Another Approach To Dual CF Slots [Archive]

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Brad Adrian

08-20-2002, 09:56 PM

<a href="http://www.pitech.com/hardware/iCFCF/ipCFCF_index.htm">http://www.pitech.com/hardware/iCFCF/ipCFCF_index.htm</a> With the growing prevalence of compact flash-sized Pocket PC accessories, I find myself wishing more and more for a dual-slot compact flash sleeve for my my iPAQ; it would be so cool to be able to use a huge CF storage card and CF 802.11 card at the same time. I've seen (and coveted) the <a href="http://www.nexian.com/product/nexipak.asp">NexiPak</a>, but have hoped for something similar, without the bulk and hefty pricetag. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/memplug.gif" /> It seems that <a href="http://www.pitech.com/">Portable Innovation Technology</a> has heard my wishes and will soon be shipping their MemPlug Dual-Slot Expansion Pack. This bit of hardware differs from other dual CF sleeves in several ways: • It is a slimmer design, much like the protective sleeve that comes with the newer iPAQs. • The sleeve's bulk is minimized by building one CF slot into the top and another into the side. • Only one of the slots is I/O compliant, which means that the other can only function as a memory slot. • There is no auxilliary battery built in. Sure, it's a bit of a compromise that there is no additional battery and that only one slot is I/O compliant, but those features make the price much easier to swallow: $49.99. The NexiPak goes for around $149.99, so if you can live with the features of the MemPlug Dual-Slot Expansion Pack, you can save some big bucks. There is also a version coming soon which combines a CF slot and a MemoryStick slot, which sells for $79.99. These packs can only be preordered so far, but I'm trying to get my hands on one. If I do get one, I'll be sure to let you know how it works.

johnm

08-20-2002, 10:04 PM

Finally someone is listening. This is what I've been needing and asking for.
I think I'll go place an order as soon as I'm done here.

st63z

08-20-2002, 10:26 PM

Wow this looks awesome, but please, does it also have the hinged cover like the bundled cover sleeve or the CF Plus sleeve from HP? And can we get a better idea of how its size compares to the regular CF / CF Plus sleeves?

Also, the web site states the memory-only side slot is Type I only, so we won't be able to use the Microdrive in it?

Leon

08-20-2002, 10:27 PM

Sweet! Will it work with an iPAQ with built-in SD slot? The pic seems to indicate it will. So that will give
Storage Card
Storage Card2
Slot2
:?:

brianchris

08-20-2002, 10:51 PM

An incredible product!!!

I'm close to finally purchasing a GPS solution for my iPaq. However, for some time I've been trying to decide between a navman or a CF GPS card.

NAVMAN Pros:
Integrated unit
Use existing large memory CF cards I have lying around.
NAVMAN Cons:
Can't use with my or my wife's laptops
No case for it.

CF GPS Pros:
Can use with all my laptops
Use with my existing ipaq case
CF GPS Cons:
Couldn't use large memory CF memory cards I have lying around

THIS SLEEVE JUST ELIMINATED the only "con" for a CF GPS solution (in my opinion)!! I finally have an answer as to which type of GPS I should go with. Now, all I have to do is find out which CF GPS card is the best :wink:

$49 is a great price....I will definetely be buying one of these when I get my GPS CF card! It would be nice if someone could confirm that, between the two CF slots, the I/O capable one is on top? The picture shows an I/O card in the top slot, so I'm assuming that's the case, but you all know what the first three letters of "assume" mean.

-Brian

yellow1

08-20-2002, 11:03 PM

Nice product. Hopefully the IO compliant one is on the TOP !!!!!!!

If you have a BT capcable iPaq I would go for this:
http://gpsmaps.tripod.com/index.htm

It's a superb device !

Also I wonder if the Semsons adapter would work in the non I/O CFI memory slot...

Wes Salmon

08-20-2002, 11:16 PM

Very cool indeed .. I'll take two!

marlof

08-20-2002, 11:29 PM

Let me see.... I guess this would give Master O'Mayhem

1 x 512 MB SD card
1 x 1 GB CF II card
1 x 256 ( or even 512 ?) CF I card

which leads to 1.758 or 2.24 GB of non-volatile memory in his iPAQ at the same time. Dude, you're desperately going to want this one, and then post screenshots of the available storage. :)

Nikhil

08-21-2002, 12:33 AM

A 38xx/39xx iPAQ with this sleeve can be filled to a total capacity of 2.5GB of storage-MobilePlanet has a 1GB SanDisk CF Type 1 card, so 1 MD and 1 1GB CF or 2 1GB CFs and the 512MB SD, 2.5GB without the need for a PC Card sleeve..wow

Paul P

08-21-2002, 01:05 AM

Does this mean that Jason may finally/possibly/potentially/conceivably consider buying a memory stick product? :wink:

JackMDS

08-21-2002, 01:49 AM

It sound like an excellent idea.

