USB Hard Drive for Pocket PC

[JLH0518]

Just Curious,

I have seen USB hard drives in small memory qantities such as 64/128/256 MB, etc. Just recently I saw in an ad for Best Buy or someone in the Sunday paper a USB hard drive that was 40GB for just over $100. I believe this is the type of hard drive that can plug right into a USB connection on a notebook or PC. If so, it there any way to use this for a Pocket PC? Is there a USB to CF converter or something similar? Seems like a very inexpensive way to get ample hard drive space for a Pocket PC. Does anyone know if USB connections are in the future for Pocket PCs?

Thx, Jason

[AnswerDude]

Axim does not have usb "host" capability (most pocketpc does not), you need a CF card to add usb host and for large drive,
http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/subpages/cfu1u.html
you may also need seperarted power source.

[JLH0518]

Do any Pocket PCs have USB hosting? And what does hosting mean? Is there a trend toward newer Pocket PCs having this option. Any other suggestion for inexpensive mass storage capability?

Thx, Jason

[AnswerDude]

I know that some Toshiba models have native usb host capability.

Usb host means you can plug in client usb devices (ie., keyboard, mouse, drive) to it such as desktop pc. Many pocketpc such as Axim and Ipaq only has usb client(not host) so they can only be a client to desktop for sync only.

CF memory cards are somewhat inexpensive now, you can get 1 gig cf card for around $200.

[doogald]

Toshiba has just announced the new E800 that has USB host as well as a 480 x 640 display, believe it or not.