Slow USB Port

I have a laptop with an external dvd recorder. this is a newer laptop but my usb ports are definitely older. is there anything that i can do to get faster usb ports in my laptop and about how much would it cost to upgrade it?

 

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=15-107-111&depa=0

 

Do you mean you have only USB 1 ports? If so, if you have a PCMCIA slot, you can plug in a USB 2 PCMCIA card. I have one I use with an older Toshiba laptop and it works great with an external burner and hard drive. Cost about $20 IIRC.

 

Or as rroettger suggested a firewire PCMCIA card.

 

between the firewire and the usb pcmcia card which do most people prefer?

 

I assume from your initial question that the external burner you have is in a USB enclosure. If it's a USB 2 enclosure then you'll probably want a USB 2 card. They also have cards that have both types of ports. See the following:

http://www.newegg.com/app/searchPro...description=pcmcia+cards&srchFor=firewire usb

 

The link I gave is for a USB 2.0 and IEEE1394 PCI slot card. I have one and works fine.

I used it with a data link to hook my old piece of junk laptop to my PC, so I could use my nic card for the internet. Much faster updates than a modem.

 

I would go with what rroettger recommended. It would give you maximum flexibility. Is your external enclosure a USB1 or USB2? An older USB 1 hooked up to a USB 2 port will still be at USB 1 speeds.