news | articles | reviews | software | modules | accessories | discussion | faq | mobile | store
VisorCentral.com >> Discussion >> VisorCentral >> Article Comments
MatchBookDrive Adapter

Post a New Thread | Post A Reply

  Last Thread   Next Thread
Author
Topic: MatchBookDrive Adapter    
JHromadka
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

Arrow

Discuss the CF Adapter here.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

JHromadka is offline Old Post 12-28-2000 08:40 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for JHromadka Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Bane
Member

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 103

Cool - conditionally

Most of the people like myself who were really looking for something like this since the visor came out have already built one themselves. I do seem to remember a couple of people that did not want dirty their hands building their own and I am fairly certain that the few people that were not able to build their own purchased an adaptor from one of the people building them in small quantities for sale.
I hope that there are still people looking to buy prebuilt cf-adaptors. I like to see smaller groups like this accually make enough money to keep things goin and eventually do products of their own.

Bane is offline Old Post 12-28-2000 09:08 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for Bane Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kenneth_here
Member

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 24

Question Construction

I am curious if a person has to snap and unsnap this adapter open and closed every time they swap different CF cards. I was unable to locate a photo of this product on their web site but maybe one will be posted soon. From the press release it sounds like it's constructed as a clamshell type of adapter.

"The user just plugs their own compact flash card into the Adapter and snaps the module together."

kenneth_here is offline Old Post 12-28-2000 09:58 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for kenneth_here Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
ethos
Member

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 106

Question Visors capability to run software from flash

I know that the Visor does not run software directly from the flash card. Is this a software limitation that will change in later releases of the software?

ethos is offline Old Post 12-28-2000 11:19 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for ethos Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Bane
Member

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 103

New Features

Odviously I am not dkessler. But as I understand it dkessler is looking to add that or a similarly functioning into the final version or posibily a later version of the driver software.



________________________
Evil Geniuses kick ass.

[Edited by Bane on 12-28-2000 at 07:10 PM]

Bane is offline Old Post 12-28-2000 11:59 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for Bane Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
PeloGrande
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 12

Question Clarify?

I was just wondering if someone could clarify something for me. From the tone of the press release, it sounded like /anything/ would have to be moved from the CF card to the visor's memory to be used.

Previously, I had understood that this only applied to actual programs, and that databases and documents could be accessed directly from the CF. Which is the right one?

I'd like to be able to free up the two megs that my dictionary takes up, since the program and DB are seperate files. Not to mention the half dozen books I usually carry around.

PeloGrande is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 12:40 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for PeloGrande Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
parb33
Member

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Lawrence, NY, USA
Posts: 148

Re: Clarify?

quote:
Originally posted by PeloGrande
I was just wondering if someone could clarify something for me. From the tone of the press release, it sounded like /anything/ would have to be moved from the CF card to the visor's memory to be used.

Previously, I had understood that this only applied to actual programs, and that databases and documents could be accessed directly from the CF. Which is the right one?



Nope, the CF Adapter does not allow for anything to be read directly off the Compact Flash card. Programs, databases, PQAs, etc. must be copied to the Visor's memory before being run/viewed.

__________________
Life's just a blast, just it's moving really fast, and you'd <BR>better stay on top or life'll kick you in the ass -Limp Bizkit

parb33 is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 02:57 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for parb33 Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
HostileJava
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Nazareth, PA
Posts: 99

Well, I just ordered one with some xmas money that I had left. I'll be posting pics(if they don't) and a review as soon as I recieve it.

__________________
http://signature.coola.com/[email protected]

HostileJava is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 04:27 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for HostileJava Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
BEN
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

I"m going to order one today also. Twenty bucks isn't much, and I like the idea that the CF card isn't going to protrude from the visor very much. Because all data on the card has to be moved to the Visor's RAM before usingit, I plan on using the card for storage for my Eyemodule pic's. Then I can just use a CF reader for my desktop to quickly transfer images.
BEN

BEN is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 06:11 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for BEN Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
LarryN
Member

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I'm ordering one too. dkessler's software FAQ states that the final version of his software will automatically move items from the cf card to Visor memory when launching the app, and then place the app back on the cf when you close the app. So, it might not help you 2mb visor owners, but it would certainly help most of us.

Also, regarding pics of the cf adapter, I received the following reply to an email that I sent, and thought you all may want to see it...

quote:

I hope pics will be up by next week. I took some last night, but they were of very poor quality so I am working on some new ones.

The module with CF card installed is indeed a standard size module. Your Visor will be exactly the same size with the MatchBookDrive Adapter installed as when it came from the factory.

