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purplemd
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Posts: 173

Best Memory Solution for...

Hey! What's the best expansion solution for my Prism? Currently I have an 8 MB RAM module on which I keep my large programs (action names, all money, wordsmith), doc files and bible files.

I would like to expand the memory. I'm confused as to what would be the best solution for me. I was thinking about the 16 MB RAM module so I don't have to worry about anything...except that infernal "compacting" problem! But I thought that the MemPlug might also be cool.

Whaddya think?

TIA

Purplemd

07-23-2001 01:56 AM

miradu
TreoCentral Staff

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

I would reccomendthat you get a memplug. You can get for aboiut $80 a 32 mb card - and a free backup module (because of PiBackup)

It's also just as easy, and I think PiDirect runs better than the flash module - every app works with PiDirect (almost)

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-miradu

07-23-2001 02:35 AM

PDACPA
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 90

16mg

Since you have the 8mg, you can use it as a backup. The 16mg will give you a significant amount of memory. I am not sure, but I do not think that they have perfected the software to run programs from the memplug or matchbook or any CF or SD cards. That to me was reason to go with the 16mg. I wanted it to be seemless, not file management. I can see them as storage devices, but not for maintaining programs. I keep all my games, and utilities out there. Action Names is too important to me so I keep a copy on the card but keep it internal. The 16mg looks like internal ram and the only time I have encountered the compacting was when I virtually no internal ram and tried to move a file to the card.

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07-23-2001 04:35 PM

icthus
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Pullman, WA
Posts: 130

Re: 16mg

quote:
Originally posted by PDACPA
Since you have the 8mg, you can use it as a backup. ... I am not sure, but I do not think that they have perfected the software to run programs from the memplug or matchbook or any CF or SD cards...not file management. I can see them as storage devices, but not for maintaining programs. I keep all my games, and utilities out there. Action Names is too important to me so I keep a copy on the card but keep it internal.

I would have to suggest a compact flash card (you can get 128mg for $60), and an adapter along with the Kopsis software. The software that allows you to run programs/access databases that are stored on the card is still in beta, but is more stable than many final release programs I have used. I have an 8mg HS flash module, but my cf card/adapter stays in my visor at all times now. I am running over 25 programs from the card, along with accessing 13mgs of pics, five seperate translations of the Bible (including the NASB with included Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, and the BibleReader program itself), a multitude of document files, and more. There are many programs that work with this software, and many more will very soon (WordSmith has said that this will be their next major upgrade).
I also use it as my backup (which I set up to happen automatically every other day at 3 a.m.). I haven't had a problem or complaint yet.

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IYYAYAS

AMMO - Providing the enemy the opportunity to die for his country.

07-25-2001 08:41 AM

PDACPA
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 90

question

Icthus

Are you using the memplug?

Once you copy the programs to the remote storage...how do you access them? Do you have to sort through a directory structure or does their icon appear in your launcher?

Thanks.

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07-25-2001 03:06 PM

icthus
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Pullman, WA
Posts: 130

Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by PDACPA
Icthus

Are you using the memplug?

Once you copy the programs to the remote storage...how do you access them? Do you have to sort through a directory structure or does their icon appear in your launcher?

Thanks.

No, the Memplug is different and uses different software. Also, Memplug doesn't work with OS 3.1 devices (i.e. Visor and Deluxe) at this time; don't know if it will later or not.

I'm using an adapter from http://www.matchbookdrive.com/ and software from Kopsis . This software does work with both OS 3.1 and OS 3.5 devices.

There are a couple options for accessing programs, all of which involve an icon in your launcher. One way uses a program called PowerRun, and another is to use the app launcher Launcher III. I was already using Launcher III (which is freeware, and a special beta comes with the Kopsis software), so I was real happy. I believe there are plans to support other Launchers too. The icon appears in the launcher with a dot next to the name, just like if you were running an app from a HandSpring flash module.

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IYYAYAS

AMMO - Providing the enemy the opportunity to die for his country.

07-27-2001 05:18 PM

Sig Runge
Member

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Vienna, VA
Posts: 8

Re: Re: 16mg

quote:
Originally posted by icthus

I am running over 25 programs from the card, along with accessing 13mgs of pics, five seperate translations of the Bible (including the NASB with included Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, and the BibleReader program itself), a multitude of document files, and more

I just got my FlashPlus yesterday and I'm anxious to start using it to its fullest potential. I have a 64MB Sandisk CF card, so I have a lot of room available ... I see you are using BibleReader, how would you compare it to MyBible? What other programs are you using? I am particularly interested in which backup program and which image viewing program you are using.

One last thing, I have seen some negative comments about battery life with the CF cards, but you say you have been keeping the CF card in all the time. How has it compared to the HS 8MB card you were using before?

Thanks.

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Sig Runge

07-27-2001 07:40 PM

dvIceT
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Re: Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by icthus
Also, Memplug doesn't work with OS 3.1 devices (i.e. Visor and Deluxe) at this time; don't know if it will later or not.

That's not quite correct. It's only PiDirect at present which doesn't work with Palm OS 3.1 Visors. PiDirect allows you to see and run programs residing on the external memory card as if they were in handheld RAM. All other MemPlug functions, such as file storage, backup, and picture and movie viewing, work just fine on PalmOS 3.1 Visors. As with the Kopsis-provided LauncherIII, there is also a MemPlug-enabled LauncherIII, which allows you to see programs on the external media. In both cases however, when the program icon is tapped on, the program will be auto-copied in whole from the media into handheld RAM and then run. With the imminent beta test of MemPlug VFS, the MemPlug(both CF and SM versions) will be able to take advantage of VFS-enabled programs just as Kopsis Flashadapter users do now..

