Question for 802.11b PC Card users. Where can we get this?

[vinson]

When I purchased my first laptop I immediately went out and got a 10/100 PCMCIA PC Card (Linksys I think it was). That card came with a small clear plastic case much like a CD jewel case, which was made to hold the PCMCIA card when it was not in the laptop. I never used it much because I left the card in most of the time. The end of the card was flush with the side of the computer so once you removed the pigtail wire the whole computer would fit into its carrying case with the PC Card still in it.

Now I have purchased two different 802.11b PC Cards (US Robotics and Netgear) and neither of them came with a plastic jewel type case to protect it when it is removed from the computer. This seems ridiculous to me. I have a jewel protection case for a card I never have to take out but no manufacturer seems to make such a protection case for a type of card that has to be removed every time you pack up your computer.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a third party that makes protective cases to help solve this problem or perhaps what some of you are using as a substitute? I can?t imagine I am the only one who is having problems trying to find a suitable protection solution for 802.11b PC Cards.

Thanks,

Dane R. Vinson

 

[Zim Hosein]

ZipLock "snack size" plastic bags work well. Hope this helps.

 

[ktwebb]

Static bags are pretty cheap as well. This is really much ado about nothing. Improvise for crying out loud.

 

[sml]

i just stash mine in a pocket in my laptop case. heh.

 

[vinson]

The idea is to have a hard case surrounding the hardware. Bags are too soft for my comfort and leaving it completely exposed is asking to get something like a single grain of sand into the card contacts which could have very bad consequences.

And ktwebb if
"This is really much ado about nothing. Improvise for crying out loud. "
is how you feel about it don't bother responding. Don't be an ass.

Dane R. Vinson

 

[krakken]

what a pain, they should have removable antennas at least then right?
Although it is kind of a whining point, it has some merit.

 

[toshiba3020]

My SMC dongeless card instead of coming with a hard plastic case came with a flexible plastic pocket. It fits the lenght of a normal pcmcia card, and lets the attached dongle fit on it outside the plastic since it is much thicher. This is what you need. You could also get a 3com wireless card. They make one with a retractible antenna. That would fit in your plastic case or could easily stay in your laptop. If I upgrade to wireless thats what I am getting.

 

[johnjk]

My orinoco came with a nice hard plastic case.

 

[vinson]

krakken: I don't feel that simply asking a question about this is exactly whining. I just wanted to know if there were cases out there or if others has different solutions.

toshiba3020: I didn't see the 3com card when I was shopping for them. That sucks. I would have gotten that one for sure. The retractable antenna idea always seemed like the perfect solution to me. I'd just leave it in the computer then like a standard PCMCIA card and no problems.

johnjk: I'm jelous. I couldn't find a single card that listed a hard case as being included in the box.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Thanks to those with constructive comments.

 

[yoyo25]

Yeah, I have noticed that only the lucent/agere orinoco cards come with the plastic case..which is very useful when you carry it around in a bag.

 

[toshiba3020]

link to 3com

Just if you wanted to look.

 

[vinson]

That 3com card is one cool looking card. I wish I had seen that before I bought my US Robotics one.