Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Where yer sitting
Posts: 11

Memory Expansion

I've only used about 60% of my VDX's memory so far. I would like to add a Greek New Testament which is about another 1MB, plus a bunch of documents (just registered WordSmith! ), plus SOMEDAY there will be an e-mail conduit for Macs and then I'll need more memory for THAT. . .

So, I was looking at memory expansions but I have no clue about them. Do you have to move data/programs back and forth from the expansion to the main memory to use it? If so, I guess that means that you need to have a handfull of memory free on each, the VDX and the expansion. I have been looking at the InnoPak/2V because I like the silent alarm option. Would 2MB be sufficient to swap stuff in and out?

Advice please...

__________________
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

I have a brand spankin new in box, 8 mb Falsh module. Retails for about 80 bucks. I will sell it to you for 40. It plugs in to your expansion slot on the back and is perfect if you dont use and expansions like the phone. Or you chould just go buy one at staples for 80 bucks. Email if you want.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 82

I'm learning a little about springboard expansion. So far I can tell you that the InnoPak/2V is for applications only. I'm thinking it's that way for the 2mb and 8mb springboard modules.

You can move some big apps over there but not the data. I'm thinking it's because "updateable" stuff must stay off the module, i.e. data. I'm a little bummed 'cause I can't move 2mb worth of worldnet medium dictionary database over to the module. Oh well, the extra room is real nice.

/s/MTM

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 108

The Memplug adapters are great, but are a little less useful on the VDX due to the limitations of PalmOS 3.1. You can get a Smartmedia, Compact Flash, Memory Stick or soon a SD/MMC adapter. Programs can be launched right off of the card using the Memplug "VFS" utility from their website. You can also store really big .doc files, Tomeraider and Isolo files on the memory card. Capacities range from 8MB up to 128MB or more.

The one limitation is that you cannot use PiDirect, which is a great program for running applications of of the memory card. PiDirect is MUCH faster than VFS, but only works on PalmOS 3.5 or above devices.

Check out www.memplug.com for more info

Doug

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 10

I have an Innopak/2V and it works great. Certain apps don't mind running from the module and certain apps don't mind if their data is on the module. It varies from app to app.
If 2 MB isn't enough for you (and it is for me, but I don't have a ton of stuff installed) you might want to look for the DataQuake 8MB or 16MB module. It is like the Innopak, but a little nicer. It also has the vibrating alarm and also a flashing LED alarm. Again, certain things don't mind running there, others do.
The thing about modules like this is that the Innopak and DataQuake modules are flash memory (not to be confused with compact flash). This means that most apps can run from them, but most apps cannot *write* to them. If you have a app that needs to write to a file (for instance a word processor) it will probably not be happy with living on the module. But if you have (for instance) a dictionary or a picture viewer, they (and their data) should live happily on the module. For instance, I have an app called Planetarium (great app by the way) that has charts of the night sky and information about constellations, planets, etc. and it will run just fine from the module. It needs to keep one file on the main memory, and it creates tiny files that are pointers to the databases on the module, but it runs fine. Kyle's quest on the other hand won't. It needs to write stuff (like your current stats in the game) out to the main memory. But other than this limitation, from the Visor's standpoint, the module is just an extension of its own memory. This is not the case with the memplug module (and Palm OS 3.1). In the case of the memplug (which lets you use removable compact flash or smartmedia or memory stick depending on the model) the Visor sees it as more of a "hard drive" than as memory. With a newer OS that is not true, but we who still have just the Deluxe are stuck with it.
I had to research this a great deal recently. My wife has a Deluxe (well did until she dropped it and *just* got a Neo) and she needed to keep several medical texts in her Visor. To do this she had to have a module that would look like memory to the reader application that would only run from the main memory. The DataQuake 16 MB was just what the doctor (pun intended) ordered. It worked like a dream. Then she killed her Deluxe and it still works like a dream on her Neo.
Hope that helps.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 82

Well put. Thanks.

Any plans for that broken visor?

/s/MTM

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 10

No plans for the dead Deluxe yet. I am thinking of taking it apart to see what makes it tick, or keep it around for spare parts. It still runs, but about 1/3 of the screen is gone. Kind of a shame.
I just heard that Target has the Visor Neo for $169.99. I think it may be time for me to upgrade too.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 82

New screens are available @ http://www.gethightech.com

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Where yer sitting
Posts: 11

Thanks everyone!

Thanks for everyone's inputs. I just purchased an Innopak/2V from half.com for $21.50 including shipping and handling.

Why? Well, first of all price. Second, I will need a (relatively) silent alarm in school and church. Third, I still have 3 MB free on the Visor and I don't think I will need more than an additional 2MB when its all said and done.

Once it arrives, I'll let you know what I think of it.

__________________
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 82

Yea right, like there is such a thing as enough memory. LOL

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Where yer sitting
Posts: 11

quote:

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Originally posted by mdatl
Yea right, like there is such a thing as enough memory. LOL

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Yea, really! Silly Ahnyer! Oops.

I guess what I meant was that it should be enough for me to live with.

__________________
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

Registered: Feb 2002
Location:
Posts: 27

Memory

Can any of you good people tell me how I can tell the amount of memory that I have left on my Visor?
Thanks,
Karlton

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 82

Surely. From the Applications menu screen, tap the menu icon (lower left, between the contrast and keyboard), then tap info.

I use LauncherIII, it has a gauge for the batt and mem.

/s/MTM

Registered: Feb 2002
Location:
Posts: 27

Thanks!

I really appreciate it