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NX Drive the end of Innopocket and Matchbook?


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Vertigo
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

quote:
Originally posted by imabug
You know, aside from the onboard flash, I didn't really see any significant difference between the InnoPocket/Matchbook and the Nxist springboards. The flash lets you store the software for the device onboard instead of taking up Visor memory, but aside from that there didn't seem to be any major advantage that made the NxDrive any better than the other two. Did I miss something?

You hit it right on the nose.
Current CF adaptors coupled with the up coming JackFlash (?) software won't be able to restore from the module after a hard reset (as all the CF access software will be wiped also). The user will have to upload the jackflash software to their visor, and then restore. Am I wrong about this? Kinda defeats the purpose of having backup on the go.

04-04-2001 07:07 AM

Azdeadwood
Member

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Posts: 50

I found that the 16 MB Flash Module is still the only solution for more true usable memory.

What I want in a CF card Module is the ability to use a wired LAN CF Card and/or a CF Card Modem!

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Richard Grogan
Email: <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]?subject=VisorCentral">[email protected]</A>
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04-04-2001 01:05 PM

ajcross
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 18

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler
Seriously, I think that Palm is going to drive that standardization when they release their removable storage API.

Would you be able to engineer an interface patch that would function all the way back to the Visor Deluxe? Would Handspring support this?

Andy

04-04-2001 07:46 PM

dkessler
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:
Originally posted by ajcross

Would you be able to engineer an interface patch that would function all the way back to the Visor Deluxe? Would Handspring support this?

Andy

Whether it will be possible to "extend" OS 3.1 (or 3.5) to include the removable storage API functions remains to be seen. However, it should be possible for existing APIs to add a "compatibility layer" that would allow application developers to use their 4.0 removable storage support code in a 3.x application with minimal modifications.

Don't expect any official "legacy device" support from Handspring ... it makes more sense for them to offer brand new Palm OS 4.x devices to entice existing customers to upgrade. How they will integrate the removable storage API with the Springboard interface only Handspring knows.

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<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

04-05-2001 01:13 AM

Euxx
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 67

Re: Re: Nx Drive Superior

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler

Not likely. NXiST has not licensed the Kopsis CF driver software, so unless they reverse engineered and re-implemented the FlashAdapter API (not really a cost effective approach), new FlashAdapter applications will be compatible only with Innopocket, Matchbook, or home-built CF adapters.

That's what I'm talking about. It's a war between hardware vendors but nothing about customers.

04-05-2001 02:57 AM

argent
Member

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

quote:

Don't expect any official "legacy device" support from Handspring ... it makes more sense for them to offer brand new Palm OS 4.x devices to entice existing customers to upgrade.

That's short-term thinking. The upgrade treadmill is one of the main problems with Microsoft's handhelds, and the lack of an upgrade treadmill with PalmOS is one of its benefits.
And Handspring understands this, and is promising compatibility patches. From their FAQ:

http://handspring.com/products/visordeluxe/faq.jhtml
You will also be able to add software to your Visor Deluxe that will provide any necessary or fun improvements needed to keep your Visor Deluxe up to date and compatible with all of the Palm OS� applications available.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC 
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

04-05-2001 12:02 PM

dkessler
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:
Originally posted by argent
And Handspring understands this, and is promising compatibility patches. From their FAQ:

http://handspring.com/products/visordeluxe/faq.jhtml
You will also be able to add software to your Visor Deluxe that will provide any necessary or fun improvements needed to keep your Visor Deluxe up to date and compatible with all of the Palm OS� applications available.

Yes, but have they ever actually done this? Can you run PQA'a on a VDX with a modem? Have they made the improved network HotSync functionality from PalmOS 3.5 available to VDX users? I think the reality of the PDA market is that as long as users are willing to buy a new device to get the new features, it's just not cost effective to try to develop "patches" that are going to eat up engineering hours and not generate any revenue. Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning this practice ... I just understand exactly how competitive the PDA market is and I'm trying to maintain realistic expectations.

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

04-05-2001 01:24 PM

argent
Member

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler
Yes, but have they ever actually done this?

