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-- Should I get Backup or Flash springboard? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=5148)

I am going to be purchasing a Visor (deluxe) soon, but I can't make up my mind whether I should get the Backup springboard module or the Flash memory module. I like the versatility of the Flash memory module, but I like the price of the Backup module and wonder if I really need 8 MB more memory. The only significantly large app I plan on putting on the Visor right away is Franklin-Covey software. What are your collective thoughts?



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Robert Talbert
Division of Mathematics and Computer Science
Bethel College
Mishawaka, IN 46545

Buy them both

you have the money buy them both, you need them. If not buy the 8mb of flash memory.

[This message has been edited by D ev R ay 4Real (edited 11-30-1999).]

If you had to choose only one, get the memory because you can always find more software on the web to fill it up. You wouldn't need the backup if you don't travel much and if you hotsync frequently to your desktop anyway.

I would get the 8meg flash and get a regular visor (unless your getting a deluxe for the cool colors) because 10 megs is plenty for a palmtop. I don't think the extra $70 is worth 2megs of ram.

Alex Cook

I don't know about the Flash 8MB module. But, I can tell you that I recently ran into a situation where it was necessary for me to have the backup module.

My Visor froze, needing a soft reset, but I didn't notice this till the next morning. It sat on and on all night. I wake in the morning, put it in the case and take off for work. After another 8 hours of being on, I left work to type in items to the To Do list. Luckily, I have a modified paper clip in the battery storage so I reset it. I noticed my battery percentage (Launcher III, and yes... get it) was down to 2%. On the El train, with no backup batteries... the only thing I can do was hurriedly back up my info. I saved my info.

But, here's where the necessity comes to action. It backs up all the information. Not just databases and such. It backs up saved files, games, To Do list, Memo Pad+... etc.
A HotSync won't do this. So when I arrived home, put in a new battery... I was able to restore all my info.

Personally, I like the option of a backup because sometimes I just don't know where I will be and what will happen. As is the case...

timmins

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what?

you can use the 8mb springboard for backup just select all and move it over to the springboard. So get the memory. it serves as both :}

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Greg Moore
[email protected]

Not a good idea to go Solo plus flash. That essentially gives you a 10 Mb handheld, but with no springboard slot. Or you can have an anemic 2 Mb with an open slot.

The extra $70 gives you SIX extra Mb, since the deluxe is 8 Mb. Plus you get a free cradle, and USB no less

A Deluxe is definitely the way to go.

Alex Cook wrote:

"I would get the 8meg flash and get a regular visor (unless your getting a deluxe for the cool colors) because 10 megs is plenty for a palmtop. I don't think the extra $70 is worth 2megs of ram.
Alex Cook"


[This message has been edited by Eug (edited 12-01-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Eug (edited 12-02-1999).]

I have been considering purchasing the Visor as well, but I did not know I could put the Franklin Covey software onto it. I have used a Franklin planner for years, but am tired of lugging the darn thing around. Are you planning on purchasing the software seperately and then installing? Or do you have access to it from a previous PDA? I didn't know the program would be compatible...but I am VERY interested in doing the same thing. I would appreciate any information.

Sari

Sari,

I posted a question about the Franklin-Covey software on this discussion thread on 11-28. The replies there suggest that the ASCEND software will work fine on a Visor and that the discussion boards at franklincovey.com have some info on this. I also saw somewhere that Franklin Covey was coming out with a springboard of some kind, but I have not heard anything recently and I have no clue what it might be.



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Robert Talbert
Division of Mathematics and Computer Science
Bethel College
Mishawaka, IN 46545

FYI for timmins...have you ever used Backup Buddy? It's great, and it backs up everything. It also does a great job in migrating from one Palm OS pda to another--just one Hot Synch and you are in business. I highly recommend it--checkout backupbuddy.com

Going Back to the Alex Cooks Message:

I ordered a Solo (with USB Cable)for the Following reasons-

1. More Likely than Not, there will be a COLOR Screen model by the end of 2000. Therefore the Life -Expectancy of my Visor Solo is probably Less than a year.
2. I will have LESS PAIN (because I spent less money) to hand this model down to a friend or relative as a GIFT. (Or maybe even Sell it on eBAy at at half its price)
3. Looking at various postings on discussion boards and websites, It looks like I should be able to Run most programs off the 8MB Memory module.
4. If I need to attach a Pager or some other Springboard, I can Tuck my 8MB in the side of my Carrying Case (Which is incidentally a Shock Suit Case from Rhinoskin)-( A little Tricky- but Possible!)
5. I can use the The 8MB module with the COLOR Screen Visor.
6. 2MB+8MB(+8MB- another Module) would be More than sufficient till the end of y2000.

I would like to hear the strengths and deficiencies of this reasoning.

"1. More Likely than Not, there will be a COLOR Screen model by the end of 2000. Therefore the Life -Expectancy of my Visor Solo is probably Less than a year."

