USB2 CardBus Controller supports USB 2.0, OS X

Want to add USB 2.0 support to your PowerBook G3 or G4? CompuCable has announced that it’s shipping its USB2 CardBus Controller, a USB 2.0 PC Card host controller. The card includes a driver that supports Mac OS X.

The USB2 Cardbus Controller works in any CardBus-compatible PowerBook (PowerBook G3 “Wallstreet” versions on up) and provides USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480Mbs. On Macs running Mac OS 8.6 – 9.x, the device operates at the slower 12Mbps of the USB 1.1 interface.

The card incorporates two USB 2.0 interfaces and can connect to a high-power USB device (up to 500mA) like a USB hub, without requiring the peripheral to use an external power supply. Compucable said the card also utilizes over-current protection circuitry to protect the PowerBook from possible short circuits and surges.

Available immediately, the USB2 CardBus Controller costs US$74.95.