PRODUCT REVIEW:
Fuji PC Comm Link - Mobile RJ-11 Retractable Telephone Cable Interface

by R.J. (George) Czajkowski


Do you carry around a telephone cord so that you can plug your portable (PC
Card or SHARP CE-FM4) fax/modem into a telephone receptacle?  A simple
telephone cord, such an easy thing to use, or is it?

How many times did you have to fight with it - to untangle, to straighten it
out?  How many times did you just finish nicely rolling it up only to break
the rubber band which was supposed to keep it together?  How many times did
you wonder where to store this awkwardly shaped bundle?  Maybe it did not fit
in your wallet?  Made it made a pocket of your suit's jacket bulge out?
 Whatever the reason, you might have hoped for something better...

Enter PC Comm Link from the Computer Products Division of Fuji Photo Film
U.S.A., Inc.

What is it?  But of course, it is a telephone cable.  8 ft of a standard
(although very flat) telephone cable with a standard RJ-11 telephone plug at
each end.  So what's so different about this one?  The packaging!

This cable comes in a plastic case which has a shape and size of Type III PC
card.  Small, easy to carry, easy to use and with a lifetime warrant (free
replacement).  The case contains a plastic reel on which you store the cable.
 You can easily roll it out by pulling one end (which normally is smartly
hidden within the case).  The other end sits in the centre of the reel (also
completely hidden).  You can also pull it out.  In an instance you end up
with full 8 ft of telephone cable ready to use (the case remains on the cable
and is freely moveable anywhere on the cord>.

When you are finished using it, you place the reel end in the centre of the
reel and you start turning the reel to retract the rest of the cable, until
the other end snaps in its place within the enclosure.

I would say this is the most ingeniously designed telephone cord I have ever
seen.  It is a perfect companion for my Zaurus.  It even fits in a pocket of
my ISOTA case!  Easy to carry around, easy to use and easy to store away.
 And it's cheap too.  It reportedly costs about $8.00 US.

I designate this product as a MUST for any serious Zaurus owner who uses a
fax/modem with their unit.

For the name of the US distributors you can call Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.,
Computer Products Division, Customer Service at 800-488-3854 (they are in
Emsford, NY).  BTW, the Fuji part number for this product is 25910005).

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you live outside of the US, like in Canada or Europe, you
may have hard times getting it.  I spoke to Fuji Photo Film of Canada and
they had no idea what I was talking about (and no Computer Products Division
either).  I was unable to find a single store in Ontario which would carry
it.  And Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. does not sell it directly.  In such case try
Power Express at 1-800-228-8374 in San Jose, CA (e-mail:
PowerExpress@batnet.com, web site: www.powerexpress.com).  Their add in
December 1996 issue of Mobile Computing & Communications magazine (formerly
Mobile Office magazine) shows an identical product (item # 6686), although it
does not say if it is the real McCoy from Fuji and it is more expensive
($14.00 US).


R.J. (George) Czajkowski
Internet: georgec@cyberus.ca
CIS: 74131,2121


Copyrights by R.J. (George) Czajkowski, 1996.  No part of this article can be
reproduced or retransmitted in any form or by any means without the author's
written permission.