That’s the Phat Jack!
Pros:
Don't have to use a dongle, combo 10/100 and 56K modem card, Easy Install
Cons:
Pricey and seems flimsy
The Bottom Line:
This is a great combo card as it is not as flimsy as it seems.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
The spring loaded jack is Pretty Hot And Tempting. When it comes to buying LAN cards for laptops, I have a good bit of experience. I have primarily dealt with Xircom and 3Com. And I have not been overly impressed with either; however, I was impressed with the concept on this particular card (model 3CXFEM656).
I just started my new job a little over a month ago as a Unix Administrator for the Louisiana Supreme Court. I had gotten a hand me down laptop from my boss and it didnt have a NIC (network interface card). It had a modem card, but not a NIC. So I decided to go online and look for a NIC.
What was I looking for?
I was looking for a modem/nic card that would be simple to use. I wanted a 10/100 LAN card and a 56K modem built into one. However, I didnt want to take up both PCMCIA slots with some cards that you can plug your modem and Ethernet cable straight into the card. I liked the concept of not having to deal with a dongle (The Ethernet adapter cable that one usually has to plug into the PCMCIA card and then plug the Ethernet cable into the adapter), but I didnt like the idea of wasting a slot.
So I was hoping for something that didnt take 2 slots and something that I didnt have to use a dongle if I didnt want to. And to my amazement, I found one through 3Com.
Why did I choose this card?
I chose this card because of a few of reasons.
1.) I needed a card pretty quick so I could connect to the network.
2.) This card had a nice feature of a spring loaded feature that allowed me to not use a dongle for my LAN connection
3.) The spring loaded feature allows me to use either a RJ11 connector for my modem or an RJ45 connector for my Ethernet connection in the same jack. The card has an auto-sensing feature that will recognize a modem or LAN connection and connect you to your resources depending on what you have plugged in.
Did it come with a Dongle?
Yes it did. Why, I am not sure. It has 2 connection ports on the card 1.) The spring loaded jack 2.) The connection for the dongle. Why, I am not sure. The only thing I can think of is to connect to a modem and network at the same time. Or just have both connectors at the same time. If someone has used this feature or knows what it is for, please post a comment. But since I do not have to use the dongle, it stays in the bag.
Is there anything I dont like?
The only thing I dont really like is the spring loaded connector seems kind of flimsy. It is made of a clear plastic that lights up nicely when connected (Looks really cool in the dark!), but it doesnt seem like it could hold up after time. I will post more on this if and when it breaks. Till then, I will be very careful.
Conclusion
I have read another review not recommending this card due to glue problems, I have not had any problems with this particular card and I have had it for about 3 weeks now. Again, if something does happen I may change my recommendation. Till then, I will have to give the card a 4 star because I dont have to use a dongle and it was a breeze to setup. Good job 3Com.
ZDTronic.com
