SJ33 Rom issues

[JKreidel]

Greetings most exalted ones...

I am considering getting rid of my Handera TRGpro that I have had for several years. I have been trying to decide between the new SJ33 and a M515.

Some questions:

Does the SJ33 have user accessible flash rom that I can use with programs like Flash Pro, Jack Flash, etc. ? If so how much is used by the OS and how much is user accessible?

Are the SJ33 memory cards usable for running programs directly from the card like the TRGpro AutoCF or Card Pro programs?

Does the SJ33 come standard with a "real" file manager that is usable across flash, card, and ram?

Any problems in using 3rd party launchers as I currently use Launch'Em?

Does the accessory USB or Serial cradle allow the standard power cable to plug into it? IOW, is it possible to charge and synch at the same time?

Since there appears to be no synch button on the cradle is there a separate synch button on the unit?

Why is the jog wheel referred to as being "infamous" by certain parties? Does it cause problems with inadvertent bumps?


Sorry to be so long winded as I really haven't been keeping up on all the latest greatest stuff on Palm PDA's for a while. When I got my TRGpro it was state-of-the-art and my real motivation in UG is now getting 16mb ram and a color screen. I also use a lot of medical programs so it is important to be able to run programs from the memory cards.

Clear Skies,
JKreidel
:) :)

[notmuch]

...I have been trying to decide between the new SJ33 and a M515.
I have a SJ30, but I can answer some of your questions. M515 vs SJ33? the SJ33 for the screen alone. You'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to go back to a 160x160 screen.
Are the SJ33 memory cards usable for running programs directly from the card like the TRGpro AutoCF or Card Pro programs?
There is good freeware & shareware available to accomplish this. You'll find many opinions at ClieSource.
Does the SJ33 come standard with a "real" file manager that is usable across flash, card, and ram?
The included file manager is just under OK. Filez is a good free alternative.
Any problems in using 3rd party launchers as I currently use Launch'Em?
Shouldn't be an issue. It's still Palm OS 4.1. ClieSource has a forum dedicated to Launchers.
Does the accessory USB or Serial cradle allow the standard power cable to plug into it? IOW, is it possible to charge and synch at the same time?
Yes. BTW, I thought I'd miss the cradle. I don't. I use EasyLaunch to turn a "long hold" on an SJ button into the sync button.
Why is the jog wheel referred to as being "infamous" by certain parties? Does it cause problems with inadvertent bumps?
Is this an SJ33 specific thing? I've only heard praise for the Sony Jog.

Enjoy.

[bordeaaj]

I checked out my new SJ33 using JackFlash and it is not compatible. Apparently Sony did not use flash ram in the SJ33.
I was looking forward to the extra space.

[JKreidel]

Originally posted by bordeaaj
I checked out my new SJ33 using JackFlash and it is not compatible. Apparently Sony did not use flash ram in the SJ33.

Greetings...

This is not good and is swaying me towards the Palm M515 or Tungsten T models. :rolleyes:

Are you sure it might not be a JackFlash program incompatibilty or is it a definite no flash issue?

Being able to BU databases to flash is really important to me. Though BU to card is almost as good so long as there is a OS program to restore from. Otherwise it is a pain to copy the program from the card to ram and then reset and then do a restore from your BU file. :(

Clear Skies,
JKreidel

[madmaxmedia]

You could just use Filez (or a similar program) to easily backup dabases to the stick. To restore them, I imagine you would just use Filez to copy them back to RAM.

[psychoactivist]

I have an SJ33, and according to my packaging I have a 4 meg flash area. I can't access it w/ Jack Sprat or Jack Flash yet, but it may be an incompadiblility with the program, I have a simaler post up at palminfocenter.com so I'll let you know if I find anything out. The SJ33 accesses the Mem stick very fast though, and I have most of my databases backed up to a little 4 meg stick. I'm even running programs from a 16 meg stick and I can see verry little speed diffrence from the ones in the main memory. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Jason

[psychoactivist]

I have an SJ33, and according to my packaging I have a 4 meg flash area. I can't access it w/ Jack Sprat or Jack Flash yet, but it may be an incompatibility with the program, I have a similar post up at palminfocenter.com so I'll let you know if I find anything out. The SJ33 accesses the Mem stick very fast though, and I have most of my databases backed up to a little 4 meg stick. I'm even running programs from a 16 meg stick and I can see very little speed difference from the ones in the main memory. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Jason

[bordeaaj]

It seems Sony included 4MB of flash in the Asian and European SJ33 but not the US version. I have read several forum threads wondering why including one in ClieSource:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7497

[madmaxmedia]

I'm pretty sure there are backup programs that will allow you to selectively restore files too. That would probably be easiest for your purpose (backing up important DB's.)

[notmuch]

Originally posted by JKreidel


Greetings...

This is not good and is swaying me towards the Palm M515 or Tungsten T models. :rolleyes:

Are you sure it might not be a JackFlash program incompatibilty or is it a definite no flash issue?

Being able to BU databases to flash is really important to me. Though BU to card is almost as good so long as there is a OS program to restore from. Otherwise it is a pain to copy the program from the card to ram and then reset and then do a restore from your BU file. :(

Clear Skies,
JKreidel

I use BackupBuddy VFS. It keeps a copy of the backup program in both RAM and the Memory Stick. I've set it up to back up the entire device at 3 am every morning. In the event of a hard reset, I simply launch the BB-VFS from the MS and hit restore. That's it. You can also do selective backups and restores.

[k123]

whats the difference btween the ms backup app that comes with the sj33 and backupbuddyVFS?

[Palmruz]

Flash RAMs main purpose in any Palm has usually been to upgrade the OS. Being that we are in the last days of OS 4 and already into OS 5 and since OS 5 requires a diiferent processor choosing a Palm OS 4 machine based on whether or not it has flash ram is probably not the best choice. I used to use Jack Flash and Jack Sprat on my Palm III but after I moved to using Handspring products that was the last I saw of these programs as Handspring never has included Flash with any of their handhelds. Now my experience of the last 3 years has been never had to do a Hard reset unless on purpose to erase my info from a Palm I was selling. Even soft resets can be avoided once you settle into the software on your Handheld. If you find a certain program is giving yu trouble look for an alternative that does not. There usually is various alternatives to almost any software so that should not be a problem. The real beauty of Palm is long battery life which means that if you recharge frequently, data loss due to "out of power" should not be a problem either. I know of quite a few friends who have left a PPC in a drawer while away for the weekend to get back and find the batteries were drained and info lost. I hotsync daily as my only Backup and really because I always want the freshest Avantgo Content and my latest e-mails I sometimes do 2 or 3 hotsyncs a day. The hi-res screen on the Sonys is the best!!!! Every time you show a picture to someone you see their jaws drop in awe!!!!!!! The viewing quality rivals viewing a photographic print!!!!!!!!


Hope this helps you make up your mind!!!!