Types of Memory

[Painterly]

I am a brand new user of the Dell X50. I previously had a Palm 515. The Dell has 2 internal kinds of memory, and 2 different card slots. I would like to know how to use all this memory to the best advantage. Is there a description somewhere about all the different types. Can anyone give me an idea of how they use all the types. Thank you for any help. :)

[Gigi]

Welcome to Aximsite!

Here's a breakdown of the memory you will find on your Axim:

ROM: This is permanent and will not be deleted even after a hard reset. Part of the ROM is used to store the Operating System (WM2003SE) and the remaining part the user can use for programs or storage. The remaining part is also called Built In Storage (BIS).

RAM: This is volatile and will be erased if power is interrupted (e.g., if your main battery and backup battery are drained, if you do a hard reset, etc.). RAM is divided into Program Memory and Storage Memory. (You can see the breakdown by going into Start - Settings - System - Memory [Main tab]). Program memory is analogous to the RAM on your desktop PC; the more you have, the faster programs run. Storage Memory allows you to install additional programs, store files, etc.

A good general rule is to install and store as much as you can into BIS and memory cards to free up as much Program Memory as possible. However, some programs MUST be installed into Main Memory, and these include Today screen plugins and programs which are required during startup. (Main Memory is the fastest of all the available memory.) There is a slider in the settings which will allow you to temporarily allocate more memory to Programs, but these changes are typically not permanent.

CF/SD: These are user expandable and can be used for storage and/or program installation. The size you get will depend on your needs. Some people buy very large cards in order to store movies, music, ebooks. Note that if given the choice of either buying a CF or an SD card, most people will buy SD cards because they want to leave the CF slot free for accessories (e.g., CF cameras). SD devices are not as common and much more expensive.