This is a nice throwback to the form factor of PCMCIA cards for really old laptops - the original expansion card slot for notebook computers. [1]
The cards often had to stick out, whether to host a thick connector or an antenna. Here, we see a miniaturized version of that form factor...
Later, this was replaced by ExpressCard, but that never took off as much as PCMCIA cards. Back in the day, laptops came with one or two PCMCIA slots, which could be used to add full size IEEE1394, USB, Ethernet, or even Wi-Fi ports. I remember having to use an ORiNOCO Gold Wi-Fi card to get online back in the day. I had a desktop that had a slot in the front that it plugged into
Later, this was replaced by ExpressCard, but that never took off as much as PCMCIA cards. Back in the day, laptops came with one or two PCMCIA slots, which could be used to add full size IEEE1394, USB, Ethernet, or even Wi-Fi ports. I remember having to use an ORiNOCO Gold Wi-Fi card to get online back in the day. I had a desktop that had a slot in the front that it plugged into
[1] https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=pcmcia&iax=images&ia=images