Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 30

So with all the memory available in the memplug module - can you run any application from the module when it is inserted in the device? (a la 8mb flash module)

Andrew

(the answer may be obvious but I haven't seen that you can run any application from the module - I have only seen the word "store")

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 48

You are correct. The MemPlug can only store just like the MatchBookDrive but better.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 23

Short answer: Nope.

Long answer: Smart media and compact flash are essentially "hard drive" type storage for your Visor, and not "system RAM" like the flash modules.

A Visor "out of the box" runs everything in system RAM. A hotsync operation reads & writes data to your system RAM, and because the PalmOS was written lean, to perform better on limited resources, file management was left out of the OS. As far as PalmOS is concerned, data exists in RAM or it doesn't-- there isn't an option to access data from "disk drive" like sources.

HOWEVER, as the Memplug demonstrates, PalmOS applications can be written which have the ability to access data from "disk drive" like sources, such as Smart Media cards. The MemPlug's included apps all are able to read data, and some are able to write data, to the cards.

Apparently there will soon be a document reader which can read from the MemPlug, so you could store the document reader app in your Visor and store all your DOC files on the smart media cards.

I've ordered the MemPlug because I have a Smart Media digital camera, and the jpeg viewer would be of some use to me. The backup features also sold me. As for running more apps, I can store infrequently-used apps on the smart media card, and as log as there's enough free space in my internal RAM, I can load up the program when I need to use it, and offload it when I'm done. That could become a pain, but I didn't order the MemPlug as an alternative to the Flash RAM module, anyway.

If you are wanting to expand your Visor's available memory in order to run more apps, you should look into Flash RAM modules or 3rd party internal memory upgrades. However, if you want to get a backup module that has much greater flexibility in use, the MemPlug is a great value.

Just my 2 cents!

-kirb

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

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Originally posted by Calverta
So with all the memory available in the memplug module - can you run any application from the module when it is inserted in the device? (a la 8mb flash module)

Andrew

(the answer may be obvious but I haven't seen that you can run any application from the module - I have only seen the word "store")

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia USA
Posts: 22

Why not TRG program.

So I get the whole simplicity of the PalmOS prevents MemPlug being used as flash. Isn't it possible to write a program that will let you run directly from the SmartMedia card, kind of like the softare that TRG added to the TRGPro CF models.

Eric

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Yes, but from what I understand, it's a really tricky program to write.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: NJ,US
Posts: 94

I maybe mistaken, but doesnt the TRG copies the
app from CF to internal memory to be able to run it?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia USA
Posts: 22

AutoCF

If you check out TRGNET.com, they have a program called AutoCF. Not sure what that does though.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

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Originally posted by wforde
I maybe mistaken, but doesnt the TRG copies the
app from CF to internal memory to be able to run it?

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