My Computer Peripherals
Trumpcard Wins the Hand
Windows Sources Magazine February 1996
At the card table, nothing can beat the trump card. In the PC Card game, Ositech+s
Trumpcard Jack of Diamonds lives up to its name, combining a V.34 28.8-Kbps data and fax modem, an Ethernet
NIC, and cellular connectivity in a single pricey $599 Type II PC Card. Add the Deuce, a $129, three-port, 10BaseT "minihub" that lets you tap into an existing Ethernet line or connect up to three notebooks, and you have an unbeatable hand.
The Jack of Diamonds installed easily: We simply inserted the card, then loaded the Windows 95 driver. The card performed flawlessly on our tests, logging on to our network, transferring files, and faxing with aplomb. Working with the Deuce was also simple. The Deuce plugs into a
Jack of Diamonds card, providing two RJ45 jacks. If you install the Deuce in between your desktop and your network connection, you+ll be able to connect your laptop and desktop at the same time. On our tests, we also created a portable network between two notebooks using the
Jack of Diamonds cards and the Deuce. (A perfect setup for playing multiuser DOOM on an airplane.) You will need an inverted cable that replaced the RJ45 connectors+ pin-outs to do this. This cable does not ship with the Deuce but is available from Ositech for $9.
The Jack of Diamonds ships with Smith Micro+s QuickLink II comm software. QuickLink II is compact but loaded with features that make remote dial-in and fax transmission simple and quick. The Direct Cellular Connection Package, necessary to connect the card to most popular cellular telephones, is a $99 option.
Best known in the corporate market, the Jack of Diamonds and the Deuce offer a lot for the money: drivers for a range of platforms (including SCO
Unix and NT), free technical support, and an amazing five-year warranty. If you demand connectivity, you+ll hold all the cards with the
Jack of Diamonds and Deuce. --Michael J. Zulich
Ositech Trumpcard Jack of Diamonds and Deuce
PROS: Three functions in one PC Card; five-year warranty; cross-platform support.
CONS: Expensive
If you hate swapping out PC Cards, you'll appreciate the three-in-one communications access of the Jack and the connectivity of the Deuce.
