Newbie question before I buy

[FieldDoc]

Hi,
am seriously considering buying the 400Mhz Axim X5 (having owned a palm m500 for 18mths).
My question is that - I have seen a 256Mb CF expansion card here:

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=FC256_H4

It only costs £52 but the 128Mb CF card from Dell is £75ish!!! Will this card work with the Axim?
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[PetiteFlower]

Looks like a normal CF card to me.

[FieldDoc]

So, does that mean it will work with the Axim? Sorry to ask such stupid questions, but I don't understand why it is so much cheaper

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

Yes, it should work just fine. Any "compact flash card" should. It is not a brand that I have seen before and that may be why it is so cheap. It may also be a little slower at accessing data than the other card. Sometimes you will see things like 20x or 16x on the cards. More is faster.

Hope this helps. :)

[Jason Dunn]

When the OEMs sell accessories, they gouge you - everything is very, very expensive. A memory card is a memory card as far as a Pocket PC is concerned - brand really doesn't make that big of a difference.

[FieldDoc]

Thanks again. Another question i'm afraid. I have been looking at the 400Mhz version but the 300Mhz version is tempting at the lower price. I know I would be sacrificing 21Mb of memory but if I buy a big card will it matter? I intend to run a lot of video/audio on the unit? Is the lag time noticeably longer with the 300Mhz version?

[shawnc]

If you can spare the extra bucks, definitely go with the 400. Not much difference in performance but trust me, in about 3-6 months you will be VERY happy you did.

[Kati Compton]

FYI - a big reason to go with the 400MHz over the 300MHz is simply the increase in memory.

[PetiteFlower]

I'm very happy with my 300. I would have liked to have the extra memory, but I got a 256m SD card and that's done me very well. Cost me the same for the Axim and the memory card as it would have for the 400 Axim alone, and 256 is a lot more then 64 :)

[MPSmith]

I totally agree with Jason and shawn.

Memory is pretty much memory. Don't be fooled.

Go with the 400 if you have the extra $100 lying around.

[TJ]

The extra ROM memory (48 MB over 32 I believe) of the 400 MHz Dell may also be useful whenever the next PPC OS comes out (PPC 2003?). That's the reason I went with the 400. Just a hedge in case the new OS requires more ROM.

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

The extra ROM memory (48 MB over 32 I believe) of the 400 MHz Dell may also be useful whenever the next PPC OS comes out (PPC 2003?). That's the reason I went with the 400. Just a hedge in case the new OS requires more ROM.


Besides that alot of programs dont like to run from memory cards! 32 Megs goes pretty fast when you have to keep some of that memory free to run the programs too!!!

[robert_uk]

btw i bought my 256 mb samsung cf memory here
http://www.valueflash.co.uk/compact_flash.htm
it's the one listed for £46.99, plus postage = £48.97, that's a saving of £7 over the expansys price.
regards
robert

[FieldDoc]

Have placed my order (sat 00.30am) for the 400Mhx version. Always best to get the best you can stretch for I guess. Thanks for the tips on memory.

BTW, what sort of time frame are we talking for Dell delivery in the UK, also, does anyone know what courier they use?

[js415]

I agree with the others. I have three (3) different brands of CF cards, and can not tell the difference in any of them. From now on, I'm looking to buy the cheapest I can!!!
Jerry

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

In my digital camera I can tell the difference in speed, but not in my Pocket PC. Dont know for sure but I believe the system bus is too slow to take advantage of the faster cards. They do work fine but dont seem to be any faster.