SC Slot?
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  2-5-12, 12:13pm | Post
#1
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A friend brought over his new Dell laptop that his company gave him and on the left side it has a 3 inch long open slot (like a slot load CD/DVD drive) that says SC next to it. I can't find anything about it on a google search. Does anyone know what that slot is for?
The laptop also has a multicard reader slot on the front that has the small blank in it that you pop out before sliding in a digital camera type card (SD, etc). This SC slot has no blank in it, in fact it is really too small for a blank to fit in. It really does look like a small slot load CD/DVD drive opening only half as wide. |
Licensed Pilot & Resident Bird Brain  
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2-5-12, 1:58pm | Post
#2
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QUOTE (WingsOverVA @ 2-5-12, 2:13pm)  A friend brought over his new Dell laptop that his company gave him and on the left side it has a 3 inch long open slot (like a slot load CD/DVD drive) that says SC next to it. I can't find anything about it on a google search. Does anyone know what that slot is for? The laptop also has a multicard reader slot on the front that has the small blank in it that you pop out before sliding in a digital camera type card (SD, etc). This SC slot has no blank in it, in fact it is really too small for a blank to fit in. It really does look like a small slot load CD/DVD drive opening only half as wide. What specific model Dell laptop is it? If it is a business line laptop (i.e. Vostro or Latitude), the SC Slot contains (or can contain if it isn't present) a reader/writer for smart cards. You can Google it by searching for PC/SC (Personal Computer/Smart Card). My Dell E4310 has both an Expresscard and SC card slot. The SC card slot on my laptop is located right on top of the hard drive - it is easy to miss it unless you know it is there..... This post has been edited by steltek: 2-5-12, 2:19pm |
Gold Member
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2-7-12, 1:15pm | Post
#3
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steltec, is this type of Smart Card like a credit card? It is surely too big to be a digital camera card.
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Licensed Pilot & Resident Bird Brain
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2-7-12, 2:59pm | Post
#4
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QUOTE (WingsOverVA @ 2-7-12, 4:15pm) steltec, is this type of Smart Card like a credit card? It is surely too big to be a digital camera card. That's exactly what it seems to be: HowStuffWorks "What is a smart card?" |
Captain Obvious
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2-7-12, 8:33pm | Post
#5
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QUOTE (WingsOverVA @ 2-7-12, 3:15pm) steltec, is this type of Smart Card like a credit card? It is surely too big to be a digital camera card. Yeah, they are just about the size of a credit card. In addition to a magnetic stripe, they usually also contain an embedded computer chip to store data. In fact, if you have an American Express credit card, you have a prime example of a simple smart card - examine it closely, and you can actually see the chip embedded in the surface of the card). The biggest use for smart cards (after credit cards) is obviously in physical security. You can load the card up with encrypted biometric data which to makes it difficult to duplicate. Congress mandated the use of these cards by federal agencies several years ago (i.e. so called HPSD-12 cards), and the agency where I work is actually in the process of transitioning part of its computer security over to these cards (once it is up and running, in addition to pin/password, authorized users will also have to plug or swipe their combo ID/smart card in a reader slot to allow access to their computer). The things are pretty freaking expensive - last I heard, the ones we have cost over $300 each (and the agency told us if we loose them that we have to pay to replace them out of our own pocket as a condition of employment, which I don't blame them for as some of my co-workers would loose their a$$es if they were't physically attached). In your friend's case, it isn't likely that the SC reader will be much use to him unless his employer is planning to utilize it in some manner. This post has been edited by steltek: 2-7-12, 8:39pm |
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2-8-12, 9:06am | Post
#6
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Thanks steltek!
I wonder if that is what my new ING debit card is. I don't see a chip in it as it is not opaque but it has no raised numbers on it like a normal debit/credit card does. Instead the card number is printed on the back side along with the 3 digit security number. So it can only be used with a credit card magnetic stripe reader (and possibly the smart card reader) but not the old manual CC machine that some stores still use when their internet or power goes out. |
Licensed Pilot & Resident Bird Brain
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