However, the manufacture Web Site is one of the poorest I ever came a cross. Hopefully the products are better.

Brad Adrian

08-21-2002, 03:04 AM

Does this mean that Jason may finally/possibly/potentially/conceivably consider buying a memory stick product? :wink:

Well, let's not go overboard!

Brad Adrian

08-21-2002, 03:06 AM

Nice product. Hopefully the IO compliant one is on the TOP !!!!!!!

Yes, it is the one on top. That way, if you have a card that protrudes, you'll still be able to comfortably hold the device.

harry

08-21-2002, 03:26 AM

This looks like one of those things I just must have. And one I/O isn't bad. I've got a 128mb CF card with only music that I listen to, then change at the end of the week. I just hope it doesn't run into the problems that the SS2 had when it was the "must have" item :bad-words:

thex

08-21-2002, 03:57 AM

I have tried several times but every timeI hit the "Continue" button, I get a "...Microsoft Jet Engine..." error... :x

thex

08-21-2002, 03:57 AM

I have tried several times but every timeI hit the "Continue" button, I get a "...Microsoft Jet Engine..." error... :x

Kirk Stephens

08-21-2002, 06:03 AM

This is a very cool sleeve indeed. I'd be interested in seeing some photos comparing the size of iPAQ + sleeve to other PPCs. Anyhow, how much longer is HPQ going to keep the same form factor? I have heard that the next iPAQ is going to deviate from their current design and thus sleeves like this one will not work with future iPAQs....

Ravenswing

08-21-2002, 10:54 AM

Looks like I'm the only one to think it's not so hot :?

I'd love the thing for use with my Bluetooth CF card and 128MB CF memory, but the battery drain from the Bluetooth is way too high. I'd be really lucky to get through the day without the extra battery in my dual PC card jacket. I doubt a WLAN card would survive more than a couple of hours in a rig like this.

Next up, the I/O slot is 'Storage Card' and the memory slot is 'Slot 2'. Now, my old 3630 only has 32MB of RAM, so I have programs, AvantGo data, IE cache, you name it, stored on my CF memory card. This works because, even if I switch to a single PC card jacket, that memory is still addressed as 'Storage Card'.

Still, it looks like they'll sell plenty of them the way everyone else is talking, so the company probably won't go bust.

Ravenswing

08-21-2002, 10:58 AM

I have heard that the next iPAQ is going to deviate from their current design and thus sleeves like this one will not work with future iPAQs....

Last I heard they weren't going to do that. It'd be a shame if they did since they'd probably loose a customer next summer when my 3630 is due for replacement.

kalex

08-21-2002, 02:37 PM

I disagree about the battery drain with bluetooth. I have a socket bluetooth card and drain is minimal. Its much better than WIFI.

dhoward

08-21-2002, 03:01 PM

Ravenswing

08-21-2002, 03:34 PM

I disagree about the battery drain with bluetooth. I have a socket bluetooth card and drain is minimal. Its much better than WIFI.

Agreed, but running RunningVoice GSM for an 8 hour working day drops my iPAQ battery down to about 40% remaining. That's with the BT card sucking from the jacket's battery (which has usually dropped to about 75% remaining). If the iPAQ had to support the load from the BT card too, I doubt it would make it through the day. That's not good for something that's designed to work with a mobile phone that you could well be using all day.

Now, I believe that some of the newer iPAQ models (mine's a 3630 remember) have larger capacity batteries and might manage a longer time without recharge, but I know my machine would be choking if I used a jacket without a battery.

Ravenswing

08-21-2002, 03:38 PM

I'm surprised that you guys have not picked up on the side mounted CF card. In one photo it shows the side card on the side of the power button (right side).

In the next photo, it is on the left side.

Actually, in the first shot the arrow suggests that it's on the right, in the two pictures where you can see it, it's on the left. Either the graphic artist was using rather inexact poetic license, or some of the pictures have been optically flipped.

