iPaq Expansion: Confusion and Decision

[Dan East]

CF Ethernet cards have been around for a while. I've got one in my iPaq at this moment. What they are supplying "at cost" to allow you to access their network is most certainly just a PCMCIA Ethernet card, which again is available in the CF form-factor. You can also use CF devices (not just storage cards) with the PCMCIA adapter. So I can put my CF ethernet card in the adapter sleeve and use it in my laptop. For what you'll be doing, I think the choice may be either the dual CF sleeve, or the PCMCIA sleeve. With the dual sleeve you can use a MicroDrive (or any other storage card) while you are on the network. If the iPaq is your only internet device, then it will probably be online a great deal of the time. The PCMCIA will give you more flexibility (using a CF adapter sleeve is a much "cleaner" conversion than the adapter that allows you to use PCMCIA cards with a CF slot), and an extra battery. Also, if you are accessing the internet via ethernet, then you will obviously be able to run your iPaq off of external power, as you won't be mobile. That reduces some of the advantage of the external battery in the PC-Card sleeve.<br><br>Dan East

[Moose or Chuck]

ya u can get CF ethernet cards for 80 bux or so, not a bad deal at all. I was thinkin of pickin one up for when i'm in school, it'd be cool. Then i could install quake for pc on the other comps, and play them just for kicks thou.

[AyrItOut]

Ok, blimey, yet another option has popped up lately.  Is the @migo (amigo, or however you type it) a good contender?  I like the included PCCard slot and the 64K screen, but are there some serious problems with it that would render an iPaq much superior, such as screen brightness or incompatability?  And is it going to be released in the next fews weeks?<br><br>Also, are there 1gig microdrives for CF that are in the 100-200 dollar range? and are they viable storage solutions?<br><br>I appreciate your responses.

[Matt Keys]

I am working on a review on the @migo, so far good. In the meantime you can check out brighthand, they have a review. I dotn agree with their review, but it is good to see two opinions anyways so have at it.

[Moose or Chuck]

no i've been looking for a while and the cheapest 1 gig microdrive i've found is on pricewatch for 370 or so, it is still an incredible deal rounding out at about $.25 a meg.

[AyrItOut]

Well, right now, I'm thinking either @migo (amigo) if it ends up good and ships within the next few weeks or <br><br>an iPaq350, er, the one they sell at the stores and has 32 megs, which comes with the CF card expansion.  Then a 128 meg CF card for $130US, maybe the CF ethernet card.  <br><br>Is a CF card with the adaptor for PCMCIA (like on the @migo) bulky and non-portable as the @migo appears to be?