SD vs CF

[epel]

I'm new here and new in the pocketpc business, I've had palms over 3 years and enough palm os for me. I bought an Ipaq and now want more memory. I have the PCMCIA adapter and plan to buy at least 128 mb of memory whoever, to you who really know about this, what is better (and less expensive although i've been looking for prices). I know that for CF I need the special CF - PCMCIA adapter which can be about $10 but with SD i just read that you loose memory to the encryption which I don't really need so which one is better and more convenient.

Thanks for the help

[ebikeclass]

I don't know the exact model you own, but it sounds like you have a built-in SD slot. If so, I'd recommend using an SD card. The amount of memory used for encryption is not noticeable. I believe the power drain on the battery is less with the SD card than with either the CF or PC Card. Plus you don't have to worry about always carrying an expansion pack with you. Hope this helps.

Duane

[stevemw]

Your real choices are whether to loose 8% of total storage or carry the addtional bulk and weight of an expansion sleeve (though not excessive weight or bulk; plus the new ones provide additional battery power and can be used for wireless networking).

The 256MB SD, formatted FAT32, sector size 512 bytes, cluster size 1KB, provides 236 MB of usable storage.

[epel]

Thanks

I'm using a Compaq Ipaq 3850 which ahs the SD incorporated.

Again thanks

[stevemw]

Yes, that's the point -- it's built in.

[Nitestrike]

I have a 3975, and am able to use MMCs in the SD card slot. I scoured the HP/Compaq site and could not find yea or nea whether the 3800s could do this. You could always try Radio Shack, or similar place, and just ask them if you could try it in the iPAQ and then just tell them that you're not interested in the MMC. Just an additional option, they area also not as expensive as SD that I have seen.

Nitestrike

[epel]

Thanks

I think I'll go ahead with the 128 Mb SD card. Carrying the expansion pack (which has no cover), the adapter and the memory itself is too much of a hassle, the only problem is the SD is much more expensive.

But thanks

[Cooldude10810]

If you can, buy both. Buy a small sd card that will hold only the files you use alot. Thne buy a CF card that will hold everything else pluse some extra room. That way you only spen a little more and you can have the sd card(with your most used files) in all the time, and when you need your other files you can slip on the CF expansion pack.

[ebikeclass]

I purchased a large SD card (256 MB) for my 3970 and put everything on it. No expansion sleeves, I always leave it in, minimal power drain. It works great. Why carry an expansion sleeve if you don't have to?

[Olydus]

I have a 3835 which I believe is the same as the 3850 and got a MMC card. It fits in the SD slot and works great. I prefer using the SD slot over the CF+sleeve.

How do you format a SD card? I haven't found any options allowing that.

[epel]

Well, I bought a 128 SD card, it was a little more expensive than flash but comfort costs. And i can use my wireless modem while using the card which is also an advantage.
I dont know how to format it...