4gig CF microdrive for $199 US!! Options

[revdjenk]

Saw this deal on TechTV today.

Here is the deal ... buy an mp3 player, open it, remove the 4gig CF microdrive... and then....

Go to this site, about mid-way down the page:
http://www.techtv.com US/screensavers/darktips/story/0,24330,3597773,00.html

Is there anything keeping this from working in any of our Z models?

[Tarkus]

Just ordered this very device earlier today to do this very thing! Hope to get Wikipedia running on the Z!

[Foxdie]

Saw this deal on TechTV today.Go to this site, about mid-way down the page:
http://www.techtv.com US/screensavers/darktips/story/0,24330,3597773,00.html

First of all this post is off topic and has been moved to the DEALS section (but I've left a shadow topic).

Second of all the link doesn't work properly, try http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/darktip...3597773,00.html

Third, there is no reason why this device shouldn't work in the Z, but if you expect to boot/flash with it, you'll need to create 2x2GB FAT16 Partitions, or if you want all 4GB you can format it as FAT32 or EXT2 but you will lose the flashing functionality.

$200 for a Muvo2 and get both an MP3 player AND a 4GB CF card, I love it

[realistic_dragon]

So the Zaurus can definatly read CF disks in IDE mode then?

As far as I know this drive is missing the CF I/O mode which most card readers and cameras use to access the disk. You could add a CF-IDE converter to your PC for about £10 to get data on or off the disk though, or just use the USB cable (painful for 4gb of stuff!).

[V-Man]

Let me know how well this works for you. Sounds cool and my daughter would love the mp3 player.

[webslngr]

In case anyone is interested, Dell has these players on sale this week for 10% off. With free ground shipping, the cost is ~$215 + tax if applicable. At least they have them in stock.

On the "i could have saved ~$40" side, last week they were $188 w/free ground shipping. oh well. :?

I'll post my experiences with this after i get it.

--webslngr

[ChrisEBoy]

I can confirm it works, I've got it working under pdaxrom. I've got a primary of 1gb vfat and 3gb of ext2. vFat for usb mass storage and the rest for well, linuxy stuff. It works great. The battery power will take a hit if you use it continuously, like I do, but I'm getting still about 4-5 hours or so. (I'm editing and compiling/running several java files that reside on the disk and browsing the entire javadocs for 1.3.1 on it).

It truly is like a portable workstation with one of these in. Only problem is you can't have networking at the same time (unless you use the usbnet).

[Codefire]

Only problem is you can't have networking at the same time (unless you use the usbnet).

Or use the Wireless/BT on the 6000

[ChrisEBoy]

I'll never go back to a non clamshell. I used to be a psion 3a guy, typed everywhere. Tried the iPaq as synching no longer worked with the 3a. I hate that format, my handwriting has never been good enough, graffiti or not. The pop out keyboard looks reasonable on the 6000, but it's tiny.

An external keyboard works but it's not possible to use without a table and a bit of space, not good for the tram or train. Also if your hands on the Zaurus directly then you've got a better chance of stopping that Z thief in his tracks.

So in short, whilst I wouldn't touch the tiny keyboard on those models, I can get a decent rate with the clams. Now if they put the wifi/bt on a new clam, well that'd be heaven for me. I'd just have to figure out how to justify getting a new zaurus :-).

[derekp]

I was about to grab one of these things, so that I can turn my zaurus into a cheap mp3 jukebox. Then I realized, that it doesn't make a lot of sense to order an mp3 jukebox to take the drive out of it, and put it into a zaurus to turn it into a jukebox.

[arniel]

Why not get a CF -> PCMCIA converter and a Toshiba 5Gb Drive? OK, it's a bit bigger as it folds over the back of the Z, but you get more storage for the money.

[ChrisEBoy]

got a link?

[stampsm]

sounds interesting
btw i am typing this on my zaurus over a 802.11b while lounging in a couch in the library at my college
i love my new 5600

[Caesium]

Why not get a CF -> PCMCIA converter and a Toshiba 5Gb Drive?  OK, it's a bit bigger as it folds over the back of the Z, but you get more storage for the money.

Don't forget that PCMCIA drive is going to suck power, too :/

[derekp]

got a link?

I found this adapter, looks like it should work http://www.semsons.com/comflastopcc.html
The problem you'll have with a pcmcia hard drive is they need both 3.3v and 5v input. A cf slot only provides the 3.3v. Power draw (amperage) may also be a problem. I've also seen adapters that provide a power plug where you can supply your own +5v supplimental power. Do a google search for 'cf pcmcia adapter' (without the quotes), but you'll have to filter out the results that refer to the opposite adapter (i.e., one that lets you plug a cf card into a pcmcia slot).