Re: Q: flash card integration

[Chris Naylor <chrisn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Michael, Sven & other listdwellers!

>At 19:42 06/04/2000 +0200, you wrote:
>>Hello Michael,
>>
>>> Are there any FAQs, HOWTOs, descriptions how to get a flash card
>>> operating (typ of flash or ordering codes, drivers ...).
>>
>>None that I know of. the general consensus seems to be that (only)
>>SanDisk (used to be SunDisk) SDP5(A) models will work --- the 10Mb
>>SDP5A-10 model is certain to work. However, these are not produced
>>anymore, and it is unclear if other 5V models might work.  You also
>>need DIPSSDP.SYS to make this card work...

There is a *bit* of info at the ftp repository, for example in the FAQ
contained therein.  Visit:
ftp://hawk.psychol.ucl.ac.uk/pub/sharp-pc3k
If you can't get access (I don't think this is an issue any more) drop me a
line and I'll email it to you.

>>
>>> Which experiences are there regarding rechargable batteries? 
>>
>>The 1.5V variety works well, though not overly long.  the 1.2V ones
>>don't work at all.
>
Just from my own personal experience, I beg to disagree with the latter -
indeed it seems to vary from machine to machine as to the "threshold"
voltage at which the PC3x00 is happy with (I have a vague recollection that
this may be alterable via a trimpot in the machine, btw). Some units are ok
with the lower-voltage, some aren't.Mine has regularly used 1.2/1.25V nicads
and NiMHs quite successfully, although the sudden-death tendency of these
batts is a worry (ie rather than the voltage ramping down gradually, it
plummets rapidly) which means the little backup-battery gets eaten into (and
that does not have a long life once all other power is removed...)  I've
have a couple of nasty data-loss experiences over the years as a result of
this.  Note that the other worry with this is that if you *don't* plug the
machine into power say for several days, even with freshly charged batts,
you can find that the batteries die on you while the machine is off!!

>>> Are there work-arounds to the Japanese style DC plug?
>>
>>What's the problem?
>>
>

Quite!  Not too sure what you mean, Michael.  If you mean where can you get
one, Tandy/Radio Shack stock them (or at least used to)... email me if you
want the catalogue number, I probably have it around somewhere.

Anyway, cheers all.  Nice to see others out there obviously still using this
baby.  It's caused me the occasional grief over the years (a few lock-ups so
bad that *all* batteries had to be removed - including Mr Backup Battery,
thereby losing all of my data... I've subsequently bought an SRAM card which
has restored much of my sanity ;-) but I still reckon it's got the best
keyboard of the palmtops, and good energy efficiency.  Running it off my
solar-panel-charged batts costs me absolutely nothing at all :-)

Seeya,
Chris