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PCMCIA Announces NEWCARD Format

Posted by michael on from the that's-the-best-name-they-could-come-up-with dept.

schnoz writes "Found this over at DPReview: "The PCMCIA technology association has today announced the 'NEWCARD' format. This new format makes use of PC Card, PCI Express and USB 2.0 technologies. The NEWCARD format is also aimed at both Mobile and Desktop PCs". Check out the rest of the article here."

15 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. A bit short on the info, long on the ass kissing by Michalson · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is it just me, or did that article seem to be more toward executives who want to see their companies name than people who want to know what is going on? While I see a bunch of stuff about how this will "revolutionize" the industry, I could just barely get the info on what IT actually was. It would have been nice to actually see some info like how this USB2/PCMCIA/PCI connection is going to work or what it will look like? Is it something where you buy an adapter cable depending on which of the three you're plugging it into?

  2. The photo by Tri0de · · Score: 3, Interesting

    shows a unit labled 'Single Wide'. I wonder what that implies for the future, and if it refers to physical size or data bus size

    --
    "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."
  3. What I figured by hackwrench · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Its just a way for manufacturers who make USB format devices to quickly retool their devices to work in a PCMCIA format.

  4. Card-based computer by Pyrosophy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've always thought it would be really neat if someone could make a basically PCMCIA based computer. No PCI slots, no need to open up your computer -- just a slot in the front of the computer where you could insert a new card that gets automatically plugged in, enabling pre-existing ports on the back of one's box.

    Instead of having to make users deal with a modem PCI card, a network PCI card, sound card, etc, all they would need to do to upgrade is eject one of the old PCMCIA cards and load a new one like one loads a video tape.

    I'm not saying this would be easy or compatible with existing OSs, but it sure would be cool.

    1. Re:Card-based computer by gilesjuk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Cables break, pins can bend. Edge connectors are tried an tested reliable technology.

      Of course something like a ZIF socket might work, but you would need a reliable locking mechanism and motherboards that support hot plugging.

      I persoanlly would like to see PCI/AGP cards with the connector opposite the backplane, you could then design a system where you slide the cards in from the back of the PC.

    2. Re:Card-based computer by red_dragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

      IBM once made a PCMCIA-based desktop computer, the PS/2E, which was basically a Thinkpad built into a pizza box chassis. The machine was designed as a "green computer", meaning that it'd consume as little power as possible. It came with four PCMCIA slots built into the back, but the rest was pretty middle-of-the-road: XGA2 graphics, 486SLC2 processor, and an IDE disk interface. As you might imagine, they didn't sell too well.

      --
      In Soviet Russia, Jesus asks: "What Would You Do?"
    3. Re:Card-based computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I've never understood why almost all PC's are so horribly consumer unfriendly, with expansion by unscrewing the case, inserting cards, screwing things down, etc. The old Atari PC's (400/800) at least had cartridge expansion (snap in a modem/ram card/etc.).

      There was an attempt by a number of PC manufacturers at defining an expansion cartridge format for the PC, similar to the laptop expansion bays, based on USB and FireWire, but (rumor has it) Intel killed it because they didn't want any non-Intel technology (i.e. FireWire). Would have been nice, though -- snap in a hard drive, modem, etc., impossible for a consumer to get wrong. No screws, no exposed electronics, no driver installs.

      Ah well, at least Intel can keep getting USB royalties... :-)

  5. picture of it by adpowers · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Here is a picture of it in an actual computer.

  6. I find this very good... by zoloto · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...if companies support it widely enough. It would be nice to slip this into a dumb terminal, and presto! instant user desktop with our personal info on it. Then take it out and carry your stuff with you.

    this is just one of the possibilities

  7. Why USB 2.0: such a slow standard? by adzoox · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Isn't USB 2.0 already slower than the PCI Express or cardbus i/o?

    Why didn't they choose FireWire 800 or something like an AGP type i/o so that video card PC cards could be ultrafast?

    --
    Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
  8. It's just a refinement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Typical press release doubletalk. Based on the "single-wide" (which implies double-wide) and the quotes which refer to two cards in the same form factor as one PCMCIA, I'd bet a dollar or two that:

    1) NEWCARD is simply specs for a new version of PCMCIA that allows for two NEWCARDs in the place of one PCMCIA. This allows notebook manufactures to keep their dies the same and just swap out the card bay. If they get cute, they might even be able to make a hybrid version that takes either 1 old or 2 new cards--depends on connector pinouts).

    2) Since they will be restricted in connector pin space, they're using a USB2.0 serial bus for communication rather than PCMCIAs parallel bus/bizarre IDE disk protocol. Fewer pins, better reliability and speed.

    3) This is nothing more than a packaging standard. PCMCIA is just worried about impingement from Compact Flash cards for network/serial/bluetooth/everything else. Note the emphasis on "mobile" computing. Subtext: don't buy Flash, we're better.

    4) (Personal opinion). Unclear to me why they'd trumpet any sort of connection to USB, given the incredibly bad compatibility story it has.

  9. The IBM PS/2 E was exactly this. by isaac · · Score: 3, Interesting

    IBM made such a machine - the PS/2e was a low-power (fanless!) machine with a single ISA slot. This slot was almost always filled with a pcmcia adapter that put 4 PCMCIA slots on the front panel (behind the lil' door.)

    It didn't sell well, on account of it was way overpriced ($5000+ with a 10.4" VGA TFT, IIRC) - ultimately, it ended up at closeout places.

    This type of "slimtop" machine is moderately popular in Japan where space & power efficiency are more highly valued than in the US.

    -Isaac

    --
    I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
  10. Ohhhh, USB2 by evilviper · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I suppose PCMCIA/CardBus was too fast, and worked too well. "Let's throw USB2 in the mix and watch the hilarious results."

    The advantage I see, is that USB and firewire have been smart enough (where everyone else was moronic) to have just one software interface, meaning one driver will support all the USB/Firewire cards.

    However, they could have done the same thing with something better than USB2.

    --
    Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  11. Cooling and speed by foldedspace · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You guys thinking you can just upgrade the entire computer with a closed up little plastic card, forget it. Gigabit ethernet outruns the 32 bit/33 MHz PCI bus. Video cards, gigabit network cards and even some sound cards have heatsinks and (some even have) fans. I'm having a hard time imagining exactly what this will be good for.

  12. We have firewire/USB 2.0, why do we need NEWCARD ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I do not get it. And article is not clear. We
    already have USB 2.0 and firewire, why not
    to make USB 2.0/firewire devices ?

    Why do we need new format ?

    Kubus