Technology Survey: A Sampling of PCMCIA Cards

Note: The following list is not intended to be complete. It is meant to present the breadth of PCMCIA products currently available.

Cellular Fax Modems

Megahertz Corp, Cellular Fax Modem, $399

• Type II, uses Microcom’s MNP-10 error correction protocol
• use with Diamondtel 20 and 22, Mitsubishi 3500SPK and 4000SPK, NEC P100

Motorola Universal Data Systems, Inc., CELLect 14.4, $549

• uses Motorola UDS Enhanced Cellular Control (EC2) for improved communication reliability
• supports V.32bis, V.42, and V.42bis
• supports Motorola’s MC2 MicroTac cellular phone
• other phones require optional connectors

Piiceon, Dispatcher, $389

• Type II, with data and fax rates of 14.4 Kbps
• supports MNP 10 protocol

U.S. Robotics, WorldPort Dual Standard Cellular Fax, $995

• includes the proprietary 16.8 Kbps HST protocol

Data & Fax Modems

Apex Data Inc., V.32bis Data/Fax Modem, $369

• Type II
• 14,400-bps for both data and faxes, supports V.17 protocol
• supports the Microcom Networking Protocol 5 and 10 protocols, as well as the CCITT modem standards

ATI Technologies, 14400 ETC-Express, $349

• data and fax rates of 14.4 Kbps
• bundled with FaxWorks and Comit for Windows software

AT&T, Paradyne KeepInTouch Card, $599

• Type II, supports V.32bis, V.32, V.42bis, V.42
• power consumption: operating 1000 mW, stand-by 15 mW

Boca Research, Boca M144PA, $369

• Type II, 14.4 Kbps data modem
• supports the V.32bis, V.32, V.22bis, Bell 212A, and Bell 103, Microcom Network Protocol Class 5 and V42bis standards

Data Race, Inc., RediCard RC-1496, $595

• Type II, with data and fax rates of 14.4 Kbps and 9600 bps
• supports V.32bis, V.32, V.42bis, V.42, MNP Class 4 and 5

Data Race, Inc., RediCard RC-9696, $529

• Type II, data and fax rates of 9600 bps

Data Race, Inc., RediCard RC-2496, $399

• Type II, with data and fax rates of 2400 bps and 9600 bps

DataTrek Corp., ComCard-2, $565

• Type II, data/fax rates of 14.4 Kbps

Hayes Microcomputer Products, Smartmodem Optima 14400+ Fax144, $399

• Type II, data and fax rate of 14,400bps
• bundled with Hayes Smartcom for Windows (data and fax) communications software

IBM, 14.4/14.4 Data/Fax Modem, $499

• Type II
• includes DataCom and DataFax software from Trio Information System

IBM, 2.4/9.6 Data/Fax Modem, $299

• Type II
• includes DataCom and DataFax software from Trio Information System

Intel Corp., Faxmodem 14.4/14.4, $399

• Type II
• data and fax rates of 14.4 Kbps
• MS-DOS and Windows versions of Intel’s FAXability Plus and Hilgraeve Inc.’s HyperAccess Lite bundled
• hot-swapping without rebooting

Intel Corp., Faxmodem 96/96, $379

• Type II
• data and fax rate of 9600 bps

Intel Corp., Faxmodem 24/96, $299

• Type II
• data rate of 2400 bps, fax rate 9600 bps

MagicRAM Inc., Mercury Card, $295

• Type II
• includes voice recording capabilities and Pacific Image Communications’ SuperVoice answering machine
• supports Group 3 fax at 9,600-bps and data at 2,400-bps

Megahertz, XJ1144, $599

• Type II
• data and fax rates of 14.4 Kbps
• pop-out RJ-11 jack

Practical Peripherals, PractiCard 144, $449

• Type II, supports V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis, MNP, and V.17
• bundled with QuickLink II data and fax communications software

Supra Corp., SupraCOMcard 144, $349

• Type II, supports V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis and V.17
• bundled with COMit communications, FaxTalk fax, and WinCIM software

US Robotics Inc., WorldPort 14,400 Data/FAX PCMCIA, $399

• Type II
• supports V.17 and V.32bis standards for 14,400-bps fax and data
• bundled with Crosstalk Communicator and WinFax Lite software

DSP and Sound

DSP Solutions, Portable Sound Port Plug, $279

• Type II
• 14-bit recording, 16-bit stereo playback
• plays .WAV and .MID files
• bundled with external speaker and microphone

New Media Corp., WAVjammer, $399

• Type I
• 16-bit stereo sound card
• external connectors for microphone, headphone, and speakers

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Socket Communications, Inc., Mobile GPS

• Type II
• uses Trimble Navigation GPS technology
• position accurate to within 25 m

Hard Disks

Integral Peripherals Inc., Viper 8170, $595

• 170 MB, 15 ms access time
• 3.5 MB/s data transfer rate

Integral Peripherals Inc., Viper 8105, $495

• 105 MB, 15 ms access time
• 3.5 MB/s data transfer rate

Maxtor Corp., MobileMax 131, $499

• Type III
• 1.8-inch, 131 MB

MiniStor Peripherals Corp., MP85P, $549

• Type III
• 1.8-inch, 85 MB storage

Toshiba, Noteworthy PCMCIA drive

• 85 MB, 16-ms access time

Local Area Network (Ethernet)

Addtron Technology Co., Ethernet PCMCIA Adapter, $499

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

Compex Inc., ENET-MCIA, $375

• 16 KB memory buffer

Data Race, Inc., Adapter RC-10BT, $399

• support Ethernet 10BaseT
• 16 KB memory buffer

Data Race, Inc., Adapter RC-10B2, $399

• supports Ethernet 10Base2
• 16 KB memory buffer

DataTrek Corp., NetCard-T, $345

• supports Ethernet 10BaseT
• operates memory-mapped or I/O mapped
• 512 KB built-in data buffer

