PalmFocus : Dell Axim X50v Device Spotlight

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Dell Axim X50v Device Spotlight

More on Memory and Software Installation	Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:17 pm
You have four possible locations to install software on the X50v assuming you have a SD card and a CF card. I have listed the four possibilities in an effort to help users decide where they want to install their software. Main Memory (64 MB) Main memory is the fastest location for software to run. While you can install software in the main memory, this is also the memory that is used for applications to run. Thus, the more software you install in main memory, the less memory you have to actually run the applications you have installed. If you lose power to the X50v, you will lose all the information stored in main memory. Built-in Storage (128 MB) This is the next logical location to install software. This is internal memory inside the X50v that acts as an external memory card. Unfortunately, read/write access is really slow for this memory. It is even slower than external memory cards. Unlike main memory, you will NOT lose the information stored in built-in storage if you lose power to the X50v. External CF Card (Up to 12 GB) If you have an external CF card, you can use it to install software. Actually, you can use it to store a lot of information. This would be very suitable for music, pictures, and videos. While the cost of 12 GB is very cost prohibitive for most people, it is available. Lower capabilities are available for much less. As mentioned before, read/write access is very good. It is not as fast as the main memory, but it is much better than the built-in storage. Speed differences are especially noticeable when running large applications such as TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Acrobat Reader. Of course, you will not lose the information on the external CF card if you lose power to the X50v. External SD Card (Up to 2 GB) If you have an external SD card, you can use it to install software just like an external CF card. You can use it to store a lot of information. While you are limited to 2 GB capacities for external SD cards, they are still very useful for music, pictures, and videos. As with an external CF card, read/write access is very good. Actually, it is slightly faster than an external CF card and much faster than built-in storage. Speed differences are especially noticeable when running large applications such as TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Acrobat Reader. Of course, you will not lose the information on the external SD card if you lose power to the X50v. Some Things to Consider Some software works best installed in main memory. These software titles include today plug-ins and device drivers for keyboards. I think Microsoft Money, eReader, and Microsoft Reader are other titles that do not want to work installed anywhere else. To be sure, I would check with the vendor of the software you use. If you are thinking about installing software on external memory cards (SD or CF), you might want to consider how often you swap out the cards and what applications you need. If you swap out your memory cards often, you might consider installing your software using the built-in storage. It is slow, but you will always have your software available to you no matter what external memory cards are being used. External SD cards are used in more PDA's than external CF cards. It is very popular among other Pocket PC devices as well as most devices from PalmOne. Even if a device does not have an external CF card slot, it will usually have an external SD card slot. I believe future devices will stick with external SD card slots, although I do believe that external CF card slots will remain an option on high-end Pocket PC devices. I say all this that if you purchase an external SD card, you are more likely to be able to use it with other devices now and in the future. Anyway, just some things to consider. My Experience I am not an expert, but I have tried several different options. After trying several different things, I have a few recommendations. Keep main memory as free as possible. Only install the necessities here such as today plug-ins, device drivers, and any other software that has to be installed here. Install everything else somewhere else (i.e. built-in storage and/or external memory). Keep the memory available for running applications. This will keep things running smoothly. If possible, run large applications using an external memory card, preferably an external SD card (i.e. Adobe Acrobat Reader, AvantGo, PlanMaker, TextMaker, etc.). There is a very noticeable speed increase using an external memory card instead of the built-in storage. My Setup I have listed each memory location available and how I use it. Main Memory: I have installed Microsoft Money, eReader, Wisbar Advance 2, and the keyboard driver for the PalmOne universal wireless keyboard. External SD Card: I have installed all my other applications here including Adobe Acrobat Reader, AvantGo, BetaPlayer, BetaPlayer Intel 2700G Plugin, BibleReader+, Cerience Repligo, Resco Explorer 2003, Resco FTP Add-in, Resco Picture Viewer, Resco Picture Viewer, Resco Registry Add-in, SoftMaker PlanMaker, SoftMaker TextMaker, SplashData Splash ID, and WebIS Pocket Informant. External CF Card: I put all my data on an external CF card. This includes documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music, and video files. Built-in Storage: I have created a folder called 'Software Backup'. I have copied all the software from my SD card to this folder. This gives me the ability to copy software to another external SD card just in case I need to run the software with another external SD card INSERTed. I also have a folder called 'Document Backup'. I copy critical files from my CF card to this folder just in case. Last but not least, I have file attachments for my e-mail using built-in storage. This setting can be found in the Messaging application (Tools -> Options -> Storage). Thanks, Lance
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