Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 6

Handspring Flash module Vs MemPlug

Hello All.
I have a Visor Platinum and I love the unit. This weekend I decided to take advantage of Staples' promotion and get the MemPlug and a 32MB CF card. I thought I would get more RAM for my applications (Like my previous PocketPC - you could install directly to the CF card and all apps and data were stored there.).
However, I soon realized that this is not the way the PalmOS works. Basically I have added a hard drive to my Visor. I'm not sure I like this - I can only store Apps on the card and even then need more 3rd party software (Launcher 3) to make this all work. Seems like a major PITA to me. Not to mention, programs that were available instantly now take a couple seconds to load. Add to that the fact that not many programs support storing data on the card....
I'm thinking of returning the whole mess and trying Handspring's flash card. I think this may work more the way I want it to work - give me more RAM for my system and quicker access to the apps. Does anyone have these flash cards and how do they interface to the Palm OS? Do they give you more room for your apps AND data that is transparent to the OS? Or is this not possible?
Thanks for any help!

-Matt

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 10

Doesn't memplug come with PiDirect to let u run apps directly off the cf card?

Well for flash its oni 16MB, whereas CF is cheap and can go to 128MB

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 76

I'm facing a similar dilema, but going the other way . I just bought an 8M flash module for $60. Shortly thereafter I saw the MemPlug special, and now I'm kicking myself and wondering if I should get that to, and swallow the $60.

According the MemPlug site, it comes with a trial version of PiDirect, which costs $20 top register. It's supposed to run apps directly from the CF card. It sound pretty cool, and I'd like to hear from someone who's tried it how well it works.

The Handspring flash module does work well. You can put most apps and databases (those that are not modified) on the module, and they run as if they were in RAM. Apps show up in the regular launcher with a dot next to them.

It's amazing. I just doubled my memory a week ago, and I'm already wondering if I'm going to run out of space. How did I live with just 8M RAM for over a year? The 3.6M app I just bought sure doesn't help. .

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 6

quote:

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Originally posted by valodya
[B]I'm facing a similar dilema, but going the other way . I just bought an 8M flash module for $60. Shortly thereafter I saw the MemPlug special, and now I'm kicking myself and wondering if I should get that to, and swallow the $60.

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Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 70

Go here!

http://staff.unk.edu/s/spradlinb/visor/home.html
The above link explains all in a very straight forward way well worth a look,

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 76

Apps on the flash module run as if they're in RAM. There may be a very slight delay, but if it's there it's hardly noticeable; I could be imagining it. I'm happy with the flash module; it's trivial to use and works as advertised.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 229

I personly like Pi software, you use it just like ram on your visor except you have 64 mb (depending on your media) extra space in my case. I have had no problems with this except for the battery factor, but that was my fault for choosing cf over smart media. CF takes a whole lot more power to run and while it's in sleep mode. The 8 or 16mb module withh work without 3rd party software but you are still limited, witht eh memplug you can swap media to your liking. If you want more memry you oculd get the internal 16mb upgrade here and then buy more external memory for back up it would be better but expensive.

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Don't Worry It's Human Nature To Point Out The Obvious

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

I got an Innopack 2/V and I still haven't filled up the RAM on my internal Visor. Course that could be because I delete all my apps that I don't find that I use more than once.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 10

Read that the memplug CF sucks more power than SM one...wats the approx diference in real time? Can the CF one at least last one day on a full charge (prism or otherwise?)

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Sumner, WA
Posts: 70

CF vs SM

Thanks for this discussion. I'm a new Neo owner, and while I haven't filled my Visor yet, with having Mapopolis and two county maps loaded, I may. *laugh* So, which is better, Compact Flash or Smart Media? I have a 8 meg Compact Flash for my digital camera, but I also have a Sonic Blue Rio that can use Smart Media and I'm thinking of upgrading it to 128 megs, so if I buy one thing, I'll be able to use it in at least two places, so I'm wondering which is better for running apps and for the most memory?

