PDA's with USB? Why not

[wildcat]

I was just thinking about this I am surprised no pda has come out with a USB slot to connect componants to. I would think USB would be fast transfers between the device and hardware but its a universal adaptor already. It would be cool if you could hook up a modem or other device using this technology?

Yes but drivers are an issue.

also usb probally takes up to much power.

its not like you are gonna hook up a 60gb usb hard drive.;)

Well to be a USB host device requires additional hardware. The PPC isn't designed as a host device.

You hit it on the spot james,i couldent think of the word.

My mind is goin crazy.:rolling:

I have owned an NEC MobilePro 800 (Windows CE 3.0 Professional) in the past, and it was equipped with a fully functional USB port.

I believe the similar Compaq Aero and IBM (the name escapes me) were also equipped with USB.

WinCE only included drivers for USB Human Input Devices (mice, etc.) by default, but could certainly be expanded with the proper drivers.

I think for now it is a matter of cost vs. practicality and size.

Who is REALLY going to use a USB device with their PocketPC enough to warrant the extra cost of including a USB port, and how much larger would the device have to be in order to accomodate it?

[deftech]

Yes fm80 is correct. There have been SOME PPCs that have had integrated USB hosts. Looking at the technical specs sheets that someone posted on this site a while back (I believe in the Hardware forum), it appears as if the chips that many PPCs (including Axim) use are "capable" of handling USB host functions. I'm not exactly sure what else is needed (besides a USB port) for this to work, but there has to be some reason manufacturers don't include this.

--deftech

[JakeRich]

I can think of a few reasons vendors don't include Host capability:


1. Drivers. Most devices require some sort of driver to work, so drivers would take up memory on an already memory constrained device. They don't exist right now, either, so it's a chicken and egg situation.
2. Power. The USB definition requires the USB Host port to provide at least 100 ma of 5.5v DC power. For a desktop/laptop, that's not much, but for a PPC like the Dell, for example, that would increase the power consumption by 50%. Battery life would suffer.
3. Physical space. Not only would you need some place on the case to have the USB slot, but the hardware is pretty long and would take up a lot of space inside the case.

[SRGilbert]

Originally posted by micahlegg
Yes but drivers are an issue.

also usb probally takes up to much power.

its not like you are gonna hook up a 60gb usb hard drive.;)

I don't know, I could definatly see advantages to a USB port on the Axim. This would be great for input devices such as keyboards and gamepads. I could also see an advantage to having a portable harddrive hooked up too. You could have both in a vehicle (powered of course) and have access to gigs of mp3's or maps, or movies, ect.:)

[thefo]

The Casio E-200 and the Toshiba E-7XX series support USB host functions and have basic drivers built in for keyboards and mice. A guy in Europe named D.Jenett http://www.deje.gmxhome.de/index.html has actually written several PPC drivers for mice pointers, and USB mass storage (e.g USB Zip drives, external hard drives) I remember seeing a post about a company that was developing a compact flash card that was a USB host function for any PPC with a CF type II card slot (can't remember the name though). As for the size issue ...why not use the mini USB port found on many digital cameras ?

hmmm.... sounds interesting,because they now have pc card usb ports.

And you can find a cf to pc card adapter to,wander if it will work.:crooked:

Originally posted by micahlegg
and you can find a cf to pc card adapter to,wander if itl woor.:crooked:

Why don't you find out? ;)

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/...ges/cfu1u.html

cool! it even says it will work with the dell axim.

thanks cagyjames!

I'm trying to get someone to try it. I actually have a use for it, but I'm chicken to try it.

i would try it if i had the $.

[SRGilbert]

The CF card idea is a pretty good start, but I think I might prefer something that uses the bottom port on the Axim instead. Many users already have several CF devices, and having to choose between them can be a pain! Obviously, the ultimate choice would be to have an actual mini-usb port on the unit itself, maybe next time?:)