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- Visor & Deluxe (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)
-- Backup - Flash vs. Backup Module (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=286)

I'm assuming some form of backup while travelling is necessary. Is it worth the extra 40 bucks to get the flash module instead of the backup module?

Yes, the system does need to be hard reset on occasion when a program is misbehaving. Once a hard reset is accomplished you either need to reload all your third party programs and resync with your computer or use the new springboard backup module. This will be a must for those out on the road without their PC.

If you own a PDA, you'll definitely experience a hard reset, usually when it is the least convenient for you. For my P3, FlashPro was crucial for being able to access databases I access constantly like my address and datebook. I always keep backups in Flash whether I am away from home or not. A backup program like BackupBuddy is also essential for restoring your PDA to its former self. I hope the flash modules work as seemlessly as FlashPro did--if so, I'll have to seriously consider purchasing a VisorDeluxe.

Ummm, make that "seamlessly". I hate typos!

I did buy a backup module. I don't see the advatage of getting the 80$ one. The way I see it, if you need to hard reset your PDA, you'll simple want to reload the whole thing, .. right? That's the primary function of the backup module. The fancier ability of the 80$ one is lost on me.

I wouldn't say you will definately have a hard reset. I have had my Palm III for over a year and a half, and have never been forced to do a hard reset. I have done it to fix quirks with 1 or 2 programs, but I was at my desk :-)

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James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

The backup module will only perform backups & restores, the Flash module can be used more like extended memory.

James is right. I had my Palm Pro for 2 plus years and never had a hard reset (he says knocking on wood). The Palm OS and products have been as solid as any computing system I have ever owned!

I agree too. I've had my ppersonal for nearly 3 years now & have had maybe 4 or 5 hard resets. They've all come after running some new program I installed (ah, the price of running beta sw ). I was never far from home, so I was without my e-brain for maybe half a day at most. I think the 8 mb expansion module is a better value for most of us.

I got a question maybe someone can answer. Why does an 8mb flash module with built in button (backup module) cost $40 when an 8mb flash module with no button (expansion module) cost $80?

Another question. Why is the Vx $50 more than the V when the memory chips are exactly the same package & probly only negligibly more in price (probly $20 vs. $30). Only pullin those #'s halfway out of my arse (upgraded my ppersonal to 2 mb & the 512k chips cost $30 - 2 years ago).

Any thoughts?

Just an educated guess here, but the Vx does have a 20 mhz dragonball and certain enhanced features (IR sync for one) that are improved over the V.

But that's 3Com Marketing's reason. The REAL reason? Because they can get away with it under the guise of this is the latest and best!. People will see the Vx with 8 MB as a huge leap (2 vs 8) and jump all over it. Plus, this means they can drop the price on the V some $50-75 and collect more customers off that price point.

the backup is only 2mb; and it is kinda neat it comes with a button. the dude said that deluxe users will need a flash card reallistically if they want to backu pl everything; but i would imagine you can thell the 2mb card what to back up first!

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Tom Alphin III - [email protected] - www.students.bucknell.edu/alphin/

I heard that the Backup Springboard has 8 megs of memory, I'm pretty sure that I even read it somewhere on this site. So if that is true, then the Backup module should be fine for Visor Deluxe users.

The way I figure it, I assume that eventually some one will figure out how to hack the Backup Module so that it works just like the 8 meg flash module. Anyone feel up to that challenge when it comes out? hehe

--Ben

i really don't think so; I asked very carefully if the backup was a full 8 megs and the man, who seemed very knowledgeable; said it was only 2 mb; and the flash card was 8mb. He said the flash card includes the backup software as well; and can be used to do a full backup of the deluxe.

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Tom Alphin III - [email protected] - www.students.bucknell.edu/alphin/

Well actually, your friend is probably wrong. I found the article, and here's the link to it, so if the Handspring rep that the reviewers from this site talked to is correct, than the Backup Module has 8 megs of memory.
http://www.visorcentral.com/visor/articles/iw1/5.asp

I believe the reason for the flash module was said to be for "power users" and developers. The way I understand the flash module to work is just like a springboard module. I.E. plug it in and the programs located on the flash is available like a regular program. A test springboard to work as if you had hard-wired a module.

A "power-user" would be able to keep a set of programs, that they use often, but not always, on the flash to plug-in when they need it.

Does this make sense? That's what I got out of it.

[This message has been edited by Negative1 (edited 10-14-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Negative1 (edited 10-14-1999).]

all i know is i hope the software included on both of these products is on flash rom not hardcoded rom. if this is the case; we can probably come up with a way to hack the backup module to serve as a flash card for 1/2 the price.

if we are really lucky and there is a talented programmer in our midst (there's gotta be) maybe we could make software to backup AND compress the visor, and still leave maybe even 4 megs for extra apps.

on the other hand someone could just produce a springboard wiht 2 8mb banks; one for backups and one for extras. nonetheless, time will tell


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Tom Alphin III - [email protected] - www.students.bucknell.edu/alphin/

Could it be that the backup module IS 2mb, but can hold 8mb because of compression? Something to the effect of gnuzip?

Just a thought.