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View Full Version : Sandisk's New MobileMate Media Adapters


Janak Parekh
11-04-2004, 04:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.sandisk.com/pressrelease/20041025.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.sandisk.com/pressrelease/20041025.htm</a><br /><br /></div>Unfortunately, Pocket PCs can't be used as USB drives on PCs without ActiveSync, and it's slow at that. However, Sandisk has announced a really compact SD-to-USB adapter that might serve as a decent companion: their MobileMate product.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041103-SandiskMobilemate.jpg" /><br /><br />It appears like it'll be shipping this month, and it's small enough that I can throw it in my bag or pocket and then transfer the SD card from my handhelds when I need to transfer data. What solutions have you guys developed to transfer data onto others' machines that aren't running AS?

thanos255
11-04-2004, 04:02 PM
I am sorry. I am so dang sick and tired of all of these key chain memory things.

I have had Memorex, Sony, Sandisk, etc and they all hold memory the same way

BUT

All the little things that hold it to the key chains are crap!!! They all break within 24 hours of me putting them on.....

Ticks me off...if you cannot tell.

Yorch
11-04-2004, 04:12 PM
I have one of those Intellisticks (http://www.extrememhz.com/Intellistick20-p1.shtml), they are the same memory, but they are very thin and small, hence, you can carry them on your wallet. And works like a charm!

Ward
11-04-2004, 04:14 PM
I want one! 8O

But I can't find them anywhere for sale in the UK.

Dopeman
11-04-2004, 04:18 PM
looks good but not too small either.

there used to be something similar from Lexar the JumpDrive Trio for SD / MMC / MS i always wanted to get one but they are hard to get. Maybe this thing is better but the lexar thing would hold the sd inside so you could use it just as a usb stick.

Felix Torres
11-04-2004, 04:18 PM
I have a Lexar JUMPDRIVE TRIO flash-card adapter that is pretty much the same as this new SANDISK entry.

It holds the SD card inside and it looks and acts exactly like a thumbdrive except I can stick any SD/MMC inside and it stays locked there. It also accepts Sony MemoryStick (although I can't imagine why anybody would want to to that since it just sticks out the back). :twisted:

Its $17 or so at Walmart.
Amazon has it, too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008RW8L/qid=1099581674/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-3988560-1608105?v=glance&s=photo&n=507846

Felix Torres
11-04-2004, 04:19 PM
looks good but not too small either.

there used to be something similar from Lexar the JumpDrive Trio for SD / MMC / MS i always wanted to get one but they are hard to get. Maybe this thing is better but the lexar thing would hold the sd inside so you could use it just as a usb stick.

You sure they're hard to get?
Last time I looked, (last week) Walmart had them all over.

Janak Parekh
11-04-2004, 04:26 PM
I have a Lexar JUMPDRIVE TRIO flash-card adapter that is pretty much the same as this new SANDISK entry.
Neat - thanks for the link! I'll probably look these over and pick one up soon.

--janak

Dopeman
11-04-2004, 04:26 PM
looks good but not too small either.

there used to be something similar from Lexar the JumpDrive Trio for SD / MMC / MS i always wanted to get one but they are hard to get. Maybe this thing is better but the lexar thing would hold the sd inside so you could use it just as a usb stick.

You sure they're hard to get?
Last time I looked, (last week) Walmart had them all over.

yeah im sure about that but i live in Germany and the whole SD stuff a little rare around here especialy the geeky stuff ;)

i found it on several online shops but when i orderd they were sold out.

ill try again.

Is the Lexar Jumdrive as small as a usb stick or much larger? Could you recomend it in comparison to the sandisk thing?

Edit: just found it on amazon.de going to order it there if the sandisk isnt better thanks guys Thumbsup

Felix Torres
11-04-2004, 05:14 PM
Is the Lexar Jumdrive as small as a usb stick or much larger? Could you recomend it in comparison to the sandisk thing?



It is larger than most thumbdrives; 90mm by 30mm by 10mm.
For those on this side of the pond; 3.25" by 1.25" by 0.5".
I've had it for year and a half now and it hasn't failed yet.

