Are PCMCIA cards (aka "PC cards") dead?
Answer:
There are a few still kicking around (especially for data cards (modems with built in mobile phone hardware)), but most things previously handled by PCMCIA now come built into laptops as standard or can be handled by USB.
They're still in use. They can be better than USB sometimes, as less sticks out from the laptop. I use them in work for wireless network cards, they are also used for Mobile 3G cards, and a whole host of others inc. tv card, network card, modem etc etc
Actually, PCMCIA is a very high-bandwidth connection to a laptops internal buses...and so is suitable for anything intensive in terms of CPU usage, or necessitating high data throughput.
USB does get swamped sometimes, you will notice it as reduced functionality with your usb mouse, if your are running a backup to an external usb hard disk.
This is never the case for me when backing up to a PCMCIA-connected hard disk. And its quicker too.
There are more popular and smaller interface formats. We have USB, Firewire, Card reader slots and e-SATA. As more and more features get integrated into the motherboard (modem, LAN, Wi-Fi, etc.) PCMCIA could be dead shortly.
pcmcia or Personal Computer Memory Card International Association are the older version of what we now call noebook cards
i used to have a compaq amarda 4210 and the cd rom was connected via a pcmcia slot
however the problem with having devices like cd roms and network cards in a pcmcia slot is driver installation
the installation of pcmcia drivers can be tricky sometimes,especially the cd rom drivers,this is because the pcmcia drivers dont just need the device driver,it also needs a cable driver,which can be hard to find
you are right though,with most devices coming in usb2.0 theres probally only network cards left that come in pc card format,and anyway usb2.0 is faster and much more reliable
good luck mate!
The answers post by the user, for information only, RunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers ...