Brainboxes is launching the first RS422/485 product in its new range of VX Expresscard compact serial cards.

These use the company's Boost software to provide excellent compatibility with legacy serial applications.

Expresscard is the next generation of PC-card technology currently being introduced to new notebook computers and is described as the future of add-on connectivity for smaller, thinner laptop PCs.

Expresscard products can be based on either USB or PCI Express communications. The VX-023 one-port RS422/485 1Mbaud device is the latest product in the range and the first Brainboxes serial product range to be based on USB technology. The Boost.USB software included with the range has been through an extensive programme of testing with legacy devices.

Stephen Evans, managing director of Brainboxes, states: "The Expresscard format is the future of add-on connectivity for laptop PCs with this continual pressure for reduction in size. The high speeds and high data integrity of Brainboxes cards make them suitably matched to demands of PC users looking to add reliable and fault-free connectivity to their laptops. This provides an excellent product to the large number of companies that need to connect to serial devices from their new laptops."

Brainboxes offers a full range of connectivity options in the range, with one- and two-port cards available for both RS232 and RS422/485 communications. Expresscard is a simple expansion option, especially for laptop PCs where space is limited. An Expresscard takes up as little as half the space of a PC card and a type 1 Expresscard measures only 34x25x5mm. The Expresscard is also hot-swappable, so a PC can stay active when expansion options are added or removed, enabling communications, memory and security options to be easily added to a PC with minimum impact.

All Brainboxes Expresscard serial cards are fully Rohs-compliant. They come with a full suite of software including drivers for Microsoft Windows Vista and XP (x32-bit and x64-bit editions) and all have Brainboxes lifetime support and warranty.

RS422/485