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

Re: Beta Testing?

quote:

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Originally posted by rockdj
Are you going to beta test any of the software? I'm sure I'm not the only one itching to get this module into full time action!

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In essence, the first release of the software will be the beta. It won't be a limited access release ... anyone that wants it will be able to get it. I'm trying to keep the feature set down to an absolute minimum (no subdirectory support yet, very basic user interface, etc.) so we can have this out as quickly as possible. Updates will always be free, so people shouldn't mind getting just the basics to start with (as long as they are told about it up front). But we won't release until what's there is stable and reliable. Some companies may be comfortable releasing software with known defects ... but Kopsis isn't one of them

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

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

Springboard housings

I could not find the company noted for Springboard housings, but I saw a person or two say they might buy the $65 worth and sell the extras. I am interested. I have most parts except for the housing and the adapter, but the adapter will arrive soon.

Wonderful idea and I look forward to purchasing the software that will make this a most useful peice of hardware.

Tim

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: Springboard housings

quote:

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Originally posted by tkmead
I could not find the company noted for Springboard housings

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

Just curious, but has anybody looked into incorporating the PCMCIA housing into the springboard slot cover that comes with the visor to create a housing? I'm sure some fancy x-acto knifing and ingenuity might save all of you from having 64 module housings to get rid of.

I'll try this when i get an adaptor and let you know my results.

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Ever feel like the train left while you were busy reading the paper?

Stealth-Mod.

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

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA
Just curious, but has anybody looked into incorporating the PCMCIA housing into the springboard slot cover that comes with the visor to create a housing? I'm sure some fancy x-acto knifing and ingenuity might save all of you from having 64 module housings to get rid of.

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Interesting suggestion and should be very "doable". You have to cut the "key" off the "pin #1" one side of the PCMCIA card frame since the Springboard slot is keyed specifically to prevent the insertion of PCMCIA cards, but other than that the frame is the right size and shape. I actually used just the PCMCIA card frame at the start of this project and it worked but was a bit fragile. Mounting it in the slot cover for additional stability seems like it would work well

Excellent idea! If anyone out there gives it a try, let me know how well it works so I can mention it as an alternative in the instructions.

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

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

What Use

Pardon My ignorance. But what use would one have for such a module? And if folks here can make one for themselves...why can't they make multiple units and sell them in VC's Buy and Sell section?

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

Re: What Use

quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
Pardon My ignorance. But what use would one have for such a module? And if folks here can make one for themselves...why can't they make multiple units and sell them in VC's Buy and Sell section?

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

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

I sent an e-mail to ATL asking about waiving the fee because we were just hobbiest and not looking to make any money off of it and this is the reply I got:

Hello James,
The minimum order is $65.00 and there is no way around that. I wouold be happy to assist you further should you wish to place a larger order.

rgds
Jeannine Lewis
ATL Technology

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

downloadable test software

Can someone please point me to the page where I can download the software for this?

I tried the link listed in the article,
http://kopsisengineering.netfirms.com/CFTest.zip

I get a page not found error.


Thanks,
Dave

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

That's strange?! The file had disappeared but it's back now. Try that link again and email [email protected] if you have any more problems.

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

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29

This looks like are really cool storage option. If I can find the supplies @ the right price I will probably do this.

If any one does try using the springboard cover that comes with the visor as a casing let us know because that would be a great option instead of tracking down other housings.
Dave

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Indy
Posts: 38

Housings ... AND Smart Media cards?

I've been following this (excitedly!) since Monday and am running into a bit of trouble coming up w/ some of the parts -- anyway, I just want to say publicly, if anyone here wants to take the reins and order the housings bulk, I'm in.
I wish I could just jump up and do it, but time and effort spent elsewhere (work =( ) prevent that ... but if you do, please post here AND on the Buy/Sell/Exchange forum.

Like the others, thanks a million, Kessler.
-Brian

PS- One more thought, and then I'll shut up.
You often hear "CF cards" and "SmartMedia cards" in the same breath. Any chance of using the same concept with SM cards instead of CF cards??
Any ideas?

[Edited by brijoco on 10-05-2000 at 10:21 AM]

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

That's a really good question. I already have two smart media cards that would be perfect for this.

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

I've looked at doing a SmartMedia card adapter and though it is technically feasable, it's a lot harder. The problem is that the SmartMedia cards are not nearly as "smart" as the CF cards.

There are PCMCIA to SmartMedia adapters and if you open one up, you'll find a Toshiba chip that provides that ATA interface that PCMCIA expects. This little chip makes the cards much more expensive (usually around $40) and also makes it a lot tougher to figure out exactly what modifications need to be made.

A completely passive interface to the Springboard bus is possible, but that means a "from scratch" module with a custom PCB. Building it would be beyond the grasp of all but the most hardcore hardware geeks or a company that is actually in the business of mass producing hardware. And if you thought getting small quantities of Springboard housings was tough, try getting small quantities of SmartMedia sockets! Those companies only sell them in 100 piece reels (at $1000 per reel).