You don't HAVE to buy a colour one when it first comes out. For initial models, the value of colour won't be huge. That will change over time however. I am 95% sure I will NOT buy a colour model until much later.

"2. I will have LESS PAIN (because I spent less money) to hand this model down to a friend or relative as a GIFT. (Or maybe even Sell it on eBAy at at half its price)"

Less pain then, more hassle now.

"3. Looking at various postings on discussion boards and websites, It looks like I should be able to Run most programs off the 8MB Memory module."

That's flash, not RAM. Many programs will NOT work properly.

"4. If I need to attach a Pager or some other Springboard, I can Tuck my 8MB in the side of my Carrying Case (Which is incidentally a Shock Suit Case from Rhinoskin)-( A little Tricky- but Possible!)"

You will then lose access to the programs you do want to run but are which are on the flash module.

"5. I can use the The 8MB module with the COLOR Screen Visor."

Probably true.

"6. 2MB+8MB(+8MB- another Module) would be More than sufficient till the end of y2000."

Consider though the cost. Visor Deluxe (which includes USB) ($250) vs Solo + flash + USB ($260).

Which is the better deal??? I think the Deluxe. As for flash - I'm waiting for the Six-Pak but that's vapourware too, just like your colour Visor.

But most importantly, what about colour?!?

Thanks For Your Wisdom, Eug.

You may have a point. Youv'e got me thinking.
Now, I still dont grasp the concept of the Flash v/s RAM.
In the short run, there may not really be any difference in cost.
The next question is: If I change my order now, will I have to wait another 4-6 weeks?
That makes the decision tougher!

>>Personally, I like the option of a backup because sometimes I just don't know where I will be and what will happen. As is the case...<<

One of the most attractive options on the Visor was this ability to back up. To those who say you back up with hot syncs anyway, I agree. But what do you do if you're on a 3 week trip to Europe, need to change batteries, and drop one down the stairs? ANd all your itinerary, etc is stored on the PDA.......natch...plus new things you discovered, etc. Backup takes a lot of that holding one's breath out of the equation.

Will the backup module backup a full Visor Deluxe? (8MB)?

-Doug

Doug:
Yes, the Backup Module will handle all 8MB of the Visor Deluxe. And it even seems faster than a full USB sync.

This is what I have personally experienced:

I have both the Backup Module and the 8MB Flash module.

I bought the Backup Module for the piece of mind of having all my important data (phone numbers, etc.) backed at an alternate source than my PC. Ironically, the power supply in my laptop took a header the day after the Backup Module arrived, and between shipping and fixing, I didn't get it back for almost two weeks. The Backup Module gave me a very comfortable feeling during that time. One should take care to store the Backup Module separately from the handheld, though. You know what they say about having all your eggs in one basket...

I bought the 8MB Flash module with the dream of downloading e-books out the yang, maybe buying two or three modules and have a little walking library with me. It turns out that the Flash module is not the best thing for database files (GREAT for applications, though). The Flash module comes with the 'File Mover' which moves data between the internal memory and the card, even change the volume label on the card, which I thought was kind of neat. When a data file is moved, it actually has a little warning that pops up, saying that applications do not have permission to write to the module, and it could cause problems. Since I have a problem with authority, I did it anyway.

I started up TealDoc and opened up the file in question. Everything went fine until I tried to exit. "Fatal Exception" and I had to reset. This proved true of any application with data stored on the card. They just won't work.

So it didn't work how I had hoped initially, and I modified my plans to buy more Flash and use them like Zip disks (except for the Six Pack; yeah, baby, yeah!). I ended up moving all of my application files over to the card, leaving the internal memory free for data. When my Visor gets run over by a truck, I will have to re-install all of the applications, but a quick restore from the Backup module will bring my Dragonbane characters back to life. Plus I get a warm, fuzzy feeling having a 16MB PDA, even if it comes with conditions.

I don't have any regrets getting the Flash module, I just wish that I would have known in advance that it is pretty much only good for storing applications, so that I didn't get my expectations up.

And, as it turns out, I have copied e-books over to the card for temporary storage while I install new applications, then shuffle everything around (since you cannot install files to the card).

As far as transfer rates, they both seems to move data at about 1MB per minute, with maybe the Backup module slightly faster, but I haven't done any time trials, so don't quote me on that one.

I hope some of this helps. I realize that I have been venting to relieve my frustration that has built up over things like shipping delays, but I feel better for having said it.

Soul Raven

Which Apps / doc's did not work - can you list them?
Thanks

OK, all of the apps work on the card. The caveat is that in the File Mover app that came with the Flash card, I only moved files under the "Apps" category, and left all of the "Data" on internal memory, so "Dragonbane" is on the Flash card, but "DrgBComm", "DrgBMaps", and "DrgBSAV0" are still stored internally.

The problems I encountered is when I moved the data over. The only one that I really tested with was TealDoc. It all ran fine until I tried to exit the document, when I got the Fatal Exception. When I left TealDoc on the card and moved the e-book back to internal memory, everything worked fine.