In contrast to smartcards, which all have very similar construction, smartcard readers come in a variety of form factors with varying levels of mechanical and logical sophistication. The options for readers are numerous. This section will focus on readers attached to personal computer systems, because those have the largest impact on computer and network security. Table 17-6 lists some of these. Cross platform support for Windows, Mac, and Unix.
Many desktop computers have no free serial ports.
Requires external power tap or battery. Supports protected PIN path. Slower communication speeds. Floppy Very easy to install Requires a battery. Communications speed can be an issue.