Sager 8150 expresscard slot?

Sager didn't mention anything about 34/54 expresscard slot in the 8150 line. XoticPC there listed out 1 expresscard slot, so which is true?

From the pictures given at sager site, i can't really find the expresscard slot...

 

Hi, the 8150 / P150HM doesn't have an ExpressCard slot.

 

It doesn't?? Which model does?

Nooo my X-Fi Soundcard

 

I don't think any of the current models have an ExpressCard slot. The 8120 / X8100 had one but was replaced with two USB 3.0 ports. The 7280 / X7200, 8150 / P150HM, 8130 / P150HM1 & 8170 / P170HM don't have one.

 

huh, XoticPC is misleading people then.

Expresscard is very very important, how can it be abandoned...
USB 3.0 is not everything.

 

Same thing happened with the MSI CT680R listed on XoticPC. I inquired in the forums there and it's been changed.

I too am struggling to find a new laptop with an Expresscard slot and it seems all the new models are doing without it. I really hope the technology isn't abandoned!

 

Same ExpressCard slot will be missing from the M17x-R3.

It is made on purpose so that you will not try to run the laptop with external cards, the way Vidock and DIY-Vidock do.

This one of the most hostile moves from the laptop manufacturers against their customers.

Combined with the MXM 3.0b useless change this missing ExpressCard port shows their long term attitude towards the future: milking your money every other year for a new 2.5k+ laptop.

 

wifi slot is still available for a mPCie-based DIY ViDock. Not as convenient, but still an option.

Intel have also locked down x2/x4 link width to be only settable via the flash descriptor. Had they not done that then could do a x2 2.0 *ViDock with the right port layout.

Does look like OEMs are not overly pleased with the *ViDock giving a gpu upgrade option to notebooks.

Business notebooks by Lenovo/HP/Dell are still going to be equipped with expresscard slots. If NVidia keep their x1.Opt driver unlocked then maybe folks will consider a business notebook + *ViDock rather than a gaming notebook?

 

lol at oems not liking the vidock, that makes me infuriated to no bounds. What kinda incidious control freak of lifes can cause this to happen lol. ahh! Pisses me off very well good indeed but I can see how it effects sager/clevo and other e-tailers that branch off of them still there is no reason ViDocks shouldnt come standard with all laptops for god sakes.

 

It really is a shame. I did notice this, as Xotic didn't offer an expresscard soundcard as an upgrade as they did on previous models. As far as you guys know, was there any technical reason not to include an EC slot, like a limit of available space, or was it just a money saving technique?

 

There is no technical reason, there is no space problem and it is not a money saving technique but rather a money grabbing technique.

 

A possible workaround for this may be to buy a USB to ExpressCard adapter. Plugs into USB, provides a gizmo/port in which you can insert a 34mm Expresscard.

I haven't tried this(don't need it yet), but I was poking around on ebay looking for a solution to this problem, as I'll probably be in the market for a new SandyBridge laptop when the finally come out.

 

That will give you only the USB component of an expresscard slot. You won't get the pci-e pins, so can't add USB 3.0, e-sata or DIY ViDock that way.

 

Ok, didn't know that(!)

I'd then wonder if the ViDock type manufacturers will cobble up something that would work off of a USB 3.0 port. Surely 3.0 would have enough bandwidth to get the job done(?) Might have to have a bit of additional power, but that shouldn't be a problem, either.

Comments??????

 

USB 3.0 is not as thoroughput as the Expresscard, or the PCI-e interface.

Using it as a ViDock may not be ideal.. For one thing, a ViDock must have steady I/O, and USB interface cannot satisfy that condition.

 

Hey guys, it gets worse! I was ready to jump on a Sager 8150/70. I checked with them and the local eSATA port won't support PORT MULTIPLIER function (even my current SIIG Express Card does that) so my investment in Thermaltake Duet docks is 1/2 wasted (3/4 I guess since I can now only use one). And I was considering an Addonics 5-1 eSATA expander. I like my CP Tech CP-E305 hard drive cases which work great on eSATA -- why obsolete all of this this by going backwards to lowest common denominator: USB 2.0.... what's really the point of USB 3.0? It is just cutting us off at the knees forcing upgrades to everything else outside the main unit

 

I don't understand why when the Sandy Bridge chipset supports 6 SATA ports (2 x SATA III and 4 x SATA II): even on the 8170, only 3 of the ports are used by the internal drives which leaves 3 SATA II ports free.

Why would Clevo not allow access to at least two of them via the eSATA connector? If the ports are available on the chipset, what is preventing them from being used? Is it a BIOS thing?

Regarding the ExpressCard slot, I guess that's all going to become irrelevant with the advent of intel's Thunderbolt/Light Peak interface.

I started a thread asking about eSATA Port Multiplier on Sandy Bridge Clevos here.