Don't really know about the Sandisk; the picture doesn't make it clear if it lets you keep the SD card inside...

ctmagnus
11-04-2004, 05:40 PM
:drool: So much smaller than my JumpDrive Trio! I may get one of these, just for the pocketability factor.

Darius Wey
11-04-2004, 05:40 PM
Don't really know about the Sandisk; the picture doesn't make it clear if it lets you keep the SD card inside...

I believe a portion of the SD card would stick out. I just did a rough comparison between an SD card and a USB flashdrive of about the same size as the Sandisk, and I think approximately 1/4 of the SD card is exposed.

TheOrange
11-04-2004, 05:43 PM
I've been using my JumpDrive Trio (http://www.lexar.com/readers/trio.html) for about a year or so and it is the best $18 I have ever spent! OK, it could have been designed to be more compact, but overall its a great little product for a great little price.

meroupow
11-04-2004, 06:09 PM
Using laptops you can try this:
Panasonic SD-CF to PCMCIA Adapter

http://shop.brando.com.hk/panasonicsdcfadapter.php

it is great also to use SD cards in digital cameras and so on.

Also it fits completely inside the laptop.

pdhenry
11-04-2004, 06:13 PM
Don't really know about the Sandisk; the picture doesn't make it clear if it lets you keep the SD card inside...Here's a picture of a different model with a Memory Stick inside - looks as though the SD card would stick out in the same way as the MS:

http://www.sandisk.com/download/photos/retail/mm-ms-allcards.jpg

andykemp
11-04-2004, 06:39 PM
I use the SimpleTech Bonzai drive.

Simple Tech Bonzai Drive (http://simpletech.com/usbflashdrives/Bonzai.php)

I think it is probably a little bigger then then Sandisk one, but it does contain the whole disk giving some sort of protection...

Great little product, I highly recommend it!

Andy

amnon
11-04-2004, 06:45 PM
I have one question: Can't someone (Microsoft or other) just create a driver that we can run on our PPCs that will recognize we're not talking with ActiveSync and identify itself to the computer as just a mass storage USB drive?

I know it's not the same thing and that I need a USB cable (I have one of those charge-sync retractable cables) but that would be a great thing to have, even to just complete some missing functionality here. Heck, I can't even use my cable to charge from an occasional PC because the PC (or may be ActiveSync on the PPC) connects and disconnects repeatedly, emitting the lovely Windows XP hardware detection sounds...

Has anyone noticed that the new T5 has non volatile RAM, and 256MB of it, and mass storage support with even a standard miniUSB port. I know I have some stuff that's not there but still...

Another thought: Can't we have an SD to USB adapter that's about an inch by half inch by 1/6th inch that would be an adapter from the SD port to USB?

There, I said it.

Solarix
11-04-2004, 06:50 PM
As far as transfering data goes from an SD card I once had to do this.
I have an Axim X30h and a co-worker has an iPap 3955 that I sold to him. I do not have a travel sync cable for my Axim, but he does for his iPaq. The USB ports on his computer don't work right and we have been too lazy to try and get them working. We had no SD card reader in the office either so here was how I did it.

Setup AS on a crash machine,
Connected his device to that machine.
Plugged my SD card into his iPaq.
Trasnfered over the files.
Took out the SD card and put it back in my Axim.

Damn if it wasn't Ghetto enginering.... but it worked!

bitbank
11-04-2004, 06:54 PM
I add my vote for the Lexar Jumpdrive Trio. I think I paid $15 for it and it is extremely fast (USB 2.0).

Amnon,
If you remove the plastic casing of the Lexar Jumpdrive you will be left with something that is about 3cm on each side and about 5 mm thick.

Larry B.

Dopeman
11-04-2004, 06:55 PM
http://www.sandisk.com/download/photos/retail/mm-sd-allcards.jpg

looks like sd cards will stick out but the reduced sized sd will fit perfect ,

but who uses RS-SD cards and i dont mean manufactuers (Siemens uses them i know s65) .

