Ultimate Future Proof PPC - The 'Slot Machine'

[Jonathon Watkins]

It looks like PPCT reader David Johnson has hit on something. We were discussing the proliferation of Storage Card formats in the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=286191">Sony Memory stick thread,</a> when someone pointed out that this required 9-in-1 card readers for desktop PCs, which was a bit of a problem for Pocket PCs. Quick as a flash, David countered with the photo shown below:<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/2215in1.jpg" /> <br /><br />His prototype 'Slot Machine' gets rid of the old problem of multiple media incompatibility and guarantees that will be able to use whatever new media card format that Sony et al come up with next. Precise details of the PPC's specification are unknown at the moment, though it is known that <a href="http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/gallery-recogn.html">MC Escher</a> is involved in the design. The unit will of course support CF (Type I &amp; II), SD, MMC, Mini SD, MS, MS Duo, MS Pro, Microdrives, PCMCIA, Smart Media, xD-picture card and many, many more. This is of course a prototype and a few minor problem (such as the laws of physics) need to be overcome before production can begin. However, once this unit ships it will surely leave all other PPCs in the dust. Meanwhile plans are afoot to ship a 242-in-1 card reader for the desktop. Makes you think, doesn't it. ;-)

[Felix Torres]

Oh, it should be no problem to manufacture!
I'm sure there's a guy at the University of California with a patent on tesseracts. :twisted:

[Radimus]

While cool and all, wouldn't it be simpler to make CF adapters for all these media cards.

Less danger of straining photoshop muscles

[Jonathon Watkins]

While cool and all, wouldn't it be simpler to make CF adapters for all these media cards.

A CF adaptor for a PCMCIA card? Now *that* I'l like to see! :wink:

[jonathanchoo]

Don't forget two more for the new ExpressCard standards (34/54) which is the new PCMCIA standard.

[Jonathan1]

Hmm as long as that big slot on the left topside is for the CPU board sure I'm game. :wink:

[Jonathan1]

While cool and all, wouldn't it be simpler to make CF adapters for all these media cards.

A CF adaptor for a PCMCIA card? Now *that* I'l like to see! :wink:

http://bbkuan.adsldns.org/images/F040.jpg :wink:

[jasonc]

Wow.. looks like a device that has no problems dissipating heat. You could throw a P4 processor in that bugger and wouldn't even need a fan!

Jason

[David Johnston]

http://bbkuan.adsldns.org/images/F040.jpg :wink:

I wonder how many CF-to-PCMCIA and PCMCIA-to-CF cards can be chained together before they stop working...

[BudPritchard]

This would require Microsoft's new WINDOWS PPC VIRTUAL UNIVERSE OPERATING SYSTEM (PPC/VU)

Running under PPC/VU, the individual user appears to have not merely a machine of their own, but an entire universe of their own, in which they can set up and take down their own programs, datasets, system networks, personnel, and planetary systems. Users need only specify the universe they desire, and the PPC/VU system generation program does the rest.

In conjunction with PPC/VU, all system utilities have been replaced by one program, MSPROPHET, which will reside in MSMESSIAH.DLL. This program has no parms or need for a registry as it knows what you want to do when it is executed.
0X
Naturally, the user must have attained a certain degree of sophistication in the data processing field if an efficient utilization of PPC/VU is to be achieved. Frequent calls to nonresident galaxies, for instance, can lead to unexpected delays in the execution of a program.

[GoldKey]

While cool and all, wouldn't it be simpler to make CF adapters for all these media cards.

A CF adaptor for a PCMCIA card? Now *that* I'l like to see! :wink:

Actually, I have one.

http://www.semsons.com/comflastopcc.html

[silver99]

That prototype is UGLY!!! I for one wouldn't buy it. It looks too thick and creates many open areas for dust to enter. If they're going to put anything else on a PPC then why don't the create a simple USB 2.0 port. That way I can hook up small keychain drives or better yet - my pocket 8 in 1 card reader that hooks up to a USB 2.0 port.

With a USB port on a PPC connectivity would be endless (keyboards, printers, flash drives, webcams, scanners, etc.) That would be my ideal port to have.

[Janak Parekh]

That prototype is UGLY!!!
I hate to break it to you, but it's a joke. ;) Unless David has something cooking that I don't know. 8O

--janak

[rocky_raher]

Where are the slots for 3", 5", and 8" floppies??

[David Johnston]

Where are the slots for 3", 5", and 8" floppies??

One step at a time... there's only a finite R&D budget!

[Sven Johannsen]

Where are the slots for 3", 5", and 8" floppies??

You could cover that with the USB host port ;) along with CD's, DVD's, etc. Makes too much sense though. Don't forget the 'D' word when discussing Host ports though... drivers

Since obviously they have miniaturized all the rest of the componenets to allow space for all those slots, I want the model without the slots. It should be about the size of a credit card :D

[KimVette]

I wonder how many CF-to-PCMCIA and PCMCIA-to-CF cards can be chained together before they stop working...

