1999: Getting kinda antsy waiting for USB connectivity for your WallStreet PowerBook? I know I am. There were supposed to be USB CardBus adapters for Macs shipping months ago. Originally the delay was reported to be the release date of Mac OS 8.6, but that came and went, and we’re almost ready for OS 9’s rollout. The holdup seems to be a USB CardBus driver from Apple that has not yet materialized.
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- — A blurb from Popular Science, circa 1995, discussing the name change of PCMCIA to the easier-to-explain PC Card. (We’re using PCMCIA in every reference, just to be contrarian.) The confusing acronym, which stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association but which once earned the mocking nickname “People Can’t Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms,” was also changed.
- W6 3 Port USB 3.0 Express Card 54mm PCMCIA Express Card for Laptop. 3.4 out of 5 stars (12) Total Ratings 12, $13.54 New. PCMCIA to USB 2.0 CardBus 2 Port 480m Inside Hide. Airport Wireless PCI Card for Apple Power Mac G3 G4 G5. $35.99 +$3.99 shipping. Make Offer - Airport Wireless PCI Card for Apple Power Mac G3 G4 G5. AMC004AFLKA AMD 4MB.
Currently, there are no full-fledged Mac USB PC Cards available, but a selection of Windows cards are available that can be made to work by using Apple’s Mac OS USB DDK v1.3f9, which is officially for developers only and not supported for consumers. However, there are many reports of it working fine with various Windows USB PC Cards, with a little ResEdit tweaking.
Note that all USB PC Cards require CardBus, which was introduced on PowerBooks with the WallStreet release, so the original PowerBook G3 (Kanga, 3500), the 3400c, and earlier PowerBooks are not upgradeable to USB.
Here’s a rundown of what’s available now:
Pcmcia Cards For Mac Osx
ADS Technology
ADS Technology says that its forthcoming USB Port for PowerBooks product is not shipping yet, despite an advertisement in the June issue of Macworld magazine that might have mislead you into thinking that it would be ready by now. ADS says emphatically that it’s not, and a shipping date is still “to be determined”. You can sign up to be notified by email when the ADS Macintosh USB card is finally ready by emailing this address: [email protected].
The Windows version of the ADS card has been shipping since June 1998 and could probably be made to work with Apple’s USB DDK.
When it ships, the Mac version will include:
- USB PC Card
- ADB power cable
- USB installer disk
- manual
System Requirements
- G3 Series PowerBook
- CardBus enabled PC Card slot
- Mac OS 8.6
Latest details on the ADS site: USB CardBus Information.
Ariston
The Mac version of Ariston’s iConnect Series 004 CardBus to USB adapter isn’t shipping yet either. This PC Card features:
- 2 standard USB ports
- True plug and play and USB compliant
- Supports all USB compliant devices
Technical Specs:
- 12 Mbps data transfer rate
- 500 mA supplied to each USB port
- 5 Volt DC
- External power cable to keyboard connector
- Auxiliary power jack for 5V power transformer
The “Download Driver Mac” link on Ariston’s Website simply says “Not Available.” No word on a shipping date. Windows version probably can be made to work with Apple’s USB DDK.
![Cards Cards](/uploads/1/1/9/4/119459853/421228164.jpg)
Macally
Macally lists both a Part Number (UH276) and an estimated MSRP ($99) for its Mac CardBus to USB Adapter, but says only that it is “Coming Soon.”
The Macally unit will Feature:
- Compatible with Mac OS 8.6 or later.
- Support 32-bit CardBus I/F with Type II Slot.
- Provides two USB Type A ports.
System requirements:
- Mac OS 8.6 or later.
- Any G3 PowerBooks with available PCMCIA slot.
- USB for CardBus driver from Apple.
Once again, a Windows version of the Macally Card is available, and reportedly can be made to work well with the Apple USB DDK driver.
USB Cable
USB Cable is offering their PCMCIA USB Adapter with a specific link to Apple’s Mac OS USB DDK v1.3f9 driver download for Mac OS support.
Free mp3 player for mac. The USB Cable PC Card features:
- Supports 32-bit CardBus with PC Card (PCMCIA) Type II slot (3.3 volts)
- Fully compatible with USB OHCI specification, Rev. 1.0a
- Full compliance with USB Specifications, Rev. 1.1
- Provides 2 USB ports
- Plug & Play
- Supports both 12 Mbps USB devices and 1.5 Mbps USB devices
- Apple PowerBook Compatible with correct driver – Mac OS USB DDK v1.3b3
The MSRP for USB Cable’s CardBus adapter is a modest $89.95, discounted to $84.95 on USB Cable’s website.
