PCMCIA

Short for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, PCMCIA is a trade association founded in 1989 that is responsible for the ongoing development of the PCMCIA standard. PCMCIA cards are hardware interfaces that are slightly bigger than a standard credit card and enable additional functionality for laptop computers and portable devices.

If you're familiar with expansion cards in desktop computers, you can think of a PCMCIA card as an expansion card for a laptop. The first picture shows a PCMCIA card inserted into the bottom slot of the computer. The second image shows a PCMCIA SMC EZ Card 10/100 wireless network card, which enables a laptop computer or another portable device to connect to a wireless network.

The term PC Card replaces PCMCIA card because of the ongoing changes in the technology and because it's easier to remember. It also should not be confused with a PCI (peripheral component interconnect) card, which is used in desktop computers.

Today, PC Card has replaced by the new ExpressCard standard and most new laptops no longer have or use PC Cards.

Card, Computer abbreviations, ExpressCard, Hardware terms, NEWCARD, Obsolete, PC Card