Or they have two versions for left-handed or right-handed people... how considerate of them :D

Cobbler

08-21-2002, 03:43 PM

Well, I just pre-ordered one by fax??? What's up with that? No online pre-ordering. However I couldn't resist. I have always been frustrated by the fact that I have to take my 128 mgb cf card out everytime I want to stick in a device. Since I have a 3630 with only 32 mgb ram, I run alot of programs from the storage card. Now I can install alot of things that had to be in main ram when the cf card was removed onto the storage card and save the top slot for my modem, network card, etc., and free up space in my main ram to boot! Irresistable. And the price is right. Now let's see if they actually arrive and what the quality is. I let you know if and when it arrives how it works. Now if they get that Pretec camera working right...

Ravenswing

08-21-2002, 04:58 PM

Since I have a 3630 with only 32 mgb ram, I run alot of programs from the storage card.

Let us know if it works without having to reinstall all the software. I'm in the same state and I think everything would have to be reinstalled since I assume the locations of the programs are either held in Registry, in shortcuts, or both!

Cobbler

08-21-2002, 06:10 PM

Yea, for sure I will have to reinstall some software, or as a minimum, recreate some shortcuts.

NetDragon

08-21-2002, 07:32 PM

AAAHHH! Hey I am new here! This is the product I have been looking for.. I will buy this, but I am still hoping for a "End all be all" CF Sleeve! It would be a CF Slot on the side and top, built in 900Mha LiON Batt AND.. thats right! AAAANNNDD a flip cover like the one on the sleeve Compaq sells! Why can I not get all of that in one! AT least with this the companies are coming close to listining to us! I wanted a dial CF but I did not like the BEEFYNESS of it!

- Jason

GregWard

08-21-2002, 09:40 PM

John Hung

08-21-2002, 10:20 PM

Also, the web site states the memory-only side slot is Type I only, so we won't be able to use the Microdrive in it?

What a pity! I was just getting to like the sound of this but I'd need to put my BT card in the top slot. Then my microdrive wouldn't fit in the side one. Oh well - next time maybe! :(

I agree. I went to the web site and looked, thinking that I can at last use my microdrive along with my symbol wifi card. :cry:

Oh well, guess my 128 meg CF card are now back in fashion. They just have to make the slot a little wider (fractional of an inch) and we will be very happy. :wink:

Jason Dunn

08-22-2002, 04:20 AM

Paul P

08-22-2002, 04:33 AM

Does this mean that Jason may finally/possibly/potentially/conceivably consider buying a memory stick product? :wink:

Hahahahahahaa....!! :lol:

No.

Did I mention how much I dislike Sony's new MicroMV technology? :wink:

One of these days Jason, one of these days......you will be using Sony :twisted:

Yeap, I think you did mention your dislike for MicroMV before. I'll take your word for it since I don't know anything about it.

Cobbler

08-22-2002, 08:10 PM

tried to order one from the site mentioned: http://www.pitech.com/hardware/iCFCF/ipCFCF_index.htm
and they only had fax, so I faxed the order in and received an email saying their fax wasn't printing clear could I fax again to another number. I filled out the order sheet again and emailed it to them in html format, but they said no that's not good enough, we need your signature,

so I ordered one here: http://datanywhere.net/Merchant2/me...ks&Affiliate=dc

online. we'll see how it goes

Underwater Mike

08-25-2002, 01:32 AM

This looks great, but what would I do with my SS2?

Jason Dunn

08-25-2002, 04:18 AM

One of these days Jason, one of these days......you will be using Sony :twisted:

Hey, I just realized something: I own a Sony G400 19" monitor! ;-) I'm not using it as my main monitor mind you, but I did buy it...

TypeMRT

08-27-2002, 06:12 AM

Underwater Mike

08-27-2002, 04:30 PM

I just picked-up the CF/MS sleeve tonight and it works great! As a bonus I found that I can attach the clear cover from my Cover Pack to this sleeve. Now my 128 MB MS has a new home. (casualty from a previous Clie experience :oops: )

What was the price and where are you located? None of my local (Northern VA) stores know what I'm talking about and it's not on the CompUSA Web site...

mgd

09-11-2002, 02:23 PM

Also, the web site states the memory-only side slot is Type I only, so we won't be able to use the Microdrive in it?

What a pity! I was just getting to like the sound of this but I'd need to put my BT card in the top slot. Then my microdrive wouldn't fit in the side one. Oh well - next time maybe! :(

I thought that this would be the case too, but I've just got mine and my Socket BT and WiFi cards work in both slots. So, I guess what they really mean is that one of the slots is Type I and that Type II CF cards like the Microdrive will not work in that slot (kinda like the HP Pocket PCs) . Oh, and the Compaq transparent cover fits perfectly. Yeah, I'm in heaven.