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a tech (basic) question about PDAs

B

Biggerhammer

Golden Member
Is it possible to connect a USB drive enclosure (with 3.5" hard drive) to a PDA without having a computer in the loop?

I'm just daydreaming. If it were possible, I could use a PDA as an MP3 player, with a 20G or so hard drive for storage, and run the audio from the PDA to my car stereo. Voila- car computer with touch screen and all that with minimal installation, customization etc.

Any thoughts on that? Shoudl I get my meds adjusted or should I write the patent office? :laugh:
 
My old Jornada had a docking station with USB and a charger. I could set it up so that the PDA would be just pick-up-and-go, the HD enclosure would be bolted under a seat, and the docking station would be permanently wired into the car in some spot where the screen would face the happy driver.
 
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
My old Jornada had a docking station with USB and a charger. I could wire that into the car permanently so that the PDA would be just pick-up-and-go, the HD enclosure would be bolted under a seat.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the handheld.

I bet a sophisticated one, like on of those linux based, whachamacallits, the Zaurus? something spelled differently but pronounced like that? Anywho, I bet one of thems could handle it, but I don't know about a straigt palm.

I'm getting an external enclosure and a 3.5" hdd soon, (computer out of space), I'll use my dads palm tungsten which he never touches and see what happens. With a crappy handheld like that it probably won't work, though.
 
The new HP units run Win CE (love that name! wince) but have a fair bit of power, as I understand. All Windoze vs *NIX arguments aside I would think that the hardware at least would be quite sufficient for this task. I might have to add a small fan to the USB cradle to let this thing run extended periods, though 🙂
 
Ratoc makes a CF USB host controller so you could attach a USB hard drive to it. Also I believe that the Toshiba 400 and 800 series as well as a few others can act as a host as well.

Look in pocketpcpassion.com for threads about it, there have been people who have done it before.
 
brighthand.com

best one out there imo.

the Toshibas have an attachement with a usb port, but Toshibas are buggier then heck!

link
 
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