Adapter Expands Capabilities of Thunderbolt? Technology-Enabled Computers by Enabling Them to Use ExpressCard/34 Cards
IRVINE, Calif. ? Dec. 15, 2011 ? Sonnet Technologies today announced that its new Echo? ExpressCard®/34 Thunderbolt? Adapter is now shipping and available for purchase. The adapter enables users of computers equipped with a Thunderbolt port, including the latest Apple® iMac®, Mac® mini, MacBook Air®, and MacBook® Pro models, to connect seamlessly with compatible ExpressCard/34 cards from Sonnet and other manufacturers. Originally intended for notebook computers, ExpressCard/34 adapters offer users additional connectivity and functionality beyond what is available through their computers? stock configuration.
?With our Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter, users can now extend the capabilities of their Thunderbolt Technology-equipped Macs like never before. With a single Thunderbolt adapter, they can instantly add connectivity to their computers, whether increasing the number of ports, incorporating new interfaces, or adding peripheral devices that otherwise could not connect through a Thunderbolt port,? said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. ?By hot-plugging and swapping ExpressCard/34 cards, users have unprecedented flexibility to change interfaces and devices when needed.?
The new ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter supports most PCI Express®-based Sonnet professional ExpressCard/34 adapters and specialty adapters from other manufacturers. Supported cards range from CompactFlash? and SDXC? UHS-I card readers to FireWire® 800 and eSATA adapters. The new Thunderbolt adapter also supports ExpressCard adapters supplied with specialty devices such as the AJA® io Express. Sonnet expects other manufacturers? ExpressCard/34 products to become compatible as their drivers are updated to be Thunderbolt technology-aware.
Since announcing this product, Sonnet has received many inquiries about this product?s compatibility with SxS? memory cards, because they are designed to interface with an ExpressCard/34 slot. Based on testing in Sonnet?s lab, it is expected that the Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter will be fully compatible with, and transfer data at full speed from SxS memory cards once Sony makes available an updated driver that is Thunderbolt technology-aware.
Developed by Intel® and brought to market with technical collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt technology supports high-performance data services and high-resolution displays through a single compact port. The Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter supports PCI Express 1.1 technology with 2.5 Gbps throughput in both directions. The Sonnet adapter connects directly to a computer or at the end of a Thunderbolt device chain with a Thunderbolt cable (available at the Apple Store®).
The Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter (part number ECHO-E34) is compatible with all Apple computers running Mac OS® X and equipped with Thunderbolt ports. It is now available through Sonnet?s distribution channel at a suggested retail price of $149.95.
More information about the Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter is available at [
www.sonnettech.com].
Michael Horton
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