Notebook makers shows first wave of PC Card products at CeBIT

- Gary Thayer, News Editor

Hanover, Germany, March 11, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- At the CeBIT tradeshow in Germany, several notebook makers are showing off products with the first wave of "ExpressCard" systems and modules, the next-generation PC Card technology for I/O expansion of desktop and mobile systems, including flash memory, communications, multimedia and security.

The ExpressCard standard is being promoted by the technology trade association for PC Card technology called PCMCIA. The standard supports "all modules in all slots," enabling users to move modules between desktop and mobile systems.

The ExpressCard standard supports both the PCI Express and USB 2.0 standards, which are becoming regular features on new chipsets from Intel, Nvidia, Silicon and Via. PC Card technology is the hardware expansion standard for more than 95 percent of all notebook computers, according to PCMCIA.

At just 34mm wide, the new modules are smaller than the old 54mm PC Cards. However, the first ExpressCards will remain 54mm wide at the end of the card, tapering down to 34mm at the plug-in end.

Companies showing ExpressCard-compliant products at CeBIT:

• Fujitsu Siemens is showing its new Lifebook E8020 notebook, which supports one ExpressCard slot and one PC Card for optimal modular expansion.
  
• LG Electronics' new models, the LM60/70 (Thin & Light), the LS70 (Full) and the LW60/70 (Wide) Express offer an ExpressCard expansion slot.
  
• Toshiba's new Tecra M3 and S2 notebooks support one PC Card and one ExpressCard slot.
  
• AboCom Systems (abocom.com.tw) has new Gigabit Ethernet ExpressCard and Bluetooth modules that enable users to quickly add high-speed and wireless networking to their computer systems.
  
• AverMedia's new E508 ExpressCard TV Tuner module enables notebook users to add plug-n-play TV functionality.
  
• Hagiwara Sys-Com (hscjpn.co.jp) claims its CompactFlash ExpressCard module is the first on the market. The card supports plug-n-play CompactFlash in any notebook or desktop system.
  
• Lexar offers solid-state storage in the ExpressCard format with various preloaded software applications. Security (256-bit AES encryption) provides password protection. Traveler provides the user with access to portable email, internet and file synchronization.
  
• TaiSol is demoing new memory adapters that support various Flash media formats including SD, xD and Memory Stick.
  
• Wibu-Systems AG (wibu.com) is announcing a new CodeMeter ExpressCard module supports Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, SCM Microsystems, and Texas Instruments are also among those supporting development of the ExpressCard standard.

PCMCIA also announced the first results from its compliance program. To date, 28 members have participated, submitting 53 ExpressCard products, including systems, modules and components for compliance testing. Sixteen PCMCIA members have submitted 20 host systems and 15 modules for compliance review. In addition, 12 members have submitted 13 connectors and 5 power switch components for compliance review. Compliant systems and modules display the ExpressCard logo -- an energetic orange rabbit designed to tell consumers that all ExpressCard products are interoperable, hot swappable and plug-n-play.

For a list of available ExpressCard products by category as well as links to the manufacturers, see expresscard.org.

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