Do you think RS-SD will replace SD? (slowly yes but sd is sooo cool) ;)

Lucky Bob
11-04-2004, 07:31 PM
looks good but not too small either.

there used to be something similar from Lexar the JumpDrive Trio for SD / MMC / MS i always wanted to get one but they are hard to get. Maybe this thing is better but the lexar thing would hold the sd inside so you could use it just as a usb stick.

You sure they're hard to get?
Last time I looked, (last week) Walmart had them all over.That's where I got mine too. It's not perfect, but it does what it's supposed to. :D

lapchinj
11-04-2004, 07:43 PM
I use the SimpleTech Bonzai drive....
I think it is probably a little bigger then then Sandisk one, but it does contain the whole disk giving some sort of protection...
This one seems to be a little too bulky. I have a CF card reader that looks to be smaller than that.

At the moment I carry CF cards and a small CF card reader instead of jump drive style thinggies. And I'm slowly changing over to SD size cards though so it will take up even less space. Anyway they're much cheaper and much easier to carry around. Like its been mentioned here earlier these keychain things never last. Also I can buy a hi speed Lexar CF or SD card for the same price as a jump drive that's half the capacity and 5 times bulkier in size. I've been carrying two 512 mb SD cards in my wallet for a couple of months now and it shows no damage and works fine. You can't so that with jump drive style memory. A reader like the one from SanDisk (or similar)would be perfect add on for me to have in my bag.

Two problems I have with the jump drive style of memory and readers such as the sandisk is that they are too bulky to fit into a USB port if something else is plugged in next to it. Also they tend to be too long and stick out sometimes 3-4 inches and become a big target sticking out of the computer's USB port screaming "break me". I solved both these problems simply by buying a 6 inch long adapter cable that you can plug a jump drive into one end and the other end into the computer.

Jeff-

lapchinj
11-04-2004, 07:45 PM
Will we ever be able to plug a USB thinggy such as the sandisk reader into a PDA?

Jeff-

Darius Wey
11-04-2004, 07:52 PM
Will we ever be able to plug a USB thinggy such as the sandisk reader into a PDA?

Jeff-

This would depend on a number of factors:

(1) Whether or not the voltage provided by the USB host is sufficient to power the drive,
(2) Whether or not you have a suitable adapter to convert the default USB plug into one that is compatible with the PDA, and
(3) Whether or not the OS on the PDA would recognise this make and model.

:? Confusing isn't it? :P

stephman
11-04-2004, 09:17 PM
I use the SimpleTech Bonzai drive....
I think it is probably a little bigger then then Sandisk one, but it does contain the whole disk giving some sort of protection...
This one seems to be a little too bulky. I have a CF card reader that looks to be smaller than that.
Jeff-

It may seem bulky, but the dimensions don't lie.

SimpleTech Bonzai:
2.75 x 1.375 x .25

Sandisk MobileMate 4in1:
2.52 x 1.024 x 0.433

Lexar Jump Drive Trio:
3.25 x 1.25 x 0.5

johncruise
11-04-2004, 09:20 PM
This would depend on a number of factors:

(1) Whether or not the voltage provided by the USB host is sufficient to power the drive,
(2) Whether or not you have a suitable adapter to convert the default USB plug into one that is compatible with the PDA, and
(3) Whether or not the OS on the PDA would recognise this make and model.

:? Confusing isn't it? :P

Sorry Darius... just wanted to clear up those items you posted: :-) I hope you don't mind.

1. you might be talking about amps or current it supplies. voltage will always be 5v (otherwise, the unit won't get certified as usb host compliant)
2. last time I check, all ppc that has usb host capabilities supplies a regular/standard usb connectors (I haven't seen one that has a mini usb connector)
3. if it's wince3.0 (used by ppc2k3), it's supported by default.

Cheers!

ctmagnus
11-04-2004, 09:27 PM
Sorry Darius... just wanted to clear up those items you posted: :-) I hope you don't mind.

3. if it's wince3.0 (used by ppc2k3), it's supported by default.

