Handspring 8 MB Flash Springboard Module

List Price: $79.99

Features:

• For your Handspring Visor or Visor Deluxe
• 8 MB RAM for additional data, backups, or applications
• Stores over 200 typical Palm OS applications
• Comes with a built-in file mover
• Easy installation

Accessories:

Handspring Visor Stylus Rainbow Pack

Customer Reviews:

Eighty dollar ram doubler. [Posted on 2000-10-07]
I bought it just the other day, and the transfer mechanism is painless, and easy to use. I use Documents to Go, and moved all 5M of my docs to the module, instead of swapping them in and out depending on what I needed during the day.

Very useful accessory [Posted on 2001-03-10]
Some months ago, I wrote a review about how useful it was to have one of these, and there was something I needed to add to my previous review. The Handspring Module is great to have as a backup device and also to store lot of extra data and programs that you don't have room for on your Handspring.

For the Palm, although they don't have the Springboard slot, you can still get 8 Megs of extra storage by buying the Flashplug module, which plugs into the Hotsync port. It's not quite as convenient as the Springboard module, since it sort of sticks out the bottom of the Palm unit, but it's still very useful to have.

However, there is one advantage to getting the Palm Flashplug unit. The Palms have a Flash ROM, whereas the Handsprings do not. This allows you to do the following pretty neat trick, but first I have to explain a couple of things.

This has to do with the data recovery process. Besides using it to store large documents and some programs that I don't use very often, I use my Flashplug especially to backup my main databases--memopad, todo list, datebook, address book, and so on, when I can't Hotlink to my desktop system. This is great; however, if you lose your data "on the road" and there is no convenient system to do a restore from via the Hotlink program, you're still out of luck until you can get access to a desktop or laptop system that has the Flashplug Utility program on it to download it again to your Palm unit, or to restore your data through the normal Hotlink process, unless you do the following.

In order to be able to "do this on the road" you will need to use one of several programs that allow you to write data or programs to the unused space in the Palm unit's Flash ROM, which, depending on whether you have a TRGPro, Palm, Symbol 1500, or Workpad unit, ranges from 440k to 690k in size. These are programs such as FlashPack or FlashPro, which allow you to perform this operation. They are available for download and/or purchase from the main Palm download sites, such as Palmgear.com. The flashplug program is small, so it will fit easily in your FlashROM.

But these FlashROM writer programs are an extra utility you must purchase in order to be completely independent of your desktop or laptop system for the data restore. With the FlashPlug program in ROM and your data on the Flashplug, if your Palm loses power or some other glitch occurs to erase everything while you're on a trip or something, you can run the Flashplug utility from ROM, use it to access the Flashplug data on the plug itself, and then copy everything back, and you're back in business.

I've had both Palm and Handspring units, as well as a Compaq iPAQ now, and I think both the Palms and the Handsprings are great products. But whether you have a Handspring with the 8M Flash Springboard module or a Palm unit with the 8M Flashplug module, these are still two of the most useful accessories you can buy for your PDA.

Great Idea, not-so-great Application [Posted on 2001-08-23]
At first I thought another 8mb would be great for my Handspring Platinum. My Platinum had only 1mb free and I needed more space for my apps, I still needed to loaded Noah Dictionary and Mapopolis which would require another 3 or 4 megs (already had Vindigo and AvantGo and a few fairly large apps). The 8mb Flash module is *only* useful for some individuals.

Here's why I don't recommend it to everyone: 1) You can not edit ANY files on the flash module. Meaning Vindigo will not run from it or edit a picture/doc file from the module. 2) It adds a noticeable amount of weight to your visor especially if you carry it in your pocket. 3) If you have hackmaster (or similar), make sure you disable it when removing and installing the module. I duplicated the resulting crash many times and had to do a HardReset each time. 4) You will go through your batteries a little faster. 5) You cannot HotSync directly to the FlashModule. Meaning you have to install it to your Visor, and then transfer to the module. A big inconvenience if you are running low on space and have to play "musical apps" to get it on the module.

In summary, I love my Platinum, however I feel there are too many shortcomings to make it a truly useful item. Its price is not justified. However, if you don't mind the weight and inability to transfer *everything* to the module and run it this may be right for you. Users with large uneditable PDB files will be thankful for it, that's who I sold mine to!

Handy for Handspring [Posted on 2001-09-20]
As I continue to find great programs on my Visor, this module has
allowed me to load them on without worrying about running out of
space. I will probably buy a couple more to add to my collection
of Visor gizmos.

A tale of two PRISMs [Posted on 2001-12-24]
There are some very informative reviews already written about this product so I won't repeat the details.

I own the Visor Prism and use it daily for a number of tasks. I keep a number of large spreadsheets on one of these modules and when I need them, copy them over to the working ram of my Prism.

I have found this unit to be very reliable.

Click here for more details and discount information...