GearBits

Goodbye CardBus, Hello PCI Express

According to Nikkei Electronics Online, the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association) is nearing the release of specs for what will replace the venerable PC Card (or PCMCIA card) specification.

The new specs will be based on PCI Express instead of CardBus, yielding a 4X speed increase over today's cards. Two different sizes will be allowed in the spec, with the smaller card about half of the volume of current PC Cards.

While no official name has been adopted, the development codename being used is NEWCARD. Devices and laptops with NEWCARD slots should start appearing as early as the end of 2004.