Computers & Peripherals: September 12, 1996

Board bridges PCI bus and Quick-R-Net network.

Hitting an aggregate data rate of up to 220 Mbytes/sec, the VMIPCI-5650 builds a PCI-bus interface to the Quick-R-Net single-ring data network. The device handles up to 50-Mbyte/sec node-to-node transfers. The VMIPCI-5650, which is based on National Semiconductor's QuickRing technology, allows an addressing range of 1 to 8 Mbytes and drives a 16-node network with up to 5m between nodes. Typical latency is under 2 msec. The board costs $1959. VME Microsystems International Corp, Huntsville, AL. (205) 880-0444.

Converter links HP-IB/IEEE-488 or ATE with parallel printers/plotters.

Supplied with an expandable buffer, the MicroPlot 50 connects HP or other HP-IB/IEEE-488 computers or automatic-test equipment (ATE) to printers and plotters equipped with parallel interfaces. Buffer size ranges from 256 kbytes to 8 Mbytes. The MicroPlot 50 offers three operation modes. In printer mode, the device connects to printer-control-language LaserJet or DeskJet printers and lets you vary the size and format of the raster graphics output. Plotter mode lets plotters with parallel interfaces be used with HP-IB controllers designed to work with older HP-IB plotters. The switched-plotter mode automatically configures PCL5 LaserJets and DeskJets as A- or B-size plotters with HP-GL capability. Prices range from $595 to $1395. Intelligent Interfaces Inc, Stone Mountain, GA. (770) 381-9891.

Multimedia accelerator brings 3-D to mainstream PCs.

Based on the S3d Virge graphics controller, the 9FX Reality 332 integrates 64-bit 2-D graphics acceleration, advanced 3-D rendering, full-screen video-clip playback, and an optional MPEG module into a single-slot PCI-bus board. The plug-and-play accelerator works with Windows 95, 3.1x, NT 3.51, and DOS. Equipped with 2 Mbytes of EDO video DRAM, the board displays 256 colors at resolutions of up to 1280×1024 pixels, 65,000 colors at up to 1024×3768 pixels, or 16.8 million colors at up to 800×600 pixels. Estimated street price for the 9FX Reality 332 is $199; the 9FX PlusMPEG 231 add-on module costs $99. Number Nine Computer Corp, Lexington, MA. (617) 674-0009.

Color notebook holds 1.2 Gbytes of removable storage.

Powered by a 100-MHz Pentium processor, the Extensa 570CDT notebook computer has a 1.2-Gbyte removable hard-disk drive and a 4× CD-ROM drive. Another family member, the 570CD, offers 810 Mbytes of removable hard-disk storage and a 6× CD-ROM drive. Both computers come with 8 Mbytes of RAM and an NiMH battery that offers 2.5H of use per charge. The Extensa 570CDT sports a 10.4-in. SVGA TFT active-matrix LCD, and the 570CD uses an 11.3-in. SVGA DSTN display. A multimedia package with onboard 16-bit sound and built-in microphone and speakers is standard for both models. Estimated prices for the 570CD and the 570CDT are $2999 and $3999, respectively. Texas Instruments Inc, Temple, TX. (800) 848-3927.

Server holds up to 16 PCMCIA modems.

Offered for Windows NT, HP-UX, and IBM AIX platforms, the EtherLite series of PCMCIA-based modem servers connects to an Ethernet TCP/IP network via a standard 10BaseT connection. The EM-8 and EM-16 provide hot-swappable PCMCIA Type II slots for 8 and 16 PCMCIA modems, respectively. The devices operate at up to 28.8 kbps. With up to 16 modems in one box, EtherLite saves space and eliminates cabling clutter of external modems and individual power supplies. The unit's serial ports appear as local TTY ports under Unix and as native COM ports under Windows NT. List prices are $1695 for the EM-8 and $2395 for the EM-16. Central Data Corp, Champaign, IL. (217) 359-8010.

Flash-memory card is only 1.4×3.4×1/10 in.

Smaller than a credit card, the Super Debut flash-memory card offers 128-kbyte to 2-Mbyte storage. To ensure data integrity, the tiny card achieves contactless access through an electromagnetic coupling using sheet coils embedded in a durable plastic resin. Super Debut withstands hostile environmental conditions and is virtually impervious to moisture, dust, oil, static electricity, shock, and magnetism. Access time is 500 kbps. Prices range from $125 for a 128-kbyte card to $563 for a 2-Mbyte version. Read/write units are also available, starting at $250 for a single read unit. Multiple read/write units cost $938. Sanwa Components USA Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 597-0961.