Hi-Val
A PowerBook Zone reader reports that he purchased a Hi-Val USB PC Card Adapter for $69.99 less a $20 mail-in rebate (rebate ended 9/25). He says that his WallStreet 300 running the USB DDK 1.3f9 recognized a LaCie USB drive with no problems. Reportedly, the Hi-Val card looks very much like pictures of Macally’s forthcoming Mac card, so it may be a “badge-engineered” version of the same card.
![Pcmcia card adapter for pc Pcmcia card adapter for pc](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GOoAAOSwWk1eSHOx/s-l640.jpg)
Alchemy Technology
Another PowerBook Zone reader reported recently about success with a $79.95 Alchemy Technology Inc.’s Global Paragon CardBus to USB card purchased from Outpost.com using Apple’s developmental Mac OS USB DDK v1.3f9 driver.
The reader said he had to “tweak” the creator and resource IDs using ResEdit, but once that was done, plug & play worked great with no glitches. The PowerBook recognizes the card as soon as it is plugged in. The reader recommends that anyone with a pre-USB PowerBook that supports CardBus and would like to use USB devices should get this card.
Pcmcia Card Format
Mac OS USB DDK v1.3f9 driver
Apple notes that the Mac OS USB DDK v1.3f9 driver “is for developmental purposes and will support USB PCI cards from other vendors.” “The software requires a modification as documented in the readme file. There are no step-by-step instructions provided to make this modification. This software is not directly supported by Apple, nor is it intended for end-users. End-user customers are advised to purchase a PCI USB card that includes licensed software and support.”
Which is their way of saying that you’re on your own support-wise.
There are three components required to set up a PCMCIA card. If you follow these general instructions you will have a good chance that installing your new PCMCIA card will be easy and trouble free. We can not stress the importance of reading the manual of your new PCMCIA card.
1. The first element is the PCMCIA card and service software. This allows your computer to configure its PCMCIA socket and recognize the PCMCIA cards that are plugged in to it. The individual components of PCMCIA software are called drivers. There are usually three to four drivers in PCMCIA software: a socket service driver, a card service driver, a super client driver (this is for generic card configuration), and a resource manager driver. Most computers that have an internal PCMCIA card slot come with this software already installed. Most PCMCIA cards also come with PCMCIA card and service software, so be careful; DO NOT install the card and service software if your computer already has it installed.
To find out if your computer has PCMCIA software installed, read the screen as your computer boots up. If you see messages that refer to Card Services or Socket Service then your computer has PCMCIA card and service software. Also, please check your computers manual. If your computer does not have PCMCIA software you can either contact your computers manufacture to see what they recommend or install the card services software provided with most PCMCIA cards. Windows 95 has a small set of card and services drivers. Please refer to the PCMCIA Plug and Play card wizard.
Once you know that the PCMCIA card and services software are working correctly, you can move on to the second element.
2. Some PCMCIA cards come with proprietary drivers (e.g. PCMCIA sound, networking, and SCSI cards). If the PCMCIA card you're installing has a secondary driver set you must install these drivers. These drivers must be installed in your computer's CONFIG.SYS, after the PCMCIA card and service software drivers. Follow the instructions in the card's manual. Once these drivers are installed you must reboot your computer by either turning the computer off and then on again or press the reset button. Make sure that the PCMCIA card is in the card socket in your computer. As the computer boots, when the PCMCIA card and service drivers are run in your CONFIG.SYS, you will hear a beep. If you hear one beep the PCMCIA card is recognized and all is well, if you hear two beeps the PCMCIA card is not recognized. You must then either re-read the cards manual and re-install the software or contact technical support.
3. The last element in configuring your new PCMCIA card is to install the application software that came with the PCMCIA card. Follow the instructions in the card's manual. Once this step is done you can now use your new PCMCIA card.
12/1/95 Synchrotech's Tech Support Department
Pcmcia Cards For Laptop
- PC CardBus to Ultra-SCSI
- Ratoc PC CardBus to Ultra SCSI Adapters
- Utilize Ultra SCSI devices with PCMCIA CardBus PC Card equipped computers running Linux, Mac OS, or The Windows
- PCMCIA ATA Flash PC Cards
- Standard ATA Flash Cards
- Synchrotech ATA Flash PC Cards
- Several lines of general purpose ATA Flash cards
- PCMCIA SRAM PC Cards
- Standard ATA Flash Cards
- Synchrotech ATA Flash PC Cards
- Several lines of general purpose ATA Flash cards
- PCMCIA Linear Flash PC Cards
- Standard Linear Flash PC Cards
- Synchrotech ATA Flash PC Cards
- PCMCIA Linear Flash PC Cards including AMD Series C, AMD Series D, and Intel Series II