StarTech EC1000S ExpressCard Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter Card

Pros: This is a fast card. I saw roughly 832 mb performance using iperf on a 2006 core solo 1.6 laptop. That is way better than the 225 mb that I saw with a gigabit usb adapter. However, the card disappears for some reason.

Cons: Card works in laptop I have and then it goes away. The odd thing is that the card lights up properly but it cannot be detected in the OS (linux/lspci). Tried all things I could think of including pulling battery on laptop for a couple of minutes and plugging in. This is probably just a laptop issue since other stuff goes away randomly.

Pros: Works great.

Cons: Wish it was full size to fit in ExpressCard 54 slot so it wouldn't wobble. But that's what the plastic spacers are for.

Pros: I had a laptop with a busted screen so I decided to make it in to a pfsense platform. The laptop needed a second port so I picked this up. Pfsense recognized it and everything just works

Cons: No 34mm to 54mm stabilizer. For someone considering this card for a laptop that moves, a stabilizer is a must.

Sits a bit far out from the edge of the board. Not really a con for me but I could see it getting snagged on something

Other Thoughts: For the price this thing should have had that stabilizer included. That is the only reason I took an egg off

Pros: Just plugged the EC100S into my ExpressCard/54 slot. Windows 7 installed all necessary drivers. It was just that easy.

Cons: Like other reviewers, I feel that using this ExpressCard/34 in an ExpressCard/54 slot is dangerous. Although not the fault of the card itself, I'm afraid I'm going to mis-align the card or bump it sideways as I'm working around my laptop and permanently damage it.

Other Thoughts: I also purchased some StarTech ExpressCard 34mm to 54 mm Stabilizer Adapters (purchased from here on Newegg with an item number of N82E16839158038.) This took care of that problem. I would highly recommend this card.

Pros: I posted previously and wanted to update the status of the returned StarTech EC1000S ExpressCard.

I recommend to get an ExpressCard Stabilizer for this product: ExpressCard 34mm to 54mm stabilizer. StarTech's model number is: ECBRACKET. This comes in 3-pack.

Cons: None. Other than what I mentioned earlier.

Other Thoughts: Ensure that you order the stabilizer because the way the ExpressCard form factor is designed, unfortunately it doesn't offer much of any secure connection. Without it, you may eventually run into the same problem with the card being ejected out as a result of the slightest bump our touch.

There were no instructions on installing the stabilizer. It took me a few minutes to figure out the correct orientation and that the small notch on the left of StarTech Gigabit card is where you'll want the top part of the stabilizer to be seated.

Simply line up the top of the stabilizer to this notch on the Gigabit card then snap into place on the side. Don't attempt to slide it on. It goes on the left.

The Gigabit Ethernet card is working now for about a week without any problems. I even tried hitting the card slightly and it didn't budge! However, you'll want to hold the card first then disconnect your Cat-5. Thereafter, then remove the card.

Pros: Worked well without any problems -- for a few days, though. The culprit could be that the ExpressCard didn't come with a 34mm to 54mm stabilizer adapter.

Cons: Yesterday, I noticed that the card wasn't working.

My HP Pavillion dv7-1267 cl takes a PC ExpressCard of either 54mm or 34mm form factor.

One reviewer that offered a feedback on the Belkin F5U250 Gigabit Ethernet ExpressCard (a similar competitive product that is priced at $48.99), stated that ExpressCard 34mm form factor doesn't secure well in a 54mm slot.

I'm assuming that this was the culprit that may have caused the ExpressCard not to work -- it may have become loose that could have caused it to malfunction.

A search on StarTech.com website states that the ExpressCard 34mm form factor may cause "side to side movement" which may damage the card. I don't know why they couldn't include stabilizers.

Their 34mm to 54mm stabilizer adapter should solve this.

I'm returning StarTech ExpressCard for a replacement and will have to order their 3-pack stabilzer kit.

I'll update this posting when I receive the products.

Other Thoughts: Maybe I should simply buy a 54mm ExpressCard and get it over with. This may be a more logical, easy, viable solution.

Pros: Received the Star Tech EC1000S ExpressCard Gigabit adapter today for my HP Pavillion dv7-1267cl laptop.

I was in the market for a network card for my laptop because my network card wasn't functioning - even after days of trying to figure out what was wrong, upgrading new drivers, etc. Even though it was showing a steady green light and and a blinking orange light, I know packets were being sent and received when I did the ipconfig command.

I was planning to get the Belkin, but it was a bit expensive for a product that didn't received not much good reviews.

For about $10.00 less, I decided to gamble on Star Tech.

I plugged it into my laptop running Windows 7 Professional. Drivers automatically loaded and W7 detected it. I'm running at 1.0 G b/s speed. Solid connectivity. No hassles!

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: This is what I like: after reading several reviews on this adapter, I gambled on it and it works. You can't asked for anything better.

Pros: Updating after seeing other review saying it doesn't work with 64-bit Ubuntu.
It worked perfectly for me using both Ubuntu 9.10 64-bit and 10.04 64-bit Desktop Editions on my laptop.

Cons: Sometimes when trying to switch between this card and the built-in wireless card it may be quicker to do a reboot.

Other Thoughts: sudo lspci -vvv
Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)

The Kernel module loaded is r8169

Pros: Much faster than my laptop's built-in 100mb port, which is what I was looking for. Drivers load automatically in Windows 7 and Ubuntu 10.04 32-bit.

Cons: Does NOT work in Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit. Not the adapter's fault, but the specs make a blanket Linux compatibility claim. Minus 1 egg.

Other Thoughts: Uses the Realtek RTL8111DL chipset. If you can find an appropriate 64-bit Linux driver for your distro, more power to you.

Pros: Works 100% with Vista 32 (drivers on the included CD)
and Ubuntu 10.04 (autoconfigured)

Cons: none really

Other Thoughts: Using this in an older Acer Aspire 5720z laptop with a broken built-in ethernet jack

using a 3.89GB Centos5 DVD for a test copying between computers
wireless --> estimated 2.5 hours at 530 KB/second
wired EC1000S card --> 5 minutes at 13 MB/second

using speedtest.net through comcast
wireless download 5 Mb/s upload about 1 Mb/s
wired download 14 Mb/s upload still same ~ 1 Mb/s