VisorCentral.com - CNET article on new Palm/Handspring models

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Visor Edge (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=25)
-- CNET article on new Palm/Handspring models (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=12734)

Posted by foo fighter on 03-09-2001 02:17 AM:

Here it is:

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-20....html?tag=mn_hd

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Posted by airstyle on 03-09-2001 10:02 AM:

Sounds okay, but not that GOOD either...

I just checked out that article at CNET, and I'm sure most of you noticed this:

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The new model, which has the same amount of memory and processing power as the Visor Platinum, has a new, smaller expansion slot but can also use modules designed for older Visors via an add-on backpack, sources familiar with Handspring's plans told CNET News.com.
---

Doesn't that mean the backpack is only for backwards compatibility, and companies will have to design new smaller modules? SD maybe? So maybe in a year or so, we won't have to be using the backpack with our old modules anymore, and we can use the new smaller modules without the backpack... Sounds pretty cool to me, but I hope none of the devoted developers feel ripped off by this. I don't see alot of people actually buying expensive modules... Alot of people got the visor for its competitive price, and don't have alot to spend, so I really wonder if many springboard developers are making ends meet... Also, if they're starting a new line of modules, won't that give time for Palm to catch up with their new SD slot?

The only thing that gets me, is: Has anyone seen the size of an 8 meg memory chip in a visor?! It's tiny! You could easily stick 64 megs in there without adding any size or noticeable weight... Why don't they do that? I'm always over my 8 meg limit, and have to use the expansion slot. I want something revolutionary, not just a smaller platinum who's missing his(her) built-in Springboard.... I guess I'm a little upset. Patience... Patience... perhaps that dream PDA is just around the corner...

Posted by wgharper on 03-09-2001 07:36 PM:

Well this settles it. If the Edge is only monochrome and costs ~$400 US, and the m505 is going to be $450 US for the same form factor and color (as stated in the CNet article), I will have to go with the Palm. I don't own any springboards (mostly because the ones that I was looking forward to ended up costing more than my VDx), so that won't be a deterrent.

I beleive in the springboard concept, but if I can get the small form factor and color on a unit for $50 more and just have to use a different expansion port, then I will go for it.

Posted by steelkilt on 03-09-2001 07:57 PM:

but...

will the SD expansion slot on the new Palms function in the same manner as the springboard, i.e. will it allow us to run programs DIRECTLY from the SD card a la springboard flash modules? I seem to remember reading at some point that the SD slot is more like "dumb" storage. Can anyone give details on the SD slot?

Posted by MPM on 03-09-2001 09:48 PM:

The Visor Springboard slot is basically the processor bus with a few extra signals and hot-swap capability.

SD cards are basically MMC cards with two extra pins and a slightly thicker form factor. More info here: http://www.sandisk.com/oem/sd_card_back.htm

The important difference is that the Springboard slot is a parallel type bus while the SD card is a serial type interface. This is a big difference. So yeah, the SD slot is more like "dumb storage". The Springboard slot is more like a PCI slot in your computer - i.e. expansion of all kinds.

Posted by PeloGrande on 03-10-2001 12:06 AM:

Re: Sounds okay, but not that GOOD either...

quote:
Originally posted by airstyle
The only thing that gets me, is: Has anyone seen the size of an 8 meg memory chip in a visor?! It's tiny! You could easily stick 64 megs in there without adding any size or noticeable weight... Why don't they do that? I'm always over my 8 meg limit, and have to use the expansion slot. I want something revolutionary, not just a smaller platinum who's missing his(her) built-in Springboard.... I guess I'm a little upset. Patience... Patience... perhaps that dream PDA is just around the corner...

I was looking at a site run by a guy who does aftermarket modifications to Palms, Visors, etc to up the onboard RAM from 2 to 8. If you've got a Platinum or Prism, he says he can even bring those up to 16. The reason for that is the newer processor. Apparently the processor used in the DX just can't handle more than 8 megs of built-in memory. Granted, it might be possible to create something like a built-in version of the flash memory modules, but that's a little out of my league.

Posted by DocVisor on 03-10-2001 12:22 AM:

If the Edge has a smaller springboard slot, then maybe HS will simultaneously release a module with more than 16mb of storage in this smaller form-factor. This would be the only compelling reason for me to upgrade. And does anyone know if you can use the backpack thing and the smaller expansion slot together...possibly to combine expansion memory or make use of two devices simultaneously -this would be a perk.

quote:
Originally posted by PeloGrande
If you've got a Platinum or Prism, he says he can even bring those up to 16. The reason for that is the newer processor.

Who upgrades Platinums?

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Posted by Rob on 03-10-2001 04:02 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by DocVisor
And does anyone know if you can use the backpack thing and the smaller expansion slot together...possibly to combine expansion memory or make use of two devices simultaneously -this would be a perk.

Actually, I think that the backpack thing inserts into the smaller expansion slot, allowing the edge to use standard-sized modules, so you wouldn't be able to use both at the same time.

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