Any use Compact Flash cards?

[reynoma]

Is there a Palm device that uses Compact Flash Cards? I am looking to upgrade from my IIIxe. I already own a Kodak digital camera that uses Compact Flash cards and it would be nice if my handheld device used the same. I have way too much invested in Palm software to consider moving to a Pocket PC.

[Calvados]

reynoma,

I am not sure about this, but it seems to me that I saw that the Handspring Visors can use a product called "memplug" & that with "memplug" installed you can use the compact flash memory cards.

Hope that this will help & have a nice day,
Calvados

[genoahous]

Handera 330 supports both SD/MMC and CF with no additional hardware.

details at http://www.handera.com

You might be able to get a deal on this system at EBay, etc.

No I will NOT sell mine! ;-)

I upgraded to the HE 330 from my Palm III and have been happy with the decision. But if I were to buy now I might do something different, HE 330 is $$$, and they never upgraded to OS 4.x.

You might want to wait to see what the OS5 devices have when they hit the shelves later this year (before Xmas?).

[reynoma]

Thanks for the reply genoahous. The 330 might be the machine for me. Two questions / comments though:

1) The website said something about playing music on the machine. I would assume you need additional software, right? One of the things that attracts me to the Sony is the ability to play MP3s - but I don't want to deal with a whole new set of memory sticks!

2) What, no color screen!?!

[genoahous]

Originally posted by reynoma
Thanks for the reply genoahous. The 330 might be the machine for me. Two questions / comments though:

1) The website said something about playing music on the machine. I would assume you need additional software, right? One of the things that attracts me to the Sony is the ability to play MP3s - but I don't want to deal with a whole new set of memory sticks!

2) What, no color screen!?! If they mention playing music, then it's just salesman hipe. You can play WAV files in a particular format, same used by video recorder, But saying it's playing music is stretching it.

Handera did produce a prototype color model with OS 4.x, 4MB Flash and 16MB RAM. Second hand info says that they'll produce it IF somebody/company commits to a LARGE order (50K units if I recall). Don't hold your breath!

Check out the handera forums on the web. They may answer more questions.

The features I like:
1. works with my Palm III folding keyboard.
2. Plenty of memory when using 128MB CF expansion. I use Launcher III and AutoCard (both can be found free). Launcher III latest is shareware, AutoCard is Handera product.
3. screen is wonderful, grafitti customizable.
4. works with my Palm III serial cable for hotsync at work.

What people have complained about:
1. What no color?
2. Why not 16MB of RAM (you can upgrade to this for about $100 from a second source - YMMV)?
3. Where's OS 4.x?
4. Some apps just don't run. Mainly games. IF you have a critical app, then you might want to get POSE and Handera 330 ROMS to test via emulation on your PC before purchase (both are free). You can even hotsync your whole setup to the emulator to see how it feels.
5. Why is AutoCard still only beta?
6. The SD cards made by Palm may require OS 4.x, which HE 330 does not run.
7. There's a really minor screen update problem with Datebk5 (other programs too?) when you have an entry with lots of lines. According the Datebk5 developer, this is a bug in the Handera OS 3.5.3 A29 .
8. Why is it still $299? (you can find it for less, I got mine for $250 almost a year ago).
9. Why is hotsync still serial? (for Palm III compatibility of course!).

Also of note, if you want to add I/O expansion, it has to either connect to the hotsync serial port, or plug into the CF slot. SD I/O is NOT supported.