Cheers!

Some clarification on the clarification:

PPC2003 is actually Windows CE 4.2

;)

johncruise
11-04-2004, 09:33 PM
Some clarification on the clarification:

PPC2003 is actually Windows CE 4.2

;)

Ahhh... thanks for the correction... so my statement should then be WinCE 3.0 and above also (no more reference to 'used by'). :-)

lapchinj
11-04-2004, 09:59 PM
I add my vote for the Lexar Jumpdrive Trio. I think I paid $15 for it...
Ditto - I just bought it also but paid $17 at NewEgg. I haven't gotten it yet but I think from all the drives mentioned here the Lexar had the best form factor for me.

Jeff-

CrashX
11-04-2004, 10:08 PM
It also accepts Sony MemoryStick (although I can't imagine why anybody would want to to that since it just sticks out the back). :twisted:
I also have the Trio and love it. I use it with SD card for my Palm m515 and new h6315, and with MemorySticks for my Sony Clie. The MemorySticks don't stick out the back at all, and it still closes as it should.

lapchinj
11-04-2004, 10:12 PM
It may seem bulky, but the dimensions don't lie.

SimpleTech Bonzai:
2.75 x 1.375 x .25

Sandisk MobileMate 4in1:
2.52 x 1.024 x 0.433

Lexar Jump Drive Trio:
3.25 x 1.25 x 0.5
Yeah I guess it looks worse than it really is. Pictures seem to also be worth a million wrong impressions but I settled on the Lexar anyway. I already have a jumpdrive so it was easy for me to visualize the size and also I have been very happy with Lexar stuff so I guess that really formed my decision. Thanks for the info though and it should help others make a more informed decision. I don't know if I would have changed my choice in the end but it would have made me look beyond the name Lexar.

Jeff-

lapchinj
11-04-2004, 10:25 PM
(1) Whether or not the voltage provided by the USB host is sufficient to power the drive
This would seem to be a battery issue but there are some solutions which can be applied. But I was more concerned at hooking up something like these card readers as opposed to DVD burner. But I guess someone will try to hook up a USB driven Zip 250 drive (like me).

(2) Whether or not you have a suitable adapter to convert the default USB plug into one that is compatible with the PDA
This should be a no brainer once #3 below is a done deal. PPC Tech or someone will certainly come out with it.


(3) Whether or not the OS on the PDA would recognise this make and model.
I guess this is the real issue. MS would have to add the interface to the OS for USB.


:? Confusing isn't it? :P
Yes, but I guess that's par for the course. And besides I love the high I get just walking around in a fog after reading an MS white paper :hippy:.

Jeff-

the_rapture
11-04-2004, 11:13 PM
Will we ever be able to plug a USB thinggy such as the sandisk reader into a PDA?

Jeff-

There was one PDA that you could connect USB devices up to and that was the Toshbia e400 with the additional USB Port/VGA monitor adaptor.

felixdd
11-05-2004, 12:18 AM
I carry a travelling-sized (with 2 inch USB cord) 8-in-1 card reader with USB 2.0. Costed me all of $15.

Peseta
11-05-2004, 02:26 AM
Since about 2 years I use a Sandisk Cruzer to transfer files on SD cards between my PPC (Casio E200) and PC's or to transfer files between any of my computers (work and private) and anyone else.
Since almost 3 years I use a CF to PCMCIA adapter to transfer files on CF-cards between my PPC and my laptop and from my Canon Ixus 300 and my laptop.

I carry the Cruzer always with me when working and when travelling.
The CF to PCMCIA adapter is always in my laptop

johncruise
11-05-2004, 03:35 AM
There was one PDA that you could connect USB devices up to and that was the Toshbia e400 with the additional USB Port/VGA monitor adaptor.

Not just one :D Many of Toshiba units has a USB expansion pack (if I am not mistaken, it starts with the e3xx series). Also the following units can support USB hosting... Casio E-200/E-3000 (like what Peseta says), also Mitac Mio ???, and Loox 720, Asus ???. I forgot but there is more.

