ExpressCard (2003 – early 2010s) | Museum of Obsolete Media (original) (raw)
ExpressCard was primarily a format for adding expansion capabilities to high-end laptops, and replaced the PCMCIA/PC Card and CardBus standards.
It was introduced by the PCMCIA Association, in association with a number of computer manufacturers that supported the standard, and reduced the number of pins from 68 to just 26.
Two different form factors were available. ExpressCard/34 was the more common one and was much smaller that the PCMCIA/PC Card. This form factor was also used by SxS cards, which can be used in ExpressCard slots with a Sony device driver.
The larger card, ExpressCard/54, was in the form of an L-shape and was wider. ExpressCard/34 cards could be used in an ExpressCard/54 slot.
ExpressCards could be used to expand laptops by adding, for example, solid-state drives, additional FireWire or USB connectors, mobile broadband modems, wireless network adaptors or TV tuners.
The PCMCIA Association was disbanded in 2009, and ExpressCard slots died out in laptops in the early 2010s. Many of the devices that could be connected via an ExpressCard slot could be connected via USB ports.
Figures
Dimensions:
ExpressCard/34 75mm × 34 mm × 5 mm
ExpressCard/54 75 mm × 54 mm × 5 mm
Both card may be larger if they include connectors or antennae that stand proud of the ExpressCard slot.