What if next PPC (v2003) won't fit (32mb ROM)?

[Swordsman74]

Hi all,
I ordered a 300mhz since the 16-bit bus can't really benefit from the extra mhz. Now I am wondering about the ROM. I've read about the expected 2003 version of Pocket PC software. It will be based on WinCE .NET 4.x code - which has some features I really want (like OS-controlled landscape mode).
My question is: will I be prevented from upgrading to 2003 if it comes out larger than the 32mb ROM I have? I thought I read somewhere that suggested certain apps could be either installed to RAM or left out altogether so that the OS could fit into the ROM space. Am I bonkers?

[TSB8C]

Of course I have no idea about the anticipated size or rom space necessary to hold the next version of CE, but if it exceeds 32 meg than most PDA users won't be able to use it. Most PDAs come with the same 32 meg of rom space. Some units have 48 meg of rom like the iPaq 3974 and like the Axim 400 MHz version does. I just can't see Microsoft condemming all the existing PDA users to replacing their hardware in order to get the new version of CE - but who can tell what's on Bill's mind anyway?

[Iceman]

Originally posted by TSB8C@Jan 11 2003, 07:38 AM
I just can't see Microsoft condemming all the existing PDA users to replacing their hardware in order to get the new version of CE - but who can tell what's on Bill's mind anyway?

TSB8C - I have to disagree with you. Look at Microsoft's Windows operating systems in the past. The minimum requirements for them keep going up with each release. Also, their minimum requirement is only to get the computer booted into the OS, forget about running multiple apps! Computer makers are well aware of this fact since they're usually the ones that can benefit from Microsoft's new OSes. Just my 2 cents ... :)

[commoved]

Remember that Microsoft releases a generic OS. The maufacturers have to decide what they will support on legacy products, and how they will support it.

When PPC 2002 came out, it didn't fit in the flash of the old IPAQs. Compaq decided to remove some features, and allow users to optionally load other features in RAM. Some users want features Compaq decided not to support, and Compaq finally decided to make a few more features available for RAM download.

There's no guarantee the manufacturer will support a new OS on an old platform at all. And as many people learned the hard way, loading patches for a competitor's product on your PPC does not always work.

[TSB8C]

You have each made valid points. Perhaps all we can do is hope for the best. I did see an article once about an upgrade a 3rd party company did on iPaqs that would increase your ram from 64 meg to 256 meg - all internal to the unit. You could still add cards via an expansion sleeve if you wanted. You sent them your unit and they removed the ram chip(s) and replaced them with bigger ones. I wonder if such a thing is possible on the Axim. If it uses the same memory chips I don't see why not.

What Dell does for the next version and the kind of support they provide will be telling - ipaqs traditionally have been the "safe" bet decent upgradabiliy.

At this point 32MB ROM users have about 5MB? or so of free space - so you can take maybe a 20% growth in the size of the OS... if PocketPC 2003 is a small step up, it should fit fine. If its a major upgrade then you're in trouble. I'm sure there's some rationale to offering 48MB of ROM now for high-end models.