12" Powerbook

tlaffont · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:38 am Post subject: 12" Powerbook

I just purchased a 12" Powerbook and realized it doesn't have a PC card slot. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can connect my EVDO card to my laptop?

Michael · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:56 am Post subject:

Since the PowerBook 12 inch does not have a PC Slot, there is no way that this is going to work.

I have heard RUMORS, that the built-in Airport slot (under the keyboard of the PowerBook 12 inch), may actually be a standard PCMCIA slot. If this is the case, IT MAY be possible to use it. However, there are a few major issues:

- the EVDO card is thicker than the Airport card, so the keyboard may not fit back

- if you need Airport too, it would be a hassle to pop the keyboard every time

I do NOT recommend trying this, as it may cause bad things to happen to your PowerBook.

If anyone else has additional information on this topic, please post it to this thread.

I have a PowerBook 12 inch, I may try this and let you know if it works.
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tlaffont · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:08 am Post subject:

I was hoping to find an external PC card adapter that could connect to my laptop via USB but so far I haven't been successful. Maybe I'll have to wait until I get an EVDO handset that I can use as a modem and connect to my laptop via bluetooth.

Michael · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:23 am Post subject:

Probably not a chance this will work, but it may be worthwhile investigating:

- CompactFlash (CF) USB adapter for your PowerBook 12

- CompactFlash (CF) PCMCIA Adapter for your CF Card

Now, you have a PC Slot to insert your PC 5220 card.

The big question, if the built-in Mac OS X drivers will recognize the PCMCIA card this way. Not sure, if this will technically work - but may be worth investigating.
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Wendy · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:51 am Post subject: Mac OS X and EVDO

What are the EVDO options for Mac OS X?
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Michael · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:53 am Post subject:

More info here:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/Downloads/Drivers/Mac_OS_X_Verizon_Drivers_2005021554/

All you need is a PowerBook with a PC Slot (15 inch or 17 inch), or older PowerBook with a PC slot.
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Michael · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

We have been getting a lot of questions on this topic.

At EVDOInfo.com, I created a new page, called:

PowerBook G4 12 inch, EVDO Compatibility Page

The page refers to this thread, so take a look at the page, and if anyone discovers new ways to get this to work, please post in this thread.
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Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:27 am Post subject:

We have found a company that is in the process of making a EVDO USB device. This is a self contained EVDO device that plugs into a USB port. We are in contact with the manufacturer and hope to post more info soon.
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Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:42 am Post subject:

Here is a company that has a USB to PC Card Reader. Mac support is not listed, we have contacted the company for more info.

http://www.synchrotech.com/products/card-rw_17.html
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Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:05 am Post subject:

Here is another USB 2.0 to PCMCIA adapter, that someone sent it (only $37 for this one):

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=109293

The description states:

USB 2.0 Memory Card Reader for Flash Memory and Hard drives

We sent an email to the company for clarification.
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Chuck · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 149

This could open the door to the desktop users too, or did someone find a PCI to PCMCIA adapter that actually worked?

Dog-One

Do keep us posted on this one Mike. It would greatly simplify making it work with most any computer.

What I know about the 5220/580 card is that it contains a Lucent USB hub with basically two USB-mapped serial ports. There are two ports because the designers wanted the ability to monitor signal levels and such while a data connection is in progress--having a device with two USB plugs seems a little strange at best, so they stuck them both behind a single PCMCIA interface. But if you were willing to give-up the monitor port, having a simple USB EVDO device should be trivial to engineer. Funny it's taken so long to finally come about.

To do one better, I'd like to see a small (1" x 2" x 2"), simple device that has an antenna connector on one end and a 10base-T Ethernet on the other for wireless EVDO. Plug it in, connect and you're online with zero client software needed. Maybe incorporate a built-in hardware firewall and a web interface to configure everything. Show me one of those and I'll grab my checkbook. Smile

FYI, the Junxion Box is a bit more than I have in mind. A bit pricey too.

Michael · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:53 am Post subject:

Good news.

The company that is creating the first USB EVDO device is interested in EVDOinfo.com reviewing it, so they are going to be sending one for testing. This isn't a product that is for sale yet, not sure if it works with Mac OS X (once we get it, we may be able to get it to work on PowerBooks - it will work on Windows out of the box).

Even if this product were available today, it is up to the carriers (Verizon, Sprint, etc.) to make it available, so not sure on the timing, especially if you need it now.
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djprimo · EVDO Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

It looks like Sprint came out with a palm device with built in EVDO. The Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device (PPC-6700) Maybe there's some way to use it with the Powerbook? Any Ideas?

12 inch Powerbook G4
OSX 10.4

Michael · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:46 am Post subject:

I have used the Sprint PPC6700 on my PowerBook, BUT since there are not Mac drivers available for it, it only works via BlueTooth - which cuts down performance significantly. Best to go USB, but there are not Mac drivers for this device.

Bluetooth may not be able to handle EV-DO - EVDOforums
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