Customer Reviews

ExpressCard to PC Card Adapter

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been using it for months with my 16GB Panasonic P2 card and Macbook Pro. Never a glitch. You have to remember to disconnect the Duel from the laptop only when you're done. If you try to reconnect without rebooting the computer, it won't mount (and on a Mac you might get the spinning beach ball of death). However, you CAN remove the P2 card from the Duel (leaving the Duel attached to the computer) and then re-insert the P2 card later (perhaps after shooting more footage) and the card will mount. There is no solid "click" connection between my Macbook Pro slot and Duel, which is a minor annoyance, but I don't know if that's Apple's fault or Duel's.

The duel adapter is great at first for P2 cards, but it quickly breaks. There is no physical damage that I can see but it routinely stops working. I bought 3 of these (and was very gentle with each) before I gave up on them. I've spoken with several other videographers in New York and they all say the same thing. One told me she always buys them in two's for back up. I've recently noticed some competing brands on the market and I am going to try them out next because I'm sick of the dual adapter.

This was the only game in town for a while for those who wanted to transfer P2 media to a MacBook Pro (with ExpressCard slot) but DIDN'T want to suffer with a slow USB connection. I have had two, and they did the job. But there are two important cons:

1 - Duel got into a fight with Apple and it doesn't work with Snow Leopard. So if you're running FCP 7 you can't use it.
2 - It's balky. Many people report having to restart their laptops frequently in order to get the P2 card to mount. The physical connection itself is featherweight - it clicks in, but no sense of "locking" at all. So you have to place it carefully on the surface next to you and be careful not to jostle it.

I have since ordered the Panasonic USB P2 drive, which is more than 3X as expensive and uses USB (supposedly faster than downloading from a camera). But at least it will be compatible with any computer.

I used this card on a Dell XPS 1710M with Windows XP (and later with Windows Vista) and a Creative E-MU 1616m (CardBus / PCMCIA) in 2007. Every time I rebooted the laptop's BIOS would complain about the DuelAdapter device. I had to work around the system quirks as the connection from CardBus to Express Card was problematic (i.e. remove the card before shutdown and re-insert it when the machine was at the desktop). Now in 2010, I ended up with a Dell Alienware M17x laptop running Windows 7 64 bit OS. Every time I reboot with the card in the system, the laptop hangs at POST with a motherboard resource conflict. I tried updating the Alienware BIOS, driver hunting for 8 hours, and hacking the system to use the old XP DuelAdapter driver and System Tray software - ALL NO WORKY. I tried to get a hold of Duel Systems tech support (which used to be 24/7 when I bought the DuelAdapter in 2007), but now their 800 line is down and all alternate lines (including their headquarters in San Jose, CA) have not turned up a single response. I also emailed them over the weekend asking if they plan for Windows 7 support and have not gotten a response. DOH! Anywho. I do not recommend the DuelAdapter as they no longer support this... piece o' thing. ;-)

I bought this so I could use my buffalo high power wireless g wifi pcmcia card with my Dell 1505 laptop which has only an express card slot. No luck, no matter what drivers, installation steps, or configuration settings I try, the wireless will not connect. When the adapter is installed and the wireless card inserted into the adapter, the wireless appears to be recognized by windows XP but never is able to detect any wireless signals.

So for me, this adapter is a $100+ paperweight.

This company needs to go out of business. I had it for 1.5 years and now it's doesn't support Mac Os X. called the company and said they won't be working with apple to write the new drivers. Lazy company. Also I have returned 2 of these during my warranty period. Garage product

I needed it for the ABQ 48 hr film festival. I used it to capture footage with my Macbook Pro express card slot because the camera was occupied on such a fast-paced project.
It was an inexpensive solution that worked out great.