Last edited by dvIceT on 07-27-2001 at 08:50 PM

07-27-2001 08:37 PM

icthus
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Pullman, WA
Posts: 130

Re: Re: Re: 16mg

quote:
Originally posted by Sig Runge

I just got my FlashPlus yesterday and I'm anxious to start using it to its fullest potential. I have a 64MB Sandisk CF card, so I have a lot of room available ... I see you are using BibleReader, how would you compare it to MyBible? What other programs are you using? I am particularly interested in which backup program and which image viewing program you are using.

One last thing, I have seen some negative comments about battery life with the CF cards, but you say you have been keeping the CF card in all the time. How has it compared to the HS 8MB card you were using before?

Thanks.

I've never looked at MyBible. BibleReaer is working just fine for me though.
I have several programs on my card, including all my games. Almost any app can be stored on the card; it's the databases with some apps that have to be left in RAM.
Some programs I'm using that access their databases from the card (VFS enabled) are the already mentioned BibleReader, PalmReader (a free doc reader; I will use WordSmith for my reader again when they come out with their VFS update), Acrobat Reader, and I'm beta testing a VFS enabled version of MiniCalc.
For image viewing, I'm using SplashPhoto right now. As soon as AlbumToGo supports VFS, I will revert to them again. I emailed the ATG support people, and they told me on the 11th of July that they will have a new version that will support VFS in a few weeks.
For backup I use JackBack. I've been using it since before there was any serious talk of VFS support; it works just fine. Some people are now using BackUpBuddyVFS, and it seems to be working fairly well. There are some bugs reported with it, but they are beeing ironed out.
My battery life does go a little faster, but not much. It seems to depend on the particular CF card. The SanDisk cards seem to be pretty good (I am using a 64Mg SanDisk at the moment myself), but I have heard of a couple of them that were a bit power hungry. I have a Prism though, so it doesn't really matter to me; (I had rechargeable NiMH batteries with my DLX, so it wouldn't have really mattered then either). As far as the HS 8mg module, it didn't seem to cause any battery drain at all (that I noticed at least).

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IYYAYAS

AMMO - Providing the enemy the opportunity to die for his country.

07-28-2001 03:49 PM

icthus
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Pullman, WA
Posts: 130

Re: Re: Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by dvIceT

That's not quite correct. It's only PiDirect at present which doesn't work with Palm OS 3.1 Visors.

My mistake. I haven't really looked into the Memplug since I've been using the Kopsis software since it was early beta (when Memplug was still just a picture of an upcoming SM module), and I'm not fond of all the hacking the Memplug software does in order to work. I'm sure it works fine, but I haven't kept up with it at all.

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IYYAYAS

AMMO - Providing the enemy the opportunity to die for his country.

07-28-2001 03:56 PM

dvIceT
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Re: Re: Re: Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by icthus

My mistake. I haven't really looked into the Memplug since I've been using the Kopsis software since it was early beta (when Memplug was still just a picture of an upcoming SM module), and I'm not fond of all the hacking the Memplug software does in order to work. I'm sure it works fine, but I haven't kept up with it at all.

It may simply be a difference of opinion but I find the non-PiDirect MemPlug software doesn't require any "hacking." It's pretty straightforward and functional. I guess you could call what PiDirect does "hacking," but I'm pretty sure most Flashadapter users would appreciate having the choice of PiDirect-like functionality in addition to their present VFS support.

07-28-2001 08:57 PM

bookrats
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 501

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by dvIceT

It may simply be a difference of opinion but I find the non-PiDirect MemPlug software doesn't require any "hacking." It's pretty straightforward and functional. I guess you could call what PiDirect does "hacking," but I'm pretty sure most Flashadapter users would appreciate having the choice of PiDirect-like functionality in addition to their present VFS support.

True. However, of late I've felt like the "what memory solution to get" discussion should start with: Do you have a plain vanilla Visor or Visor Deluxe?

If so, you're not going to get MSMount/PiDirect/AutoCF "virtual memory" apps to run, no matter who you go with. While I've heard PIDeveloper saying PI wants to get it to work with Palm OS 3.1, MSMount/AutoCF developers are pretty much saying that you need Palm OS 3.5 to really get this kind of app to work.

That leaves V/VDX users (like me) with three CF card features:

Just move files and apps back and forth manually (PI/Kopsis)
Use LauncherIII to load apps from CF and run them in Visor
memory (Kopsis VFS beta has this; dvIceT says this is also available for Memplug (does it work with OS 3.1 Visors?)
Backup/Restores to CF cards (PI has this; can use BackupBuddyVFS with Kopsis VFS)
Run VFS-enabled Palm apps that can read/write from VFS -- and are smart enough to do this on OS 3.1 machines with a VFS solution (Kopsis beta does this; PI is working on it)

Pluses and minuses with both. I personally think the 8MB/16MB Flash ROM memory springboards are the easiest to use, and that counts for a lot. However, VFS-enabled apps won't be able to write to them -- and I think VFS is going to take off.

I've chosen Kopsis/FlashPlus as my CF card reader. We'll see how it goes.

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07-30-2001 07:26 PM

dvIceT
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: question

quote:
Originally posted by bookrats
[*]Use LauncherIII to load apps from CF and run them in Visor
memory (Kopsis VFS beta has this; dvIceT says this is also available for Memplug (does it work with OS 3.1 Visors?)

MemPlug-enabled LauncherIII works fine with OS 3.1 Visors. LauncherIII actually supported the MemPlug before VFS, though I'm assuming direct support for it will fall by the wayside when MemPlug VFS becomes a reality.

07-30-2001 08:28 PM

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