Customer Reviews

StarTech.com ExpressCard to CardBus Laptop Adapter CB2EC

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

 

 

It was with great hesitation, that I ordered this product. I'd read many reviews about it - stating that it was "wobbly" and didn't do the job at all.

Well - for us - it worked first-time - right out of the box ... and has continued to function perfectly, ever since.

Yes - I agree that "because of it's size", it sticks out of the ExpressCard slot - and could get "knocked-around" a bit. That's something to watch out for. What we did though - was place two CD-cases underneath the adapter - and next to the laptop. That prevents us for accidentally "knocking it around" and dislodging it (or worse) !!

It works perfectly well for us - and we're very pleased with it !!

I purchased this adapter in order to mount the P2 cardbus cards used for my video productions but found after repeated tries that neither the old A Series nor the newer E Series cards would mount using this adapter. Waste of money if you're trying to use them in your video workflow.

I purchased this in order to use an Echo Indio IO Cardbus soundcard in the Expresscard slot on my newer laptop. I have had no problems with compatibility with this card.

Everything works as advertised. As other online reviewers have said, this adapter leaves your card sticking pretty far out from the edge of the computer, so some extra support is recommended. One user recommends placing a CD jewel case underneath for support.

I think the adapter would feel a little more secure if it had a short cable between the Expresscard plug and the Cardbus slot

The card was defective and would not load drivers.
The computer froze up in the act of getting the driver.
Tried it in another machine and same result.
I do not recomend.

Had already ordered this before the other guy posted this does not work with A series or E series p2 cards. Tried 4GB 8GB and 16GB cards with the panasonic driver install utility. This did not work for me. But with a card formatted in a camera that was setup in SD I was able to take the card plug it into the adapter then plug the adapter into the computer. Open device manager and find the mass storage controller that has the question mark next to it. Right click on it and update the driver. To find the correct driver you will need to install the driver called p2cache.inf located in program files/panasonic p2/drivers/card. This got the P2 cards working if I was using a camera set in SD. If the camera was set for HD and the card was formated in it then I was unable to get it working. I don't know, however, if that is because the first card I used when installing the driver was SD. And since this laptop is for SD use I am quitting while I am ahead. Cameras used were AJ-SPC700P which is SD only and AGHPX170P set to SD and another AGHPX170P set to HD. SD formatted cards from both cameras worked. Also remember to unplug the express card adapter out of the computer to change the P2 card.

This item seems to function as advertised, but the sound card this was purchased for does not, so this has been an expensive unsuccessful project.

Easy to use, the only thing I don't like is the added length of the device, a bit flimsy, but it gets the work done, the price was not bad, so I'm happy with the purchase.

I was quite pleased with this product; however, a the time of this review, Amazon's description of the product did not specify that the adapter would ONLY work with 32-bit cardbus devices. I bought this adapter to save the expense of buying a new scanner and high-definition sound card, both of which had a PCMCIA interface. However, the scanner would not work...this is when I discovered the adapter's limitation on 16-bit devices, such as my scanner interface.

Amazon took the product back hassle-free and issued a credit. Since that time, I purchased a USB scanner (from Amazon) which was nicer than the one I had been using; and have also located a good quality USB audio device with enough capabilities to mimic the cardbus device I had been using.

You can distinguish 32-bit cardbus devices by the additional metal wrap around the border of the connection interface which enters the receptacle on the computer. This is what told me the old scanner interface would not be compatible.

As for the quality of the adapter, I thought it was fine and it's a GREAT DEAL for what you spend! Although mine did not exhibit the intermittent qualities that other reviewers had talked about, there is a little wiggle room once you slide this device in and it wouldn't hurt to prop it up from underneath with some CD jewel cases, as a precautionary measure. Also be aware that this will extend out the side of your laptop, so allow a few inches for the adapter and the cardbus device itself. This won't pose a problem for most people.

Bottom line is, for around $50 (at the time of this writing), this is an excellent alternative to some other adapters which can approach or exceed $100 but ONLY IF you have 32-bit cards.

I've bought the Express Card Adapter so I could use it with my German T-Mobile Web'n'Walk III PCMCIA UMTS card at my new laptop. This card is 32 bit and it starts blinking but there is never any connection made which allows the laptop to find the PCMCIA card and identify it. Originally I thought it is because it was lacking the SIM card, but once I had bought an UMTS SIM card (which worked fine with an UMTS USB stick or another laptop with SIM card slot) the problem remained. The PCMCIA adapter remains working without problems in an old laptop with PCMCIA slot so that is not the issue as well.
I can give it only 1 star as this piece is without any use for me despite 32 bit PCMCIA.

Amazon was great as usual, the product shipped and was received within a reasonable amount of time. This card did not work with my pcmcia card, keep in mind that you are taking a 50-50 chance that it will work with your particular card.