The only limitation I see is the power draw. Either the card will not power up or you will fry the power supply in the CF slot on the PPC. There shouldn't be any technical reason beyond power that it wouldn't work, providing the adapters properly take timing into account.

[GoldKey]

I wonder how many CF-to-PCMCIA and PCMCIA-to-CF cards can be chained together before they stop working...

The only limitation I see is the power draw. Either the card will not power up or you will fry the power supply in the CF slot on the PPC. There shouldn't be any technical reason beyond power that it wouldn't work, providing the adapters properly take timing into account.

I plugged a CF card into my Axim using a CF to PCMCIA and PCMCIA back to CF and it worked fine. W?BIC

[Jonathon Watkins]

I like this picture personally. :mrgreen:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/2419/minisd.jpg

One of the points of this post was to point out the absurd of the abundant proliferation of media card formats. We *don't* need that many - and new ones are being created all the time. :|

That's why I will only buy devices that support CF and SD slots. It just makes like simpler (and more compatible ).

The only way to stop this fragmentation is to vote with our wallets.

[kosmicki]

I wonder how many CF-to-PCMCIA and PCMCIA-to-CF cards can be chained together before they stop working...

Well, after three feet of adapter sticking out of your iPaq 2200, it might become a hassle to carry around... :mrgreen:

[KimVette]

What I'd like to see is THIS chain:

PCMCIA -> CF -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA

:D

[Wiggster]

What I'd like to see is THIS chain:

PCMCIA -> CF -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA

:D

I'd rather not get redundant. MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel

[David Johnston]

What I'd like to see is THIS chain:

PCMCIA -> CF -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA

:D

I'd rather not get redundant. MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel

Now we're talking. Maybe we can fit a TCAAPOS adaptor in there?

[KimVette]

I'd rather not get redundant. MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel

I'll go one better (Let's see how long we can make this chain!!!):

MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel -> SCSI -> IDE -> 7-slot card reader

:D

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I'd rather not get redundant. MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel

I'll go one better (Let's see how long we can make this chain!!!):

MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel -> SCSI -> IDE -> 7-slot card reader

:D
MAJOR bottleneck there on the Parallel piece... I can still remember how slow my external parallel port Iomega ZIP drive was back in the day...

[k1darkknight]

I'd rather not get redundant. MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> ParallelI'll go one better (Let's see how long we can make this chain!!!):

MiniSD -> SD -> CF -> PCMCIA -> USB -> Serial -> Parallel -> SCSI -> IDE -> 7-slot card readerDare ya to throw a Sony card (and its neccessary adapters) into the mix!

[k1darkknight]

If they're going to put anything else on a PPC then why don't they create a simple USB 2.0 port. That way I can hook up small keychain drives or better yet - my pocket 8 in 1 card reader that hooks up to a USB 2.0 port.
With a USB port on a PPC connectivity would be endless (keyboards, printers, flash drives, webcams, scanners, etc.) That would be my ideal port to have.
While a subsequent post pointed out the issue of drivers, I HAVE to agree that this would be a HUUUUUUGE step in PPCs. And besides, if M$ provides literally - (in my best Dr. Evil voice) MILLIONS - of drivers on their CD for Windows XP, why not supply drivers for at least those USB devices likely to be used with a PPC, to the PPC manufacturers, who can include them on the software/drivers CD, and allow them to be installed selectively.

Granted, that means you won't be able to just plug in that new gamepad you just bought at Best Buy, but what I'd think most people would plug into a USB port on a PPC would be input (mainly KBs or mice) or storage (flash cards via a USB reader, or external HDs). They already use a (somewhat) universal driver for external storage on PCs...would THAT be so difficult on a PPC?

[Fishie]

While cool and all, wouldn't it be simpler to make CF adapters for all these media cards.

A CF adaptor for a PCMCIA card? Now *that* I'l like to see! :wink:

That DOES exist you know.

http://www.semsons.com/comflastopcc.html

[Fishie]

If they're going to put anything else on a PPC then why don't they create a simple USB 2.0 port. That way I can hook up small keychain drives or better yet - my pocket 8 in 1 card reader that hooks up to a USB 2.0 port.
With a USB port on a PPC connectivity would be endless (keyboards, printers, flash drives, webcams, scanners, etc.) That would be my ideal port to have.
While a subsequent post pointed out the issue of drivers, I HAVE to agree that this would be a HUUUUUUGE step in PPCs. And besides, if M$ provides literally - (in my best Dr. Evil voice) MILLIONS - of drivers on their CD for Windows XP, why not supply drivers for at least those USB devices likely to be used with a PPC, to the PPC manufacturers, who can include them on the software/drivers CD, and allow them to be installed selectively.

Granted, that means you won't be able to just plug in that new gamepad you just bought at Best Buy, but what I'd think most people would plug into a USB port on a PPC would be input (mainly KBs or mice) or storage (flash cards via a USB reader, or external HDs). They already use a (somewhat) universal driver for external storage on PCs...would THAT be so difficult on a PPC?


There are quite a few PPC´s with USB host where you can do exactly that actually.