Help I need some explanations

[Yoni]

Right I have just ordered my ipaq h5550 with a swanky case however I was looking at the options and I got a bit confused so would like some help

What is the difference between

CF cards
SD cards
MM cards

Which do I need and why? I know the analogue modem expansion needs a CF slot so I will have to buy a very ugly case for that but what do all the others do. I have looked for an explanation in "plain" English I can not seem to find one

Any help here lads would be greatly appreciated, as I do not want to buy one of each as an experiment.

 

[wyrd_fish]

i know CF cards are compact flash, but thats about all i know...

 

[PR.]

The ipaq 5550 uses SD inserted in the top, you can get a sleeve that will use CF for about £30 but they add to the bulk of the device.

CompactFlash

MultiMediaCard

SecureDigital

The SD cards are the size of a postage stamp whereas the MMC cards are the size of half a credit card. The SD cards also have a switch on them to make them readonly (Like a floppydisk).

CF is the cheapest then MMC with SD the more expensive

 

[Yoni]

but what do they all do plz? are they all storage media or........

 

[PR.]

Yes they are all memory formats. Some devices also offer SDIO which allow certain devices to be plugged into the slot. CF also have things similar such as modems.

www.expansys.com is the best place on the net for this kind a thing.

www.pocketpcthoughts.com has a good helpful community

 

[Xavier]

SD and MMC are the same size, and fit in the same slot. The difference is that SD can be write-protected.


Compactflash is generally a LOT faster and is available in higher capacities. If you don't mind the bulk and want to stick 4Gb on your PDA it's worth considering.

SD/MMC wise, they're comparable for performance but SD is more expensive. If you want 512Mb or less then either will be fine.

 

[Tom]

CF slot also allows for more expansion options, you'll tend to find more devices use a CF slot than anything else. You can buy CF slot Hard Drives (4GB), modems, wireless modems, bluetooth devices, and even things that make a cup of tea are likely to use a CF slot.

I think CF slot memory cards are cheaper as well. I have a 512MB card in my Ipaq 3630, and it works very well. Didn't cost much either.

 

[Xavier]

Battery drain on microdrives, etc is pretty high however.

That said, if you want such capacities, there's a very very cheap way to source a 4gb drive, if you know someone going to american sometime soon

 

[Yoni]

thank you

Ill by come cf cards and an expansion cover in March. I do not think I will require them for a few weeks.

*gets excited as new toy should be with me tomorrow*

 

[Xavier]

If you don't mind me asking, why an iPaq 5550? You can pick up an XDA-II for similar prices if you shop about, and it has all the built in phone/gprs modem shenanigans.


Xav

 

[Lazarus]

If you don't mind me asking, why an iPaq 5550? You can pick up an XDA-II for similar prices if you shop about, and it has all the built in phone/gprs modem shenanigans.


Xav

cos it increases my profit share!!!!!

 

[tRoG]

That said, if you want such capacities, there's a very very cheap way to source a 4gb drive, if you know someone going to american sometime soon

eBay is swamped with the drives from those things

 

[Yoni]

In a few words - because I want one and I for reasons of my own will not buy anything remotly related to BT.

 

[Xavier]

what has htc got to do with bt? there's probably a stronger connection between bt and hp than htc tech...

 

[Yoni]

what has htc got to do with bt? there's probably a stronger connection between bt and hp than htc tech...

Well that used to be a bespoke product that BT (O2 is or used to be part of the BT organisation) subsequently had.

A while ago (I am going through a divorce) I gave my soon to be ex-husband all the equity I had in our property (he is quite ill and his earning capacity is next to nothing) and I took all the debt and got into serious debt. I wanted one of the original O2, applied prepared to make a deposit, however because of my credit history they refused to give me the time of day.

This happened again last week although my debts are to the largest extent have been paid off. Last week was an interesting one though which I am going to cause a stir about.

I had a mobile with "mobile sense" a BT product and it had come to the end of my year's subscription. BT have moved their mobile stuff to BT home mobile so I started the transfer over. I got a phone call saying sorry you cant have one, however my payments to mobile sense were on time, I have a BT phone line with them and also JBP's ADSL is with BT (all have been paid on time). None of them for much longer I may add, as this is the final straw, which broke the camel's back.

The irony of it all is that I have money to spend now obviously because I am buying the H5550 but I am not credit worthy.

I wish you had not told me about HP's ties with BT as now my new toy is going to feel a bit tainted so I may send it back

 

[Xavier]

Well that used to be a bespoke product that BT (O2 is or used to be part of the BT organisation) subsequently had.

Heh, neither XDA design have ever been exclusive or bespoke to BT, O2, BTCellnet or anyone of that group. HTC originally made it as the cellular extension to the iPaq family, which is pretty obvious from the styling and similarities to the iPaq, right down to using the same dock connector.

O2 were just the first to sell it on contract in the UK, but they were also first with a bunch of other handset brands and products, the fact that some sales spod at O2 said "Ooh, that looks good, lets sell those" is hardly reason to put them down . In other countries Sprint, T-Mobile and a bunch of other networks sell HTCs handsets too, and if you didn't want the XDA badge on it, you can buy simfree ubranded versions from www.expansys.co.uk.

 

[Tom]

Yoni, there are agencies that can clear credit histories. A friend of mine used one when he moved into a house previously owned by somebody with a poor credit rating.

 

[Yoni]

Tom no use as my credit rating is still shite even though I have money.

On a nicer note I have my pda I have managed to connect it to the net and I have pocket irc.

It is fucking astounding what something so small can do to my nice new toy

 

[Xavier]

So, found any killer apps for it yet? or want some suggestions?

Xav

 

[Yoni]

at the moment i am still establishing what it can do then I will decide on how much storage I need and other things.

I will be getting a CF jacket and a CF analogue modem for it but I am not sure how much room I need for "stuff" yet.

I was looking for some e-books for it but most of them seem pants if there are any sites anyone knows with a decent selection I would be most grateful.

 

[Xavier]

A lot have pulled out of the eBook market, barnes and noble for example. Fictonwise.com still sell them, that's where I picked up my last couple, and there are plenty of free sources out there too, though their content is all pretty old.

Software wise, you should have a look at SPB pocket plus, which tweaks Windows Mobile 2k3 to give you a close button (x) which actually closes programs rather than minimising (important for memory management) and allows pocket IE to handle multiple sessions (otherwise you only get the one browser window and have to surf to one place at a time... ugh).