What type of ROM does the 400 MHz Axim have?

pconyers · 02-13-03, 05:43 PM

I am considering ordering a Dell Axim X5 advanced 400 MHz real soon but I had a question. I am very computer literate but I am a PPC baby and trying to learn about them. Today I read about ROM (Read Only Memory) and how some PDA's have what is called Flash ROM or what is a writeable ROM which would allow you to either save something to the ROM or be able to completely wipe out the ROM to someday, say, install a newer OS on it. Is this model of the Axim a Flash ROM can the ROM not be altered, add to or have things taken away from. Besides not worrying about losing system files of having your OS messed up, is there any advantage to having a ROM that is not the Flash variety?

Thanks TONS!

02-13-03, 05:46 PM

Well it does have flash ROM. The benefit to that is you can update your OS. The downside is you can screw up your OS.

pconyers · 02-13-03, 05:58 PM

I just saw something on their website that talked about StrataFlash ROM? How does StrataFlash ROM differ from just Flash ROM?

02-13-03, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pconyers
I just saw something on their website that talked about StrataFlash ROM? How does StrataFlash ROM differ from just Flash ROM?

That would be an Intel brand name.

jbit · 02-13-03, 09:41 PM

Its also a fair bit faster then most other flash... but all xscale based palmtops should have strata flash.

commoved · 02-14-03, 08:11 PM

pconyers - if you are looking at different devices, you should know that there are two kinds of Flash. Dell has the good kind, which some people call "random access" and others call "execute in place". It means the OS executes directly from the Flash.

Some other low cost devices have Nand flash. The processor cannot execute programs directly from Nand flash, so the OS has to be loaded into RAM. End result -- a lot less useable memory for the user.