Xircom CompactCards

Although it was originally intended as a storage medium for digital cameras, the versatility of the CompactFlash card has resulted in it finding favour with other devices that need a small, rugged and relatively cheap alternative to a hard disk. Storage isn't the only use for the CompactFlash design, though, as Xircom illustrates with its new CompactCards.

The CompactCards are actually Type II CompactFlash cards and this is an important point. Type II cards are slightly fatter than the more common Type I cards and so need a slot of the appropriate type. All the Windows CE devices we've seen with CompactFlash have Type II slots, and those that don't have a Type II PC Card slot - into which a CompactFlash will fit with an adaptor. If you're wondering about Psion handhelds, forget it - Xircom only supports Windows CE.

There are three cards - a 56Kbit/sec modem, a GSM modem and an ethernet network adaptor. All come with the necessary cabling but you'll need to specify your make of phone for the GSM modem.

Installation is a cinch - just plug in a card and configure your handheld. No drivers are needed for the modems and a Wizard configures the ethernet adaptor.

We don't know of any Windows CE handheld without a built-in fixed-line modem, but the GSM card will appeal to some users. No CE palmtop has a modem, though, and we had a Compaq Aero 1520 sending email and surfing the web (via a freeware CE browser) in a matter of minutes.

The Ethernet adaptor is really only of use in a business environment, but the option to give a CE device 10Mbits/sec access to the office network will be of use to many.

Price £104.58 (modem), £92.83 (GSM), £104.58 (ethernet 10)Contact Xircom 00800 7070 6060Minimum requirements Windows CE device with Type II CompactFlash slot.

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