Going the custom route also makes the drivers much more complex ... although the SmartMedia Forum recently released some sample drivers developed by Toshiba (inventors of SmartMedia) that would help a lot (especially since getting the SmartMedia specs requires a $5000 membership in the Forum).

I actually prefer the SmartMedia form factor over CF, but the adapter is just too much work. An MMC adapter would be a much better use of resources since I think in the long run that format (or SD) will end up killing off SmartMedia. It's already happening with MP3 players and digital cameras won't be far behind.

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

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

card frame (also housings)

> I actually used just the PCMCIA card frame at the
>start of this project and it worked but was a
>bit fragile.

This may seem like a simple question, but do you mean you just used the inside plastic frame part? You mention that the metal housing is damaged when removed, but would it be possible to preserve the bottom plate and modify the springboard slot cover for use as a top?

Also, I'm willing to purchase $65 worth of housings if enough people would be willing to buy them from me. I don't want to make a huge profit, but I can't really see myself selling 65 of them, so I'd want to make sure that I recouped at least some of my losses (I could live with having a bunch of extra housings lying around as long as I could be sure of selling at least a few of them for five bucks or so). I'd also be willing to part with large numbers of them at cost so other people could take on the more managable task of selling 20 or so. Email me if you would want to buy some from me.

[email protected]

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

Re: card frame (also housings)

quote:

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Originally posted by winsk
This may seem like a simple question, but do you mean you just used the inside plastic frame part?

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Correct.

quote:

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You mention that the metal housing is damaged when removed, but would it be possible to preserve the bottom plate and modify the springboard slot cover for use as a top?

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Depends on your PCMCIA card. On SanDisk cards the metal covers are actually "crimped" around the plastic frame and qlued on with some pretty strong stuff. Others come off much easier and if you're really careful you may be able to get the bottom cover off without mangling it.

quote:

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Also, I'm willing to purchase $65 worth of housings if enough people would be willing to buy them from me. I don't want to make a huge profit, but I can't really see myself selling 65 of them ...

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Unless y'all are getting quoted some really good prices by ATL, in quantities less than 50 the housing top and bottom sell for $2.58 a piece. $65 will get you about 13 sets which shouldn't be too difficult to find good homes for

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

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

kessler and anyone else that has bult this thing, it is purely amazing, I have put the directions on My iSilo Web and have read them and will continue to read them, however I fear that I will be unable to buld one my self. I will read againg. But one problem keeps croping up, I don't have any hardware hacking tools, i would have to buy every thing needed, and I would most likely ony buld one or two of them so the price is a little out of my range. But I still have to have one of these. so I'm going to make an offer right here to kessler mainly but others are welcome to respond, if some one could buld me one of these then I'll PayPal you the money, I can afford somewere around 50 but the price is very negotiable. if you can help me please email me [email protected] or ICQ at 51753604, and I also have AIM.

To the wonderfull mods : I relize that this post should probly be moved, but this seemed to be the most logical place for it right now, all things considered. If it dosen't fit just remove it or somthing, my brain isnt working very well right now

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Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
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"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

I just placed an order with ALT (UPS Ground) for :
- 15 springboard cases ( ATL Part #31-0008-00 & #31-0009-00) sorry, as of 10/9/00 no more left
- 10 Hot Sync Connector Kits w/ Strain Relief (I want to make a cable for my GPS. see http://wac.addr.com/ee/visor/visor.html) (ATL Parts #500835 & 500766P1) But I still have a few of these left

I will be taking orders via email ([email protected]) and payment via paypal (if you don't have a paypal account, use me as a referral and I'll give you a $1.00 discount. Note: you will have to email me to get a referral before you try to open an account)

I am planning to sell 13 of the springboard cases for $2.58 + (ATL shipping cost to my house / 25 units) + (shipping cost to you, hopefully only $0.33) + $1.00 for my time per springboard case. I'm guessing the price will be around $4-$5 each.

The Hot Sync Connectors kits will cost $0.60/unit more because of the price difference between the products. I will be selling 8 of these.

Thanks

[Edited by wilderf on 10-11-2000 at 04:11 PM]

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

quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
I don't have any hardware hacking tools, i would have to buy every thing needed, and I would most likely ony buld one or two of them so the price is a little out of my range. But I still have to have one of these.

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Patience Grasshopper As we are all painfully well aware, you couldn't do anything with a FlashAdapter yet even if you had one. The software is coming along, but let's face it - implementing the MS-DOS filesystem on PalmOS falls into the category of "non-trivial".

The public reaction to this module has been outstanding and I am fairly confident that it will be possible to buy completely assembled modules once software is released and people can start "using" them.

However, if you've never actually attempted a project like this, you're really missing out on a cool experience. Maybe it's a disease that only affects engineers, but the "rush" that you get the first time you run the test software and see all the card info scrolling across the screen thanks to something you built with your own hands is totally addictive! Not to mention the "bragging rights" when your friends ask how you got your Visor to be able to use CF cards

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

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 264

From the looks of the pictures, it appears that most of the CF card will stick out of the top of the Visor when this is in us...can someone confirm this?

[Edited by euangel on 10-06-2000 at 12:57 PM]