StarTech.com 2 Port Flush Mount ExpressCard 54mm SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Adapter with UASP Support

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £28.85 ex-VAT, this StarTech ExpressCard-to-USB 3.0 adapter is one of those “small but useful” purchases—especially if you’ve got an older business laptop that still has an ExpressCard slot. The big win is reliability: StarTech gear tends to behave consistently with drivers and power states, and UASP support matters because it can improve throughput and responsiveness versus basic USB 3.0 adapters when you’re moving larger files or working off external SSDs. If you’re in an office with a mixed fleet (or you’ve got a legacy laptop you can’t justify replacing yet), this is a sensible way to get modern USB 3 performance without spending a fortune.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it for new builds, or if you’re hoping it’ll turn a slow laptop into a fast one—USB speed is ultimately limited by the laptop’s age and the ExpressCard interface, plus whatever storage you connect. Also check that your laptop actually supports ExpressCard 54mm (not every one does), and factor in cabling/hot-plug behaviour—ExpressCard adapters are fine, but they’re less “grab-and-go” than standard USB ports on newer devices. Overall: good value as a stopgap for legacy hardware, not something I’d recommend as a primary network or performance upgrade.