[G4] Re: G4 DA 533 question

[Richard Klein]

Eric Buczynski wrote:
> 
> On Feb 2, 2007, at 6:43 PM, g4-request at listserver.themacintoshguy.com 
> wrote:
> 
>> Todd Naber wrote:
>>> Hello Fellow PowerMac G4 owners,
>>> I'm using a PowerMac G4 Digital Audio 533 and was wondering if anyone
>>> knew if there ever was a add-on drive/card that could be inserted into
>>> the front of my G4 (instead of the zip module) that allowed for media
>>> cards? I remember something like this was available/rare, but can't seem
>>> to find any info. Any help would be great,
>>> applguy
>>
>> I saw pictures of a G4 with a media card reader as you describe in an
>> eBay auction a few months ago, but I don't know the details.  I think it
>> was a standard PC card reader, though, to fit a 5 1/4" drive bay.  You'd
>> need one of the PC card reader with a cable that's routed out back
>> through the PCI cover plates to the rear USB ports, though.  A lot of
>> the internal PC card readers plug into pins on the motherboard, and I
>> don't think you'd be able to use one of those.
 >
 > Regarding the back ports, this is not always necessary.  I have a Sonnet
 > 5-port USB 2.0 card installed on my G4 Digital Audio.  Four of the ports
 > are on the back plate whereas the fifth USB port is located on the end
 > of the card inside.  So, this last port can be used to accommodate a USB
 > internal light, or in this case a card reader, among other things.
 >
 > Eric Buczynski

That's good to know, Eric.  PC card readers that depend on pins on the 
motherboard still won't work with that card, though.  The USB pins on 
many PC motherboards aren't arranged like a standard USB port.  I 
suppose you could splice a USB connector onto those, though...

-- 
Rich