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Topic: PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card (Read 3413 times) previous topic - next topic
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PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Hi.

I've got DSL internet connection (Modem/Router with 4 Ethernet connections). So far 2 desktop PCs are connected and accessing the other PC works fine.

My flat mate has a laptop (HP; 400MHz PentiumII/128MB RAM/Win2k). I'd like to buy a PCMCIA network card for connecting with the router (and the other PCs) as christmas gift for him.

I know that there are "dongle-free" cards for connecting ordinary ethernet cables directly and some that need an adapter, and I know that there are different sizes of PCMCIA cards.

My questions:

- As there are quite big price differences I wonder: Are there important differences between cards I need to know or can I just go for the cheapest offer I find?

- Are the laptop's resources enough to work properly with such a card at all?

- Are there any other things I should know/consider?

Thanks in advance for any answers
Cheers tigre
Let's suppose that rain washes out a picnic. Who is feeling negative? The rain? Or YOU? What's causing the negative feeling? The rain or your reaction? - Anthony De Mello

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #1 –
I have 2 pcmcia ethernet cards for my laptop, one with a dongle attachment & one with the connector built in, my preference is for the one built in, the dongle attachment have always seemed pretty easy to break, you pick it up to move it over somewhere and you can see the connector just streching, never seen one break but it is not hard to imangine.

I guess the one concern is that the integrated RJ-45 connectors usually take up both slots of the PC Card interface which is a problem if you use another card for some reason.

To me there is not really any difference in the cards but i think you should stay with a common brand (ie. netgear, linksys, d-link) other than that just make sure that it supports your OS. The laptop should have no problems in handling a network card.

I have been in a similar boat at the moment where I hooked up my system with ethernet cables which is fine for my main computer - but now I find I would like to move around with the laptop so I am considering switching over to wireless. It is a considerable more expense to move all the equipment over to wireless but it may be more of an advantage in the future - might consider passing the idea to your flatmate and share expenses.

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #2 –
My father has a Celeron 400 MHz laptop with 3com network card. It has no performance problems.

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #3 –
my father uses some dongle-free xircom pcmcia in his notebook and it works just find. you can even shut the pcmcia slot if you don't have a lan cable connected to the card. i don't know the name of the card but something like xircom 10/100.

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #4 –
Having broken a 3com dongle card and a 3com x-jack card, I can highly recommend NOT using those.  Currently for my laptop needs, I've used a Netgear PCMCIA card, and I don't think its ever gonna break.

I had a friend that managed to fry his Netgear card, but we suspect it was related to the lightning storm and power failure that happened at about the same time.

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #5 –
Thanks for the replies so far.

If the card is easy to break is not much of an issue because it will be plugged into the laptops docking station permanently.

WLAN is not an option because some ppl here have problems with electrosmog. 
Let's suppose that rain washes out a picnic. Who is feeling negative? The rain? Or YOU? What's causing the negative feeling? The rain or your reaction? - Anthony De Mello

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #6 –
Quote
WLAN is not an option because some ppl here have problems with electrosmog. 


What does that mean? - Are they aware of all the radiation they are already subjected to?

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #7 –
Quote
Quote
WLAN is not an option because some ppl here have problems with electrosmog. 


What does that mean? - Are they aware of all the radiation they are already subjected to?

Rules in real life are different from HA's TOS (at least here). Placebo effect can cause diseases in worst case and heal in best case. If ppl don't know about "all the radiation they are already subjected to" chances are, that they don't have related problems (or problems assumed as related). If I install WLAN (or a microwave, 12V halogen light system ...) it's different. If someone has e.g. a headache, (s)he might say "I haven't had headache that often before you installed this ... etc."

BTW: One of the ppl I'm talking about was able to tell in a blind test (statistically valid) if some 12V halogen light wires (50Hz) running unshielded across a room were connected to power or not (100W load). She had some headache-like feeling if they were connected.

For me the advantages of WLAN aren't worth the trouble.
Let's suppose that rain washes out a picnic. Who is feeling negative? The rain? Or YOU? What's causing the negative feeling? The rain or your reaction? - Anthony De Mello

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #8 –
Point taken
Some people are more sensitive to EM radiation and I can fully understand if they want the least amount possible. There is already sufficient "noise" in most cities.
But sometime the placebo effect is more a problem than an actual problem.

Good luck with your choice!

PCMCIA 10/100Mbit/s ethernet card

Reply #9 –
Quote
There is already sufficient "noise" in most cities.

The "city" I live in consists of 14 houses. There are even no street names. No mobile phone reception either ...
Let's suppose that rain washes out a picnic. Who is feeling negative? The rain? Or YOU? What's causing the negative feeling? The rain or your reaction? - Anthony De Mello