DataTrek Corp., NetCard-2, $345

• supports Ethernet 10Base2
• operates memory-mapped or I/O mapped

D-Link Systems, Inc., D-Link DE-650T, $395

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

IBM, Ethernet Credit Card Adapter, $269

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

Intellicom, Inc., TP-PCMCIA/T, $350

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

Linksys, EthernetCard, $299

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

MagicRAM, Inc., MagicRAM Ethernet Credit Card Adapter, $295

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

New Media Corp., Ethernet LAN Adapter, $249

• Type II, 64 KB memory buffer

Pure Data, Inc., PDMCIA9023-T, $330

• two data transfer modes: shared memory and programmed I/O

Socket Communications, Inc., Socket EA, $399

• Type II, 64 KB memory buffer

Thomas-Conrad Corp., TC-Card Ethernet, $359

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

Xircom, Inc., CreditCard Ethernet Adapter, $349

• Type II, 16 KB memory buffer

Local Area Network (Token-Ring)

Apex Data Inc., Token-Ring Adapter, $489

• Type II, supports 16/4 Mbps and compatible with Windows, OS/2, and DOS

MagicRAM, Inc., MagicRAM Token-Ring Credit Card Adapter, $595

• Type II, 64KB memory buffer

Pure Data, Inc., PDMCIA9025-4/16, $645

• Type II, 64KB memory buffer

Thomas-Conrad Corp., TC-Card Token-Ring, $359

• Type II, 64KB memory buffer

LAN and Modem

Socket Communications Inc., Trio, $695

• Type II, includes Ethernet LAN and a 14.4 Kbps fax modem

Xircom, CreditCard Ethernet+Modem, $699

• Type II, includes LAN and fax features

Memory Cards

Intel Corp., Series 2 Flash Memory

• 4, 10, 20 MB versions available
• Exchangeable Card Architecture

Mitsubishi, 2 MB SRAM, $225

• Type I, 2 MB storage

Silicon Storage Technology, Inc., SuperFlash Card

• Type I
• 1 MB, 2 MB capacity

SunDisk, SDP Flash Card, $375

• Type II, 5 MB storage

SCSI Cards

Apex Data Inc., SCSI-2 Adapter, $349

• Type II
• bundled with Tape Mate II backup software, Music Box CD for DOS and Windows, and Photo CD Viewer

New Media, Visual Media, $399

• Type I
• supports CD-ROM drives, tape drives, optical scanners, printers, and others
• average sustained data transfer rate of 500 KB per second
• software support using Corel SCSI Version 2

Wireless (Infrared)

IBM, Infrared Wireless Adapter III, $549

• Type II, with data rates up to 1 MB/s
• includes external optical transceiver using Photonics Corp.’s technology

Wireless LAN

Proxim, Inc., RangeLAN2/PCMCIA, $595

• spread spectrum technology
• throughput of 400 to 500 Kbps

Solectek Corp., AIRLAN/PCMCIA, $699

• Type II, with data rates up to 2 Mbps, supports IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard
• spread spectrum at 915 MHz
• coverage up to 800 feet (243 m)

Xircom, Inc., CreditCard Netwave, $595

• Type II, with a range up to 50 m
• transmits in the 2.4 GHz band
• can create extended LAN using Netwave Access Point for Ethernet

Wireless Modems

Intel Corp., Wireless Modem, $795

• connects to RAM Mobile Data Inc. packet radio network

Wireless Paging

Motorola, Inc., NewsCard, $250

• uses Motorola’s EMBARC service
• receives data transmitted in the 900 MHz band

Socket Communications, Inc., Socket PageCard

• Type II, with LCD display
• works with Notify! and Update! from Ex Machina; WinBEEP from Fourth Wave, and Mobile Express from TekNow
• draws 25 mA from mobile computer

Desktop PCMCIA

Data I/O Corp., CardPro

• connects through parallel port to desktop PC’s

Hewlett-Packard Co., Vectra 486/66XE

• integrated PCMCIA card slot
• accepts Type II and Type III cards

MiniStor Peripherals Corp., DockIT Socket

• PCMCIA slot that can be installed on regular PC/AT systems

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How to Contact:

• Apex Data Inc., 1-800-841-2739, (510) 416-5656
• ATI Technologies Inc., (416) 882-2600
• Best Data Products Inc., 1-800-632-2378
• Boca Research Inc., (407) 997-6227
• Computer Peripherals Inc., 1-800-854-7600
• Data Race, (210) 558-1900, (210) 558-1929 (fax)
• DataTrek Corp., (219) 522-8000, (219) 522-0822 (fax)
• DSP Solutions, (415) 494-8086
• GVC Technologies, 1-800-289-4821
• Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. (404) 441-1617
• IBM, 1-800-426-0181.
• Intel Corp., 1-800-538-3373, (503) 629-7354
• MagicRAM Inc., 1-800-272-6242, (213) 413-9999
• Maxtor Corp., (408) 432-4468
• Megahertz Corp., (801) 272-6000, (801) 272-6077 (fax)
• Motorola UDS, (205) 430-8000.
• New Media Corp., (714) 453-0100
• PC Logic, (717) 399-2399
• Practical Peripherals, (805) 497-4774
• Pure Data, Inc., (416) 731-6444
• Silicon Storage Technology, Inc., (408) 735-9110, (408) 735-9036 (fax)
• Socket Communications Inc., (510) 670-0300
• Solectek, (619) 450-1220, (619) 457-2681 (fax)
• U.S. Robotics Inc., 1-800-342-5877, (708) 982-5010
• Xircom Inc., (818) 878-7600
• Zoltrix Inc., (510) 657-1188