When we first got to the UK, we were immediately bombarded with people asking if we had Chip & Pin.  This is a basically a debit or credit card with a computer chip on it, and instead of swiping the magnetic strip the Chip is stuck into a (typically portable) card reader where you can enter your Pin.  This system is not unheard of in the states, but it’s the standard in Europe.  We much prefer the Chip & Pin, as it has a couple advantages that come to light when dining out.  First of all, the waiter only has to come to your table twice, once with the bill and a second time with the card reader to pay.  In the US you have an extra trip as the waiter needs to pick up the card to take it off and swipe it, then return with the receipt.  The overall time taken for both methods seems to be about the same though, as the American waiters seem to make up for the extra trip by being more efficient than their English counterparts ;).  Speaking of taking the card to swipe it, I’ve always found it a bit sketchy that the card is taken off to some back room to be swiped.  With Chip & Pin the card is always in your sight, which is the second advantage.  At this point I’m completely used to Chip & Pin, and always feel a bit awkward when I have to go back to the old school system in the states.