Dual USB CF Adaptor Available Soon

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.twin-paradox.com/SEPDA.html' target='_blank'>http://www.twin-paradox.com/SEPDA.html</a><br /><br /></div>Have you ever wanted to attach a USB device to your Pocket PC? Something like, a USB hard drive, a CD-RW or DVD drive, full sized USB keyboard, Mouse, USB Printer etc? Well, we just heard from Twin Paradox that their compact flash USB twin host port adapter is going into production and will available in June though their on-line store for $89. The features and specification include:<br /><br />• Adds two independent USB Host ports to your Pocket PC<br />• Supports standard-A USB Host connectors<br />• Dongle-less Type I CompactFlash Card design<br />• Pocket PC supplies USB low power to each Host port (5v @ 100ma)<br />• Provides full USB Host Port power to each port with AC adapter (5v @ 500ma)<br />• Internal Power Auto-Switch (Switches CF Card and USB Host power from Pocket PC power to AC adapter power automatically.)<br /> • 5 Volt DC Power Jack for full USB Host power support<br />• Compliant with USB 1.1 specifications (audio microphone, speakers and video webcams supported on future driver release)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Dual_USB_CF.jpg" /><br /><br />Obviously not every USB device will be usable with this adaptor without specially written drivers. However, there are a large number of devices that can be used straight off. These include the USB HID Class (keyboards and mice), USB Printer Class (printer surprisingly enough) and USB Storage Class (FAT formatted USB Flash Hard drives &amp; USB Hard drives). Twin Paradox have a list and an overview of what you can do with the adaptor, <a href="http://www.twin-paradox.com/classdrivers.html">here</a>. So, if you Pocket PC does not come with a USB slot (i.e. most of them), then you now have options. Options are good. Now, lets see if they can keep the drivers for this adaptor up to date, to support all the nice toys to plug into it.

[carphead]

So cool. :D

I'd think of buying it if my next Unit (mpx) had a usb port on it! How about a sdio version?

[Jonathon Watkins]

How about a sdio version?
Well, there is probably a reason that this implemented in the physically larger CF format. Look at the size of it! It would look really odd with a tiny SD interface. :wink: The miniaturising is not quite there yet....

[jkendrick]

Bye Bye battery!

[manywhere]

Grrreat! :D
Now I can start building my own iPod killa' Pocket PC! :razzing:

Now, should I buy a 200 or 100 gigabyte USB harddrive? :lol:

Apple/iPod fans: Take a pint of beer and don't take my jokes seriously! Yes, seriously... ;)

[BTS]

It's a great idea. I frequently use a USB keyboard (one of the miniture models) with my e750. However, we really will need more drivers to be available for download for a wide variety of devices. Keyboards are nice but there's a whole new world that can be opened up for us though this product.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Bye Bye battery!

Well, this does include an AC adapter for optional use. Anywhere you are going to use a full sized usb keyboard or USB HD will probably have an AC power outlet.

[RKosin]

Isn't the pending 6xxx series iPaq being created without a CF slot and HP dropping support for the"sled" feature? If so is this add-on a day late?

[Ripper014]

Ok... now who was making fun of my PocketPC with a CF slot...???

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[arebelspy]

Hasn't anyone noticed that at the end of every month this has been delayed?

End of Feb (original date) it was pushed to March.. end of March their site said April.. then May.. now it's the end of May, and yup, their site has changed to say June.

Some were theorizing they were waiting for WM2003SE to come out because that was required for drivers but now it's out on the e805 (which has CF - although it also has other ways to get USB host as well) and this still isn't out..

No explanation for the delays, rather disappointing actually, I don't know that I'd want to give that company MY money.

-arebelspy

[dean_shan]

That thing is huge. No longer will I think my Toshiba Expantion Pack is large.

[Perry Reed]

I was excited about this until I read the WM2003 requirement. I guess I won't be plugging any USB devices into my old Jornada (PPC2002) after all. :(

[jizmo]

Anyone remember the David Zuckers' Naked Gun, where Nordberg was caught in a gunfight, drew out his tiny pistol and started to add dozens of parts into it - eventually ending with a full scale cannon.

All this PPC+USB stuff is pretty similar to that :lol:

/jizmo

[jgrnt1]

I've been waiting for this for some time. I have an Archos MiniHD 20GB hard drive with 15GB of mp3's on it. I used to use it with my iPAQ 3650, a Semsons CF to PC Card adapter and a PC Card adapter for the drive. Then I got a Toshiba e550g, which had USB host capabilities. I then used the drive with its USB adapter. Now I have an iPAQ 2215. The CF to PC Card adapter won't work with it, because of current problems. Even with the drive powered externally, there is no driver. I've been without most of my music when I travel since last August (unless I'm flying, in which case I plug the drive into my laptop).

Since this USB adapter was first announced (last December?), ASUS has announced a WiFi connected portable hard drive enclosure. If this will connect with a PPC, it would make for a much more elegant solution. Does anyone know if you will be able to connect to a drive like this from a PPC?

[sprawlgeek]

Hasn't anyone noticed that at the end of every month this has been delayed?

End of Feb (original date) it was pushed to March.. end of March their site said April.. then May.. now it's the end of May, and yup, their site has changed to say June.
-arebelspy

yeah...me too. I even emailed the vendor on several occasions as well as called the number. But NOT a word from anyone... I gave up and wrote it off as ....


vaporware....

My money is on the stowaway bluetooth keyboard, and using the Ratoc systems card for USB drives.

btw, has anyone had any luck using the beta client with the ethernet Netdisk?? i bought one, just haven't had a chance to test it with the ipaq yet....


doug

[milkman dan]

soo... its june.... WHERE IS THIS DEVICE!?!? I want one :(