You are correct.
It's been around longer than USB on laptops and you could get PCMCIA
cards for just about everything.
Ethernet, 56K modems, serial port, "Air Cards" (cell phones for your
laptop), etc....
With that said I don't use laptops. They're slow compared to a desktop,
they're comparatively expensive compared to desktops, they're fragile
and almost impossible for average computer user to repair.
I use desktops and I build my own. The ultimate "no solder kit".
Each one of mine has three RS-232 ports. One is a dongle from the RS-232
header on the motherboard. The mobo manufacturers haven't abandoned
RS-232...they just don't supply the 9 pin port anymore. Each one of mine
has an PCI-1X expansion card with two ports. Four port cards are available.
I don't have to dork around with adapters and try to keep track of who
has counterfeit chips and who doesn't and which version of the drivers
work with which version of the chips. One very good reason for Elecraft
to not just walk away but RUN away from including USB ports on their
products.
I do have one USB adapter.... for programming my Chinese handhelds with
CHIRP. I paid more for an FTDI chip set.
On 10/25/2014 7:36 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
My impression is that PCMCIA aka PC Card, I think, went away some
years ago. None of my three laptops has that feature.
Phil W7OX
-- R. Kevin Stover
AC0H ARRL FISTS #11993 SKCC #215 NAQCC #3441
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