Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Palm just posted USB support/hardware accessory at their web site for both PC and Mac. Very quiet announcement. Somebody needs to order and provide benchmark information for sync speed.

Here is the link in case it gets lost. or removed from the web due to premature announcement. http://palmorder.modusmedia.com/P5/P5-3C90201U.htm

[This message has been edited by RSGMOOSE (edited 10-05-1999).]

[This message has been edited by RSGMOOSE (edited 10-05-1999).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Athens, GA, USA
Posts: 23

I checked it out on the palm site...it is basically a cable that converts from serial to USB...no new cradle, just an adapter and a driver cd...I don't think this will necessarily increase HotSnych times, but it will simply allow you to connect to a USB port using your existing serial cradle. As long as its the same cradle..not that big of a change.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

dqk57 is correct it's just an adapter however, I have to believe that synching speed will still be increased just because the USB portal is faster than serial. But it will not be as fast, I suspect, as a pure USB.

[This message has been edited by RSGMOOSE (edited 10-06-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Salem, OR, USA
Posts: 91

Yep, it's just an adapter, but I don't think a new cradle would do it either. AFAIK as long as you have the simple serial interface on the Palm you will only get serial sync speed, but I could be wrong.

P.S. When I went to that page my first sight was that ugly iMac taking a prominent position hooked up to the Palm V... gag...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Yeah ugly....would've a looked marginally better if a Visor had been attached that matched the color of the iMac. I'm not going to worry about the sync speed too much...my Palm V is already sold as soon as my Visor arrives.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 200

There should be no speed increase. But I guess its to provide a workaround for people using 2 comports with an USB mother board and have problems to fit a 3rd serial device (like me - I gave up on it).

I use some other USB stuff (SmartMedia reader) and set up is SOOOOO easy. USB is the way to go.

BTW, why is speed so important? the data exchange between PDA and PC is only very small anyway. I can make a sync within a few seconds. Where is the problem (if you don't install large programs everyday)?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Urbana IL
Posts: 144

Well, there is no problem if you only install small programs. However, I plan on having a couple megs of Avantgo web pages that will get updated on sync, plus email sync. Having watched a Palm V sync a moderate inbox, I know that I would prefer not to wait that long!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Streamwood, IL USA
Posts: 118

Tiroth is right.

Throw in Quicksheet, Pocket Quicken and Backup Buddy going through everything and I have had Syncs that take up to 5 mins!

Definately looking forward to the speed of the USB. In fact I am going to completely re-load my Win95 PC with Win98, and this is one of the major reasons why!