LarryN is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 07:06 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for LarryN Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by BEN
CF card isn't going to protrude from the visor very much


My understanding is that the CF card will be fully enclosed within the module. To remove the card, you will have to remove the module and open it up. I don't believe the intent behind this particular design was for frequent insertion and removal of just the CF card.

Here's the reply I got from the devleoper about the modules form-factor:

quote:
The MatchBookDrive is a short-short adapter. That is, the compact flash card fits entirely within the housing. As such, a picture of it would look no different than a picture of an empty springboard module.

__________________




    God bless America, my home sweet home...

MarkEagle is offline Old Post 12-29-2000 07:41 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for MarkEagle Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
flacks
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: New Jersey, Exit 137
Posts: 52

Question

The MatchBox site says
"You simply connect your own compatible Compact Flash card to the adapter, fit the adapter in the housing bottom, snap on the top of the housing, and voila! you have a MatchBookDrive!."

Where do I get my own compatible Compact Flash card. I guess I'm really missing the concept of this. I ordered the $20 unit, downloaded the beta software, but now I'm stumped.

Thanks for the help....

flacks is offline Old Post 12-30-2000 01:31 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for flacks Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by flacks
Where do I get my own compatible Compact Flash card. I guess I'm really missing the concept of this. I ordered the $20 unit, downloaded the beta software, but now I'm stumped.


The MatchBookDrive is just the adpater. You need a standard Type I CompactFlash card to go along with it. You can usually find them on eBay and anywhere computers and digital cameras are sold.

For more details on the development and evolution of the software and hardware (and references to compatible CF cards), you can join the FlashAdapter discussion group over at eGroups and read through the messages.

__________________




    God bless America, my home sweet home...

MarkEagle is offline Old Post 12-30-2000 01:53 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for MarkEagle Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
flacks
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: New Jersey, Exit 137
Posts: 52

Anyone get the MatchBox adapter yet. You think this would work? (From Amazon)

SanDisk 32MB SmartMedia Card, $56.94 After $25 Instant Discount

List Price: $89.99
Our Price: $56.94
You Save: $33.05 (37%)
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours.



Features:

SmartMedia memory card
32 MB storage capacity
Quick and easy to install and remove
Convenient and portable (smaller than a matchbook)
Compatible with cameras and MP3 players that provide a slot for 3.3 volt SmartMedia cards




flacks is offline Old Post 01-02-2001 06:12 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for flacks Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kalahari
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

quote:
Originally posted by flacks
... You think this would work? (From Amazon)

SanDisk 32MB SmartMedia Card, $56.94 After $25 Instant Discount ...



No, that won't work! You need a Compact Flash (Type I) card -- not a SmartMedia.

kalahari is offline Old Post 01-02-2001 09:55 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for kalahari Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kpma
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Angry Can't get on their website!

I would like to take advantage of this $20 offer, but I can't get on their website http://www.matchbookdrive.com. My browser won't connect. I hope they either fix the problem or extend the offer.

Anyone know where the cheapest place is to buy the CF cards?

Paul H.

kpma is offline Old Post 01-08-2001 04:18 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for kpma Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kalahari
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Re: Can't get on their website!

quote:
Originally posted by kpma
I would like to take advantage of this $20 offer, but I can't get on their website http://www.matchbookdrive.com. My browser won't connect. I hope they either fix the problem or extend the offer.

Anyone know where the cheapest place is to buy the CF cards?


Yes, there's problems with the ISP for that website. He has a temporary site at http://www.matchbookdrive.bizland.com/home/

The cheapest place for CF cards is probably eBay -- I'm not eBay fan though. I find the prices pretty good at coastmemory.com and bought mine from there.

kalahari is offline Old Post 01-08-2001 05:13 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for kalahari Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kongg
Member

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

Why can't someone purchase the CF blueprints from TRG and make their own CF module???

kongg is offline Old Post 01-11-2001 01:13 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for kongg Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
kenneth_here
Member

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 24

Re: Homemade CF module

quote:
Originally posted by kongg
Why can't someone purchase the CF blueprints from TRG and make their own CF module???


Hello kongg, and welcome to Visor Central. A number of folks are building their own CF modules without CF blueprints. You can search the Discussion forum and read how to go about making one yourself. I personally can't use a soldering iron to save my life. Hope this helps.

kenneth_here is offline Old Post 01-14-2001 11:41 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for kenneth_here Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
All times are GMT. The time now is 11:59 PM. Post New Thread    Post A Reply
  Last Thread   Next Thread
[ Show a Printable Version | Email This Page to Someone! | Receive updates to this thread ]

Forum Jump:

Powered by: vBulletin Version 2.3.4
Copyright ©2000, 2001, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.