Nope, but while I would like functionality upgrades like the ones you listed, what they're actually promising are compatibility upgrades. And I haven't run into any software yet that I couldn't run on my VDx.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC 
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

04-05-2001 01:39 PM

MPM
Member

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 216

Yes, they could make money with an upgrade

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler
<snip> I think the reality of the PDA market is that as long as users are willing to buy a new device to get the new features, it's just not cost effective to try to develop "patches" that are going to eat up engineering hours and not generate any revenue.<snip>

Actually they could get revenue from an OS upgrade. I remember reading somewhere (could have been here!) that the FTC forced Palm to sell the OS 3.5 upgrade to most users because they were a public company, and that the upgrade was to add features and was not just a bug fix release. Adding features = selling a product, so giving the upgrade away could bring the wrath of the anti-trust lawyers. Does Microsnot give away OS upgrades? No way!

Same thing would apply to Handspring, so they would have to sell such a upgrade. Personally I think that Handspring would be able to make plenty of money by selling such upgrades, without cutting into sales of new units. The best example of this is the choice between a Platinum and a Deluxe. Before the rebate started, there was only a $50 difference between the prices. The only extra features the Platinum has are a 50% increase in speed (which I can get on my Deluxe with Afterburner) and Palm OS 3.5 (which I can't get).

So Handspring will likely not provide an upgrade to OS 3.5 for the Deluxe because they dont want to cannibilize sales of the higher priced Platinum. But if they charge money for the upgrade, say $30, I don't think that would cannibilize Platinum sales. If they charged $50 for an upgrade to OS 3.5 they certainly would not hurt Platinum sales.

Would I buy a $50 OS 3.5 upgrade for my Deluxe? Yes. Because I don't want to buy a Platinum for $300 (that's $250 more than buying the upgrade). I could always sell my Deluxe on eBay, but I'd still be out much more than $50 in the end.

Here is an idea: Handspring should sell an upgrade to Palm OS 3.5 that upgrades just the base level OS and not the built-in apps, for $30. They could then sell a better upgrade to OS 3.5 that also upgrades the built-in apps for say, $50. This would of course take more memory, but consumers would then have a choice, and we like choices.

04-05-2001 09:24 PM

mint
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 38

Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive?

Springboard has almost the same pinouts as PCMCIA, CF adapter is almost the same PCMCIA to CF. it's a very very simple hardware

It's believable that Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive hardware. Or even better, you could acctually burn Kopsis's CF into NxDrive flash ROM. with little hack, I believe it is highly possible.

Hey, I don't patent my idea. Kopsis can go ahead and use it. <wink>

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<< yes, indeed >>

04-06-2001 12:31 AM

dkessler
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

Re: Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive?

quote:
Originally posted by mint
Springboard has almost the same pinouts as PCMCIA, CF adapter is almost the same PCMCIA to CF. it's a very very simple hardware

It's believable that Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive hardware. Or even better, you could acctually burn Kopsis's CF into NxDrive flash ROM. with little hack, I believe it is highly possible.

Hey, I don't patent my idea. Kopsis can go ahead and use it. <wink>

If the NxDrive is, in fact, a passive adapter based on the original FlashAdapter design, then there is a pretty good chance that our FALib driver (and hence FAFileMover and any other applications that use FALib) would work with it and could even be burned into the flash on the module. But I don't think too many people will want to spend the extra money for drivers and a file mover app when the NxDrive already comes with all that. Our software may be good, but I don't know if it's that good

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

04-06-2001 02:14 PM

argent
Member

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Re: Re: Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive?

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler
But I don't think too many people will want to spend the extra money for drivers and a file mover app when the NxDrive already comes with all that. Our software may be good, but I don't know if it's that good

That would depend entirely on the availability of software that used your API instead of theirs.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC 
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

04-06-2001 02:43 PM

mint
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 38

Re: Re: Kopsis CF will work on NxDrive?

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler

If the NxDrive is, in fact, a passive adapter based on the original FlashAdapter design, then there is a pretty good chance that our FALib driver (and hence FAFileMover and any other applications that use FALib) would work with it and could even be burned into the flash on the module. But I don't think too many people will want to spend the extra money for drivers and a file mover app when the NxDrive already comes with all that. Our software may be good, but I don't know if it's that good

PalmOS 4 is coming. It will have ability to Load and run programs in RAM also include storage APIs and I believe new softwares are going to use it.

I don't mind having a OS4 CF module. It's going to be true upgrade for my VDx. Flash rom would be nice becuase it could survive hard reset.

I think people would be willing to pay $70 for that package. $35 could be for CF adapter with flash rom. $25 could be for OS4 software adaptation and $10 is for licensing palm OS.

I do not patent this idea. But who is going to make this for us?

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<< yes, indeed >>

04-06-2001 03:03 PM

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