Which Type of PCMCIA Card Is Used for a Hard Drive?
A PCMCIA card is normally used with laptops or other portable computers. They are also simply called PC cards, and they have several capabilities that allow access to wired or wireless networks. If you own a personal computer, you can install a PCI to PCMCIA Card Bus Adapter on your computer's hard drive that will support Types I, II and III PC cards.
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History
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The acronym PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. The association developed and established standards for credit-card-sized integrated-circuit PC cards. These cards enable your computer to send and receive faxes, access the Internet wirelessly or over a telephone line, and connect to devices such as printers, a mouse, joystick or MP3 player.
The cards are convenient because they're lightweight and portable. You can take them with you while you're traveling, and remove or unplug the device from your portable computer when it's not in use.
Facts
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Installing a PCI to PCMCIA Card Bus PC Card Adapter on your personal computer is moderately easy. Normally the adapter is inserted into a PCI expansion slot, located on your computer's motherboard. Once the adapter has been firmly secured inside your computer, a PC card can be inserted into the PCMCIA slot on your computer's back panel.
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Identification
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There are three different types of PC cards, and their dimensions vary, but you can easily identify a PC card by its thickness, as well as the expansion slots that it fits into. PC cards typically run at 3.3 volts and generate a small amount of heat. In addition, most PC card types have backwards compatibility, which allow you to use your older USB 1.1 (Universal Serial Bus) peripheral devices.
Types
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Type I Cards are 3.3 mm wide and are basically used for adding more ROM or RAM to a computer. They're used in Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) and other handheld devices.
Type II Cards are 5 mm wide and have modem capabilities, which allow you to send and receive faxes, access the internet or another network.
Type III Cards are about 10.5 mm wide and are specifically designed for removable hard drives and radio communication devices.
Function
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Once the card has been properly inserted into the slot and the software drivers have been installed, your computer will have the same functionally as a laptop or other portable computer. You will be able to access the internet via a wireless mobile broadband connection.
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