Darius Wey
11-05-2004, 03:38 AM
Sorry Darius... just wanted to clear up those items you posted: :-) I hope you don't mind.

1. you might be talking about amps or current it supplies. voltage will always be 5v (otherwise, the unit won't get certified as usb host compliant)
2. last time I check, all ppc that has usb host capabilities supplies a regular/standard usb connectors (I haven't seen one that has a mini usb connector)
3. if it's wince3.0 (used by ppc2k3), it's supported by default.

Cheers!

I DO mind...haha, just kidding! :D (I joke around sometimes)

Sorry, I used the wrong word in #1. You're right.

With #2, I was making reference to future PPCs. If ever there is such a transformation in the connector size, you just have to ensure that compatibility is still present.

And with #3, I know that by default, WM2003 supports it, but I have not yet checked out the specs of this SD-USB adapter, but not all USB drives necessarily have "recognisable" plug-and-play functionality as you would expect. I would expect this particular device wouldn't fall under such a category, but there are a few USB devices out there that still require 3rd party drivers for it to be recognised on Windows 2000 and XP.

Hope that clarifies things. ;)

JohnJohn
11-05-2004, 03:42 AM
I have a Lexar JUMPDRIVE TRIO flash-card adapter that is pretty much the same as this new SANDISK entry.

It holds the SD card inside and it looks and acts exactly like a thumbdrive except I can stick any SD/MMC inside and it stays locked there. It also accepts Sony MemoryStick (although I can't imagine why anybody would want to to that since it just sticks out the back). :twisted:

Its $17 or so at Walmart.
Amazon has it, too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008RW8L/qid=1099581674/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-3988560-1608105?v=glance&s=photo&n=507846

That thing rocks. I have a Sony Digital Camera, it's nice to have one device that allows both of the memory types I use.

Since I have a hx4700 now I would like to see something this size with compactflash. I guess they could make this device a little thicker and the CF card could be slid in the side of it...hmmm...rambling...

stephman
11-05-2004, 04:48 AM
It also accepts Sony MemoryStick (although I can't imagine why anybody would want to to that since it just sticks out the back). :twisted:
I also have the Trio and love it. I use it with SD card for my Palm m515 and new h6315, and with MemorySticks for my Sony Clie. The MemorySticks don't stick out the back at all, and it still closes as it should.
Nice to know that MemorySticks fit in there properly. I have a few of those laying around from an old Sony dcamera

stephman
11-05-2004, 04:53 AM
It may seem bulky, but the dimensions don't lie.

SimpleTech Bonzai:
2.75 x 1.375 x .25

Sandisk MobileMate 4in1:
2.52 x 1.024 x 0.433

Lexar Jump Drive Trio:
3.25 x 1.25 x 0.5
Yeah I guess it looks worse than it really is. Pictures seem to also be worth a million wrong impressions but I settled on the Lexar anyway. I already have a jumpdrive so it was easy for me to visualize the size and also I have been very happy with Lexar stuff so I guess that really formed my decision. Thanks for the info though and it should help others make a more informed decision. I don't know if I would have changed my choice in the end but it would have made me look beyond the name Lexar.

Jeff-
I can't decide which one I want. Guess I'll have to take a trip to Walmart to check it out that Lexar most people seem to have and like.
Thanks for your impressions on your current Lexar stuff.

JPD6825
11-05-2004, 04:57 AM
I've got 2 gizmos for storage & data transfer. Just a few weeks ago I picked up a USB CF reader from OfficeMax for $2 after rebate - Digital Concepts. It travels well of course and I have CF in my camera and Axim. It does sometimes run into physical conflict with things plugged into the PC - but it did come with an extension cable. When I lose the thing I'll have to go back to taking my SanDisk ImageMate with its 3 foot USB pigtail off my PC. The other good gizmo is a 128MB Buffalo ClipDrive a co-worker just gave me. He picked it up as a give-away at a trade show, Semicon. I already knew the futility of putting it on a keyring and have never done that; just slip it into my pocket with change etc. It is nice and compact. Keep your eyes open - great deals come by pretty frequently; you just have to pay attention. And oh yeah, They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy, She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me...
See the Gizmos:
http://home.cinci.rr.com/jpdoench/2gizmos_files/image001.jpg

lapchinj
11-05-2004, 06:00 AM
There was one PDA that you could connect USB devices up to and that was the Toshbia e400 with the additional USB Port/VGA monitor adaptor.
Is the e400 still around?

