Comdex Info…
21 messages in this thread
They (PCMCIA ethernet) make sense to anyone who works as part of a large
group (doctors in a hospital, workers in a warehouse) who want to use
handheld computers. PCMCIA is the perfect size for something like Apple's
Newton and other (forthcoming) PDAs and handhelds. A regular ethernet port
is too big.
Heck, they have call buttons and cable TV in every room in a hospital, why
not thinnet cables so docs/nurses can just plug in and access the hospitals
network? X-rays, cat scans, reports, lab results sent 'cross hospital in
seconds instead of physically running them around.
PCMCIA is great for those who want *real* portability (laptops are not
useful when you can't sit and type) and access to the resources of major
networks.
-Chas
I fail to see what PCMIA has to do with portability – after all, if you're
tied to a network, you're not very portable, are you? Even a P-card needs a
full-size connector to the cable, no?
John,
What the PCMCIA cards bring the Amiga is comparably priced expansion
hardware to other platforms. Yes, drivers will have to be written, and
I'm not naive enough to think that manufacturers will put Amiga drivers
into their cards, but it's a big step forward. Prior to PCMCIA, Amiga
developers pretty much had to develop custom hardware _and_ the software
for it. I think that we'll see a lot more in the line of software, now
that companies don't have to design, build, and support custom hardware as
well.
I saw a magazine ad today for 3 PCMCIA cards from IBM –
1. Token-Ring
2. Ethernet
3. 3270
The list is growing.
David
I'll buy that aspect of it. That makes sense. So why did CBM put it on
the low-end computers and not the high-end systems? 🙂 That still leaves
the drivers to be created and sold.
CBM's Ethernet card costs dealers about $220, add a margin, are they still
more expensive than PCMCIA Ethernet cards? As for modems, we've always
enjoyed the economies of scale. What else do you stick in these ports?
John,
I don't have prices on the PCMCIA Ethernet cards, but the economics of
scale have got to work in our favor regarding them.
As far as what's coming for them, I couldn't say, but I see them as a way
of letting the Amiga keep up with the latest industry hardware
developments. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of PCMCIA
interface on the high end machines, although not necessarily implemented
in the same way as on the A600/A1200.
David
<What else do you stick in these ports?>>
I know there's a Global Positioning System reciever that is designed
for the HP 95LX. I think it's probably interfaced through the PCMCIA
port.
-Sean
Now *that* would be fun. 🙂
I think so too! Just think of all the neat little experiments that could
be done.
-Sean
Sean:
The HP95LX has a PCMCIA slot? I didn't know that! Hmm.. I might have to
sell my Atari Portfolio and buy an HP, so when I get my A1200 I can at
least share peripherals with it! 🙂
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike,
Yes, a friend of mine has one and is using the slot for a memory card.
I do think that would be great to have a radio modem (could they be made
small enough?) in there and I could access CIS on the go…
-Sean
There is a very unique adapter card that will allow PCMCIA cards to be
used in the Atari Portfolio. Let me know if you want more info.
Leslie:
Yes, I'm interested. If you can, can you email me more info? Thanks.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Not on the "high end" machines? Funny, I thought the 4000 had one….
// Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot…..
\X/
The company I work for, New Media Corporation (1-800-CARDS4U), was
formed to manufacture PCMCIA cards. We are currently shipping PSRAM
cards for the 600 and 1200 which can be used as memory upgrades. At
COMDEX we also showed PCMCIA modem, ethernet, and SCSI cards.
Are you (New Media Corp) planning on writing drivers for the modem,
ethernet, and scsi cards for the Amiga 600/1200?
Does New Media have any plans to create Amiga drivers for the modem,
ethernet, and SCSI cards? If so, email me ASAP! 🙂
The idea is that you can be portable then hook to a network to get or
receive data — just not operate on it (you could, but that is beside the
point). Yes, a full size connector is necessary, but there are different
ways to implement it (pretty simple with thinnet or twisted pair).
Laptops are too big to use while moving (walking, etc) while a pen-based
handheld isn't. To get a computer that small requires smaller parts, thus
PCMCIA which is a heck of a lot smaller than card-edge connectors. Not to
mention easier to change PCMCIAs than internal cards. ROM upgrades (custom
ROMs, like those on a hard-drive controller) could be updated simply by
downloading the data via modem to the PCMCIA card (which has the hardware
on it).
Floppies are larger, more susceptableto wear/tear (with moving parts) and
to dust & dirt. Write times are faster to a PCMCIA than a floppy.
-Chs
I could see people leaving the PCMCIA card attached to the Ethernet, and
not taking it with them when they move. For an office full of handhelds,
that would make sense. But I don't see why doing it on PCMCIA makes that
much difference. If networking is important to these handhelds, why not
put it on the motherboard?
Why not on the motherboard? 'Simply 'cause that limits your market. PCMCIA
are critical to small systems because of theirsize/weigt (almos none) and
power consumption (3v, no moving parts). Network cards allow one unit to
hook up to Ethernet, token ring, 3270 or arcnet networks just by plugging
in different cards. Drivers for most major systems could reside on the
card with the hardware.
Another reason is copy protection. It makes it much more difficult to copy
software when it includes custom hardware (notice there aren't too many
copies of NewTek's Toaster Switcher software around). PCMCIA software
could include a built in dongle that you'd never forget.
-Chas
Not to pick on you in particular, John, but it's just the latest message
and this the most convenient to reply to:
OKAY, FOLKS, REPEAT AFTER ME!
P
C
M
C <— NOTE!!!!!
I
A
Can you say PCMCIA? I knew you could!