Laptop expansion...a little advice please

Bri

Hey,

Ok here's the problem:
From the wireless forum Ive found the wifi card I want for my presario 900 laptop. Its a year or two old so there's only one card space.
Problem is Ive had an iPod for a year now and due to firewire problems I've never had it linked up properly to be able to just 'pop it on' and download my new tracks. IT friend tells me at this stage I should just go for a USB2 card, cos the laptop doesnt have USB2 built in.

So now I want to use both. Regularly. But there's only 1 space.

Ive seen the USB wifi option on Komplett but excuse my vanity - it's UGLY! (and less mobile)Compared to a card anyway.

Now what options do I have?
- Is there a way to expand card spaces in a laptop with an external card drive?
- Am I dreaming that it's possible to get a mini USB2 hub that connects via USB1. I know that's obviously stupid but I thought there was something like that. So am I stuck with the USB wifi option?

Help! I'd like a vaguely portable laptop that doesnt cover my bedroom desk with a million cables.

daggeredge

I've only 2 slots ! (presario 2100!)

if you connect a 2.0 hub to 1.0 usb you'll get the lesser speed (i.e /1.0)
don't think you can get external card readers 4 laptop cards (defeats the purpose)

looks like you'll have to put up with the ugliness!

daggeredge

I would :
get the usb wifi,
get the 2.0 card
____
or you can swap the cards around... are you going to need the wifi often?

Bri

As I expected! Dammit anyway.

Thanks for the opinion.

Stephen

you can hot-swap PCMCIA cards. carry whichever one you're not currently using around in your bag. When you want to use USB2.0, remove the wifi one. When you want to use wifi, remove the USB2.0 one.

Bri

Really? The wifi is in my bedroom (yay!) next year in college so I only want to be able to slap in the iPod when I wanna change something.

Sounds do-able right? XP Home should be able to handle all that swapping ok right?