PacRim Labs unveils world's smallest portable PCMCIA CD-ROM Drive equipped with sound; CyberManCD offers the only wavetable Multimedia CD-ROM Drive for portable computer users.CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 1995--PacRim Labs Tuesday announced CyberManCD, the world's smallest fully portable CD-ROM drive A device that holds and reads CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM drives generally also play audio CD discs by sending analog sound to the sound card via a 4-pin cable. For specifications of 10x, 20x, etc. drives, see CD-ROM drives. See CD-ROM, CD-ROM changer, CD-ROM server and CD-ROM audio cable. with 16-bit wavetable A group of sampled sound waves used in MIDI. See wavetable synthesis and MIDI. (hardware, music) wavetable - A type of sound generator often built in a sound card. A wavetable contains digitised samples of real instrument sounds or effect (FX) sounds. sound, giving portable computer users full multimedia capability. The product will be on display in Booth No. M-6654 at Fall Comdex, Nov. 13-17 in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . CyberManCD weighs only 21 ounces and is the first portable CD-ROM drive that combines all of the functions of a complete sound system -- line in, line out, microphone and MIDI inputs -- with a double-speed CD-ROM drive. CyberManCD's ultra light universal power supply allows users to carry CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). technology wherever they go worldwide, without sacrificing quality. Using advanced PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, San Jose, CA, www.pcmcia.org) An international standards body and trade association that was founded in 1989 to establish a standard for connecting peripherals to portable computers. PCMCIA created the PC Card. See PC Card. technology, CyberManCD offers complete multimedia -- text, wavetable sound, photo images and video, and overcomes problems associated with slower parallel port CD-ROM drives designed to read text-only CD disks. In addition, with a Type II PC Card interface, CyberManCD can achieve transfer rates of up to 350 KB per second with an access time under 320 milliseconds. "Finally, multimedia can go where the user goes," said Jon Funes, product manager for CyberManCD. "CyberManCD is the only multimedia solution that combines the highest quality capabilities in one compact, fully-portable package." "Until now, the only alternative to achieving full multimedia performance in a portable CD-ROM has been to purchase a PCMCIA to SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. card from one manufacturer, a separate CD-ROM drive from another manufacturer, a sound solution from yet another manufacturer, combine them all and hope that they work," said Funes. CyberManCD was the first portable CD-ROM licensed to carry the Multimedia PC Marketing Council (MPC (1) (Mobile PC) A handheld or laptop computer. See handheld computer, laptop computer and Ultra-Mobile PC. (2) (MultiPath Channel) See multipath. ) Level 2 certification mark, signifying compliance with the strict MPC2 multimedia standards. To classify as a multimedia product, vendors must meet the rigid MPC2 requirements established by the MPC. CyberManCD exceeds these standards. Additional features of CyberManCD include Kodak Multisession A compact disc capability in which data are recorded in more than one session. Each subsequent recording session can be linked to the previous so that they all appear as one. Each session adds overhead on the disc, because lead-in and lead-out sectors must be recorded each time, which Photo(tm) CD compatibility, support for the Philips CD-i (compact- disc-interactive) standard, and "hot-swapping," enabling users to unplug the drive without powering down the system. CyberManCD Model CM2-SB comes with an internal 16-bit wavetable soundcard and retails for $549.95. Model CM2-SX, without sound system, is for computers with built-in sound, or for situations where sound is not required, and it retails for $349.95. Both units carry a one-year limited warranty Limited warranty A warranty with certain conditions and limitations on the parts covered, type of damage covered, and/or time period for which the agreement is good. . Limited quantities will be available directly from PacRim Labs this month and volume shipping will begin in December of 1995. With headquarters in Arizona, PacRim Labs was formed in 1995 to market a line of innovative products for the PCMCIA market. PacRim Labs is located at 531 East Elliot Road, Chandler, Ariz. Telephone: 602/813-3288; fax 602/545-0739. CONTACT: PacRim Labs Jon Funes, 801/221-9401 CompuServe: 75457, 1557 Internet: 75457, 1557@compuserve.com or Mesa Communications Debra Leak, 714/260-3908 MCI Mail: 627-8984 mesadebra@aol.com |
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