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Discussion > Other Areas of Interest > All Handhelds > Sony Clie USB Architecture
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By: parb33 @ 12:38 AM

Is the Sony Clie's USB architecture identical to that of the Visor, i.e. are accessories that plug into the USB port interchangeable?

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By: MarkEagle @ 12:45 AM

I don't know about the Clie, but the Visor, being a USB "slave" device, can't use USB accessories per se. The USB interface is primarily for hotsyncing. It also needs to be powered from a USB host (ie PC).

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By: parb33 @ 02:29 AM

I'm not sure exactly what u mean, Mark, but I was referring to things like the Stowaway Keyboard, Talelight, etc. when I used the term "USB Accessories." I was trying to ask whether these are interchangeable between the Visor and the Clie (since these are the only two Palm OS devices with true USB syncing), IOW whether the connector is the same. Am I missing something?

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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



By: Hoser_back_home @ 04:11 PM

That was one of the first things i checked...i might be a future Clie owner....and the answer? No. The Clie has a completely different connector (more contacts on the Clie) so the stowaway won't work. I'm not sure if something could be rigged up...like the 'clip' that some palm products use to allow the III model and V model to be used on some products.

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By: kevin_i_orourke @ 05:31 PM

Things like the keyboards aren't actually USB devices, they use the serial port terminals on the Visor's connector.

Somewhere in the Handspring developer documentation it shows the pinout for the connector and describes how keyboards connect. Can't remember the details just now, try the web site.

Kev.



By: parb33 @ 12:15 AM

Damn them...Why couldn't they have used the same one? Is there any advantage in their setup, or did they just do it out of spite ("We don't want you guys capitalizing on the thousands of accessories sure to be made for the Clie in the very near future")? :-(

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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



By: MarkEagle @ 12:46 AM

quote:
Originally posted by parb33
Why couldn't they have used the same one?


Well, Handspring didn't use the same connector as any of the Palm's, either. I'd imagine that if the Clie becomes popular (or should that be when?), a Stowaway will be made to support it.

As for any current accessories specific to the Visor, it's doubtful that any of them will work with any other handheld.

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