Darius Wey
11-05-2004, 06:17 AM
Is the e400 still around?

This depends on which market you're looking at. I can still find them here in Australia, but I'm sure they may be lacking in some other countries. Otherwise, eBay should still have them. :D

Janak Parekh
11-05-2004, 06:28 AM
There was one PDA that you could connect USB devices up to and that was the Toshbia e400 with the additional USB Port/VGA monitor adaptor.
Not just the e400... most Toshiba PDAs, including the e740, the e750, and the e800 have USB host.

--janak

lapchinj
11-05-2004, 06:47 AM
I can't decide which one I want. Guess I'll have to take a trip to Walmart to check it out that Lexar most people seem to have and like.
Thanks for your impressions on your current Lexar stuff.
Yeah I really like Lexar. I'm sure that some of the other brands are just as good but I've been very happy with Lexar so I'll stay with them for the time being.

I've been using Zip drives (100, 250 and now 750mb) for years to make an extra backup of my work at work or just to carry downloads and docs around with me. I recently bought a 1 gig 80x Lexar CF card for under $100 and I'm able to write to this card as fast as I can to the Zip drive (at least it seems like that). And even if it is a little slower than a Zip drive it's still fast enough for what I'm doing. Since buying this card I really don't use the zip drive anymore because of the size and speed of the CF card and of course the extra 250 mb it affords. When I'm ready to go home at the end of the day I eject it just like I did the zip (really just shuts off the reader) put it into it's case and throw it into my pocket.

Since I got hooked on these cards for almost everything including my daily backups I would really like to get is a 1 gig SD card. I can take this and just throw it into my wallet along with my other two 512 mb SD cards. :D

Bottom line for me is that these pro Lexar cards have really performed for me big time. And if you really work the bargains available you can get a 1gig pro card, treo and 6 inch USB pigtail for under $100 8O
Look at it this way - you can carry 10-20 gig of data in your pocket like loose change :shocked!:

Jeff- 8) 8) 8)

lapchinj
11-05-2004, 06:54 AM
Not just the e400... most Toshiba PDAs, including the e740, the e750, and the e800 have USB host.
Hey, I got to look into this. I feel that all PDA's should have 2 card slots. One for apps and data and another one for accessory cards like GPS. Once a PDA has a USB port I could hook up a CF card reader and plug in my GPS. This would give any PDA supporting USB a second slot 8) .

Jeff-

Dopeman
11-05-2004, 09:24 AM
a few months back i back i saw a CF usb Card wich you could stick into your cf slot of your pda and have 2 female USB Poertas sticking out for more power you could connect a ac adapter.

I found it here on ppct but couldnt find it right now. But that was a nice idea but way to expensive and bulky.

Felix Torres
11-05-2004, 02:16 PM
a few months back i back i saw a CF usb Card wich you could stick into your cf slot of your pda and have 2 female USB Poertas sticking out for more power you could connect a ac adapter.

I found it here on ppct but couldnt find it right now. But that was a nice idea but way to expensive and bulky.

Kinda like this? :wink:
http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/subpages/cfu1u.html

Brad Adrian
11-05-2004, 04:36 PM
I just walked into my BestBuy store last night and BOOM! there was a MobileMate, just waiting for me to buy it. So far, I really like it, mostly because of its compact size.

phantaszm
11-05-2004, 05:52 PM
Has anyone tried booting off either the Sandisk, Lexar, or Simpletec readers mentioned in this thread. I would get one (preferably the Sandisk) if it supports booting just like the regular USB stick/key drives

lhauser
11-05-2004, 06:31 PM
Has anyone tried booting off either the Sandisk, Lexar, or Simpletec readers mentioned in this thread. I would get one (preferably the Sandisk) if it supports booting just like the regular USB stick/key drives

Booting is a function of the machine, not the card or reader. My Dell laptop doesn't make USB boot available in the BIOS, unfortunately.

