It turns out that the "PCMCIA" slot in my computer is actually an Express card slot, though externally it looks an awful lot like a PCMCIA slot.  It looks like I've been sleeping.

Actually, this is an example of one of those pieces of technology that comes and then goes quickly and silently.  A few years ago, I had to purchase a USB to Serial Port connector because my -- at the time -- notebook computer no longer had a serial port.  I have a printer gathering dust that has both an old AppleTalk connector and an even older Centronics connector.  Printers these days tend to have USB and Ethernet ports, not the old kinds.

And I see that many of the new lightweight notebood computers are foregoing optical drives, just like diskette drives disappeared, too.

The truth is that these older technologies have disappeared because they have been superceded by better technologies.  These days, we all use flash drives.  I haven't touched a diskette for years, though yesterday I heard the words "modem" and "HyperTerminal" being discussed.

Here's a funny thing, though.  I Googled "Express Card" and found this item.  Do you think that people named Craig are afflicted by this problem more than others?