&CMP=OTC-GOOGLEBASE

i just found this. it looks pretty nice and im assuming it should work, considering that it is usb. thanks for the usb recommendation.

 

I just read that USB PCMCIA adaptors are actually available. I don't know how compatable they are with the wide variety of cards out there

http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u132.php

 

I guess you didn't read my earlier post

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...roduct_code=EP323AA#ABA&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

Holy Moly! That's expensive!!

 

Interesting thought there, kguo7, on the card cage swap. If the card cages were plug compatible, the next hurdle would be if there were hooks in the 1705 BIOS for the PCMCIA cage.

I knew we were going to be in a lurch with the ExpressCard but was hoping SoundBlaster or others would get off their butts and get moving on this. I'm sure Dell is taking some heat on the lack of cards.

 

I did. That thing is 180 dollars....

 

Wait - your link leads to an ExpressCard, which has nothing to do with mine. The one I posted is a link to a USB PC Card Reader!

 

I was replying to kguo - look at that original post!

 

Seriously dude, chill out.

 

well did a quick search and found this:
http://sewelldirect.com/U-111-USB-to-PCMCIA-Adapter-16-Bit.asp
Well its a crazy price, but if you search harder you might find something much more a afforadable. Anyway, its good to know things like this exist at least.

 

i'm thankful for this post i was about 3 days from ordering a acer tv tuner PCMCIA card but i didnt know about the express port (hey, its my first laptop)

but isn't usb supposedly not as good? i want to be able to play my gamecube once in a while as well, and i heard that the usb ones had 2-3 second time delays.

 

Right, USB2 ones are not great for gaming.

 

for video games,

i would suggest you just grab a widescreen monitor from Dell, i have a 2007wfp that i use as my primary when the laptop is at home. it has multiple inputs so i could plug in the laptop, and hit a switch to have it go to a gamecube.

 

well the only reason i wanted a tv tuner was so that i dont have to lug a extra tv/monitor up to college. i wasn't really that concern with the quality, as long as it plays decently, i would of been set.