Is ExpressCard the future?

[petal]

My now 4 year old MBP is starting to show small signs of eminent failure, so I might be on the lookout for a new laptop soon.

I'd like to be able to run my XITE on my next laptop, but I don't believe the "ExpressCard" to be an interface of the future.

We have talked about it before, but it has been a while, and I'd like to hear any recent speculation or even better yet, "NEWS" about which "mobile"-interface SC will choose to support in the future?

Cheers,
Thomas

[garyb]

does it matter?

there are plenty of laptops available with expresscard, but it's not extremely common. it's likely that expresscard will continue to be offered in limited quantities since it is PCIe, but even if it isn't, there is also thunderbolt, which is also PCIe. Sonnet Technologies offers a thunderbolt to expresscard adaptor, so there should be laptops around for a while. you could also go back to a desktop in the future.

you'll probably be seeing mostly business laptops with expresscard rather than ordinary consumer or gamer models, but that should be more than fine for audio work. the exception to this is more "custom" products like ADK, which is made for audio. in any case, you will probably need to request models available rather than find them in stock in stores or major consumer electronics outlets because truthfully, there just aren't that many people who need to connect peripherals that require such a heavy duty connection.

[petal]

To me it matters.

I've been a Creamware/Soniccore owner and a member of this community for 12 years, I know "the game" and SonicCores situation. Still it would be nice to know which I/O to aim for - Expresscard seems like a dead end.

1. I'd prefer to get another mac book pro (Most non-apple laptops looks like tanks for gaming teens), even if I'd have to run windows on it. The ThunderBolt to ExpressCard adaptor might be a solution, has anyone tried this with success?

2. ExpressCard seems like it's on it's way out - As you say yourself, not many laptops are equipped with them anymore - this limits my options.

3. I have a desktop now and prolly will have for many years to come. I'd like the option: "Up to date" Laptop + XITE

I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[garyb]

1. yes. http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoe ... rbolt.html

2. so what if you don't have a lot of choices? the important thing is that there are plenty of choices that will work, and all of the important features, processors and options will be available to you. will there be a LOT of choices? no. consumers don't need a super high traffic, super high speed connector for anything. consumers just need to be able to get on the net and connect a hard drive.

there aren't a lot of different types of interfaces that WILL work. expresscard and thunderbolt are really the only two, they are both merely PCIe interfaces, just like the slots on your desktop. "CURRENT" or "UP TO DATE" doesn't even enter into it. there isn't anything else. PCIe probably isn't going anywhere for a little while.

this has nothing to do with SonicCore's situation or anything like that. other connectors just won't work.

[petal]

Gary, I hear what you are saying.

What I'm saying is that: I want a sexy laptop for my sexy XITE, is that too much to ask?

[borg]

I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Count me in as well... I'll probably get the expresscard connector sometime soon, but my MBP is even older, almost 6 years (still going strong though).
On the other hand, Sonic Core just seems like a dead end street at times, nothing seems to move... My budget for buying 'special-offer-bundles-I-don't-really-need-to-finance-SC-future' has been spent... I need something more substantial to open up my wallet in the future. the expresscard thingie will be my last purchase for the time being. (little rant over...)

So, no, unfortunately I can't help, but am more than interested in the thunderbolt-expresscard adaptor, although I wouldn't need it at first, hopefully. How does scope work on your MBP? Do you use bootcamp, any VM? Specific Windows version? Any special things to think about while installing?
I'm thinking in the lines of 'old MBP running Scope/Xite-1D with new MBP running Live through RME, connected through ADAT'. The way it is now, with windows desktop and the old MBP running Live/RME, but more portable...

[garyb]

Gary, I hear what you are saying.

What I'm saying is that: I want a sexy laptop for my sexy XITE, is that too much to ask?

no, not at all!

http://www.adkproaudio.com/laptop3.asp
if the 9000x won't do the job, what will?

[garyb]

but thinking about it further, if you find ANY computer sexy, i'm worried for you.
female humans are still my preference for sexy...

[petal]

Gary, I hear what you are saying.

What I'm saying is that: I want a sexy laptop for my sexy XITE, is that too much to ask?

no, not at all!

http://www.adkproaudio.com/laptop3.asp
if the 9000x won't do the job, what will?

9000newwebcombo-500x500.jpg (36.73 KiB) Viewed 3100 times

I'm sorry - not really my kind of woman. I'm picky that way

[petal]

How does scope work on your MBP? Do you use bootcamp, any VM? Specific Windows version? Any special things to think about while installing?

I'm not running Scope on my MBP (there's no way to connect the XITE on this model). But I would like to go "sexy laptop" + "sexy XITE"

[jksuperstar]

If a mac happens to be the only sexy, then use bootcamp, boot windows, and get a translator from Thunderbolt to Expresscard. done!

That ADK 9000x is a desktop in a laptop case, btw.

You can also consider another option: Build a 1U rack computer, and attach a touch screen like this:
http://www.gechic.com/product_help_en.asp?s=10

(then you can choose to add a keyboard & mouse, or not)

[sunmachine]

My Xite is connected via a Sonnett Thunderbolt Expresscard adapter to a Mac Mini (Late 2012) and works fine so far.
I installed Bootcamp with Windows 7, 64-bit.

On newer Macs you can only install the 64-bit versions of Windows 7/8 by the way.
See here for the details: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634

I also just got a Macbook Pro from 2012 where I will install the 32-bit version of Windows 7.

[petal]

Thank you Gary and Sunmachine for chiming in.

I guess a "sexy" solution is gonna cost me at least about 150$/150€ extra.

I didn't know I had this option.

[garyb]

I'm sorry - not really my kind of woman. I'm picky that way

ok, my bad, i didn't understand that you meant THAT kind of pretty....

just buy a mac and run windows and the Sonnet adaptor. what's another $150 after spending all that money?

[dawman]

Logic would be Cool but look at the Getac Laptops.
If those aren't sexy show me something that is.
Thier Express Slot cartridges lock in professionally, not loose like consumer models.


free upload
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UKjEa5 ... r_embedded

Here's your daily bread....


how to do a screen shot

[petal]

1. I'd prefer to get another mac book pro (Most non-apple laptops looks like tanks for gaming teens)

I rest my case :

x500_slide_image.jpg (67.6 KiB) Viewed 3003 times

Honestly, I haven't found any non-apple laptop out there that looks and feels as good as Apple. Sure you can find good windows-based laptops (Lenovo/ThinkPad would propably be my choise), but they are still not a thing of beauty.

Thanks for chiming in though!

[dawman]

Hard to leave Logic too, my friends use it for gigs and studio. Very simple, elegant and effective.
The only downside is they don't last more than a couple years when used for gigs.
Just the physical aspects like the QWERTY or external connectors where Hammerfall cards are connected.