What is an Express Card Reader?

Card reader & writer

An Express Card Reader, formerly known as a PC card, is a device that accepts express cards of various sizes, allowing external electronic devices such as flash memory cards to be 'read' by (most-commonly) portable computers.

Common Applications

Flash media reader

From their start in the 1990s, express card readers have evolved to host many forms of access for both portable and desktop computers. Some of the most common examples include flash media, external disk drives, firewire/usb, mobile broadband, wireless network interface cards and TV tuners.

Portable Express Card Readers

Laptop with card reader

Because of its limited space, portable computing (e.g., laptops and notebooks) have benefited the most from express card readers. There's only so much that can be built into a laptop, and express card readers are handy for increasing their capabilities, by allowing the use of wireless Internet access cards, USB hubs, telephone modems and external hard drives.

Desktop Express Card Readers

Express card readers are often found built into desktop computers, since they generally have more space to accommodate them compared to laptops. Card readers most commonly come built into media center PCs, but may also be purchased separately as internal adapters.

External Express Card Readers

External express card reader

These models generally come ready to plug into a computer's USB port, adding their easy-to-use capabilities to computers that don't already have an express card reader. They are also small enough to carry with many of the electronic items they help support, such as digital cameras, camcorders and laptops.

Compatibility

Old PCMCIA card with 1GB compact flash card.

Express card readers accommodate numerous different cards from a wide variety of electronics. Many of the most common cards accepted by card readers are express cards, secure digital (SD), mini SD, micro SD, compact flash (CF), memory sticks and xD cards.

References

• ExpressCard.org

Resources

• CNET.com