Dana

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 70

OK

This guy just know his stuff and its plain english
http://staff.unk.edu/s/spradlinb/visor/cfvssm.html
Opps sorry for the previous

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

as an owner of both a memplug and an 8M springboard mod i can authoritatively state that the 8M is *far* superior to the memplug....
i bought the memplug because i was running out of room on the 8M flash and thought it would be worthwhile to buy the memplug along w/compact flash to store all my programs as well as to backup the prism itself...i gave my backup module to my wife to use on her visor deluxe..
the backup program for the memplug (pibackup) is good and faster than the backup module (you are doing incremental backups rather than full backups)
however, the remainder of the programs suck..
pidirect is very slow and requires that i use fastcpu to regain the speed of the prism sans memplug

as stated above it is like getting a harddrive with access to one program at a time.. and not at all integrated like a springboard module...

i wish i bought the 16M springboard

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 78

<wish i bought the 16M springboard>

It seems like a waste of money to buy the 16M springboard instead of Memplug. I just ordered the memplug Smartmedia version with a 64M card. Total cost: about $80.

With it, I can have a backup module, store lots of photos, which I can't do now, download a spanish-english dictionary, and keep all of my seldom used files/documents available. Also, I will now have an extra Smartmedia card for my MP3 player.

I can't comment (yet) on the functionality of Memplug, because I haven't used it. But for the price, I get WAY more than what comes with a 16M flash card.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 46

Memplug

Rumor has it the latest verison of the CF memplug sits completely flush with the top of the Visro itself and with a Cf installed.

Can anyone confirm this?

Can anyone confirm if it will now work with a flipcover?

Thanks!

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 11

Re: Handspring Flash module Vs MemPlug

quote:

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Originally posted by mbryda
Does anyone have these flash cards and how do they interface to the Palm OS? Do they give you more room for your apps AND data that is transparent to the OS? Or is this not possible?
Thanks for any help!
[/B]

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__________________
Wender Hwang
Synapse Technology Editor
UCSF School of Medicine, Class of 2004

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Re: Memplug

quote:

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Originally posted by Holocron
Rumor has it the latest verison of the CF memplug sits completely flush with the top of the Visro itself and with a Cf installed.

Can anyone confirm this?

Can anyone confirm if it will now work with a flipcover?

Thanks!

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

Holocron,

Yes, the Memplug CF (with CF card) fits flush with the Visor. It's great!

They say that CF uses more power than SM, but it's also 2-3 times faster in writing. If you're trying to decide which to go with, just use what you have already. There is a poll on the Memplug Yahoo group that shows that users are almost 50/50 on CF vs SM with SM leading just a little.

__________________
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Registered: May 2001
Location: GA, USA
Posts: 76

Adpater and CF card

Well I use a couple of apps that make my Cf adapter work pretty much seamlessly wil my RAM apps. I have a 2 MB Visor, Matchbook Drive adapter, a 16 MB CF card, VFSHelper (frome (Kopsis Engineering), and Silver Screen 2.3.

I keep about 500 kb free on my visor because the apps need to be moved to ram before the are launched, then they are removed. Dave at Kopsis is actively updating and improving his software. There is a *slight* delay in launching apps, tyhtre bigger the are the slower of course. Most still launch within a few seconds, though.

With all these, I have about 4 MB of applications and 4 Mb of books that I keep on the card.

Registered: May 2001
Location: GA, USA
Posts: 76

Adpater and

Well I use a couple of apps that make my Cf adapter work pretty much seamlessly wil my RAM apps. I have a 2 MB Visor, Matchbook Drive adapter, a 16 MB CF card, VFSHelper (frome (Kopsis Engineering), and Silver Screen 2.3.

I keep about 500 kb free on my visor because the apps need to be moved to ram before the are launched, then they are removed. Dave at Kopsis is actively updating and improving his software. There is a *slight* delay in launching apps, tyhtre bigger the are the slower of course. Most still launch within a few seconds, though.

With all these, I have about 4 MB of applications and 4 Mb of books that I keep on the card.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 46

quote:

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Originally posted by chungmike
Holocron,

Yes, the Memplug CF (with CF card) fits flush with the Visor. It's great!

They say that CF uses more power than SM, but it's also 2-3 times faster in writing. If you're trying to decide which to go with, just use what you have already. There is a poll on the Memplug Yahoo group that shows that users are almost 50/50 on CF vs SM with SM leading just a little.

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