What's a PCMCIA slot?

loofer

More specifically... my 37LG3000 LCD TV has a PCMCIA slot on the side. What's this for? How can I benefit from it? What do I need to know about buying one? Any reccommending features to look out for or even things to avoid?

Thanks

Baldur

http://www.pcmcia.org/about.htm

loofer

Thanks but I was hoping for a bit more digested information. From that website, I understand that it's a memory card (to store what?) but also to connect to devices like my Laptop... but what can I do with it?
I've just typed PCMCIA on eBay and there's all sorts. Which one is right for me.

Baldur

PCMCIA cards come in all types - from modems to USB adapters to wireless LAN adapters - what do you need to connect to your TV is the question that you need to be asking yourself.

Apples2

Chances are there is nothing you will need the PCMCIA slot for that you can't get cheaper with a USB plug on the end.

I have a few in an old box under the stairs, one has 4 usb slots on, one has a LAN port on, another two are wirelss network cards..

Pretty much pointless these days.

Here's one I didn't even open, still sealed in the box

isofa

loofer wrote: »

Thanks but I was hoping for a bit more digested information. From that website, I understand that it's a memory card (to store what?) but also to connect to devices like my Laptop... but what can I do with it?
I've just typed PCMCIA on eBay and there's all sorts. Which one is right for me.

It's an expansion port on a laptop, now more commonly referred to as a PC card slot, however newer versions are also called Cardbus and are more up-to-date, there are slightly different (ExpressCard is replacing PC cards in modern laptops, similar idea, but smaller).

You can add all manner of cards to add functionality to your laptop, USB2, Firewire, SCSI, card readers, HDSPA modems to name but a few, depending on the type of card.

However on a TV it is usually just used for a top-up TV card to enable you to access more channels.

You ask "which one is right for me", well that depends what you want to add/do with it in the first place.

More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card

loofer

I thought I was limited to usage.

Well viewing digital photos taken from camera would be nice (onto SD Card and MMC). So I guess I would need a flash card reader type PC Card.

I've just read a few other forums (AVForums etc) and they mention PayTV, Setanta etc. Not really what I want.

I have a USB slot on the back but it says Service Only. So I assume I can't use that.

By the nature of a PCMICA being standardised... I guess I can just buy any card reader type one on eBay, even if it's meant for a lap top?

Oh and it's just Plug & Play right?

isofa

loofer wrote: »

I thought I was limited to usage.

Well viewing digital photos taken from camera would be nice (onto SD Card and MMC). So I guess I would need a flash card reader type PC Card.

I've just read a few other forums (AVForums etc) and they mention PayTV, Setanta etc. Not really what I want.

I have a USB slot on the back but it says Service Only. So I assume I can't use that.

By the nature of a PCMICA being standardised... I guess I can just buy any card reader type one on eBay, even if it's meant for a lap top?

Oh and it's just Plug & Play right?

I very much doubt a PC Card reader designed for a laptop will work in a TV - it doesn't work like that, the TV doesn't have an operating system to handle laptop type cards.

With the TV you are limited, as I said earlier, to top up TV cards, and service cards - cards must be specifically designed to work in a TV - and these are few and far between, not the same as a laptop card, despite being the same form factor.

With a laptop the operating system handles the card with drivers if required, hence the multitude of cards available. The TV doesn't have this luxury and therefore can only work with specific cards (99% top up TV cards) as designed.