As far as a USB host device for PPC, this is the one I've been waiting for:

www.twin-paradox.com

No dongle, and cheaper than the RATOC. They said it was supposed to ship in October for about $85, but I haven't seen it yet.

phantaszm
11-05-2004, 06:52 PM
Booting is a function of the machine, not the card or reader. My Dell laptop doesn't make USB boot available in the BIOS, unfortunately.


Yeah, I know the computer's BIOS has to support booting from USB first. But the reader/drive also plays a part in it. There are some USB key drives that are impossible to boot even if you put an MBR on it whereas there are USB drives that work flawlessly. It's due to the USB controller on the USB key drive.

I can boot from my USB key drives and USB hard drives but not from my multi-card reader (that has multiple slots). I've read that you can boot from some multi-card readers, that's why I'm wondering if any of these work.

lapchinj
11-05-2004, 07:29 PM
Kinda like this? :wink:
http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/subpages/cfu1u.html
Kinda pricey and only USB 1.1 but this could very well be what I'm looking for to use with my 3850 with a dual CF memplug sleeve. I would love to find something that plugs into the synch connector on my iPAQ though so this way I could use on my h4150 also since this is only CF. (Am I asking too much :wink: ?)

I bookmarked this link but did you see all the different card combinations they :D ?

Jeff-

lapchinj
11-05-2004, 07:40 PM
...I've read that you can boot from some multi-card readers, that's why I'm wondering if any of these work.
I'll give it a try by putting my Knoppix boot CD on my new 1 gig SD card and treo reader and give it a try :D . Fedex shows that it's been already delivered and is just waiting for me to open the box :multi: :multi: :multi: (I hope it's in the box though :? )

Since booting from USB is an ability of the BIOS as lhauser had mentioned I wouldn't be able eliminate carring of the Knoppix CD. But it is good to have another tool in my toolbox to take with me.

Jeff-

phantaszm
11-05-2004, 08:01 PM
Hey, that's pretty similar to what I was planning to do. I have a couple of 32MB or 64MB SD cards lying around which I plan to put different tiny linux distributions on.

For a start, I plan to install Geexbox (http://www.geexbox.org/en/index.html - 6MB) on it. Cool little linux multimedia distribution that boots up REALLY fast (like within a few seconds). Plus it has a very easy installer which I've used on several USB keys with success.

I plan to put feather linux on the second card. Not as easy to set up compared to Geexbox but still boots off USB if set up right.

I've never tried putting Knoppix on a USB key before (don't have one that big ;) but I guess it should install the boot loaders correctly.

lipinski77
11-05-2004, 11:32 PM
I love the Jumpdrive Trio from Lexar. I have used it many of time for transferring to/from my PC.

I like the fact that it does accept the Sony MS, not that I would buy them myself, but friends of mine with Sony cameras can just give me the SMS and I'm done.

lapchinj
11-07-2004, 07:42 AM
For a start, I plan to install Geexbox (http://www.geexbox.org/en/index.html - 6MB) on it. ... Plus it has a very easy installer which I've used on several USB keys with success.

I plan to put feather linux on the second card.

I've never tried putting Knoppix on a USB key before (don't have one that big ;) but I guess it should install the boot loaders correctly.
It's good to hear all this. Yeah Knoppix is a full CD 700mb. I've never installed it although I've been tempted to since it's a really nice distro but my two Linux machines are taken up by JDS and I just upgraded to SUSE 9.2 so I'm out of machines. I really only use Knoppix to to boot screwed up windows or Linux machines from CD and so far I haven't had a problem booting any machine I've tried. I didn't get my 1gig SD card Friday :cry: but it should be here Monday :multi: :multi: :multi: so I'll try it then

Jeff-