PowerRUN VS JackFlash

[Ballajura]

I have an NX80, but like most users, want as much RAM as I can for loading programs, etc. I've been playing with an evaluation version of PowerRUN and moving mainly games and a few other apps to the MS to launch them from there. This works well as I have a 512MB MSPro and the delay in loading anything is minimal. I've also looked at JackFlash but not yet played with it.

Before I go and buy something, I'd really like others users opinions on which of these two apps works better. On one hand JackFlash takes advantage of unused Flash RAM, but PowerRUN lets you transfer most apps to MS, so if you have a large MS, you could store virtually unlimited number of programs.

I've searched thru the threads and most people seem happy with either, but is there are direct comparison? Is one better then the other? Why?

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[yorrick]

Ballajura
Just a note if you aren't already aware - JackFlash will run on the NX80 - which will allow you to use the flash to store extra apps. JackSprat will not run on the NX80 (or any Sony devices).

It is difficult to make a comparison between the two apps since they handle apps in memory completely differently. JackFlash allows you to store apps in flash (which is a limited amount) and will run just as fast as it was in volatile RAM.

PowerRun needs to copy the app from external device to RAM and then run it. The advantage is that it has as much "spare RAM" as your external device (ie. 512MB on the MSPro). I would suggest that you look at one other option which is available on many 3rd party launchers - that you can run apps which will copy apps from external device to RAM. Storing programs in /PALM/Launcher will allow many apps to see these programs and run it from external device without the assistance of PowerRun.

Zlauncher allows you to move apps between RAM and card so you can launch apps from external card. LauncherX, YiShow, MegaLauncher and other launchers has this feature.

Conclusion : JackFlash may give you some additional features, but I'd spend the $$ on a 3rd party launcher. That way, you can launch apps from card and have a nice launcher interface to boot!

[pilotmedic]

Jackflash for the apps that it will accept and Zlauncher for games and programs that are not important enough to have immed access to.

I'm an airline pilot so all of my logbook programs, calculators, and airline timetables are in flash, while games and fun stuff is on the card (via zlauncher).

Airline timetable db's are almost the only thing I keep in ram due to the auto-updating feature.

[cliemia]

I have an NX80 also, and I purchased JackFlash shortly after getting the Clie. This was an excellent investment, in my opinion--I now have an additional 15 MB of "instant access" memory. My strategy has been to install anything that works from the memory stick directly to the stick (unless it is a large app that I use frequently, and thus get annoyed by the wait for startup), put all other apps in flash (almost all of them run well from flash), and leave the DB's in RAM. I keep thinking that I need to get ZLauncher or PowerRun because of the idea, like you said, of unlimited storage. However, I have "loaded up" my Clie beyond what I probably really need with software, and I still have 6.8 MB of free RAM, and 9.5 MB of free Flash. (I HAVE managed to fill 177 MB on my memory stick, lots of DB's and books.) So I have no burning need for ZLauncher or PowerRun. Maybe someday I will get one of them, but for now, I can save my money. The one thing I miss that they would offer is the ability to categorize stuff on my memory stick.

My advice is to get JackFlash for sure, you will use it and be glad you have it. If that still isn't enough, then get one of the launchers. By the way, ZLauncher is on sale for $3 off through 1/15/05 at palmgear. http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&prodID=43812

[Ballajura]

Thanks everyone for your contributions! I think I may end up getting JackFlash for now as it seems a waste to have 15MB of flash going wanting. I have around 11MB of programs currently on the MS, mainly games. PowerRun is good but I think I'd rather leave more MS free for music!! I have looked at launchers such as SilverScreen and ZLauncher but find they are either too basic or too complicated.

When programs are moved to flash, do they get backed up via MS-Backup?

Also one last question re: Jackflash; I use NetFront and believe it uses flash as a heap memory area. If I leave NetFront in RAM and use flash for storing programs, will it interfere with performance of NetFront?

Thanks

Paul

[gvegaa]

My suggestion... you must get Jackflash, apps in flash run very fast and also get a third party launcher, I personally use Megalauncher (I can run the same as power run to move apps to the memory stick).

As far as the Netfront, I haven't noticed any problem with the performance.

[nickms]

PowerRun functions much differently than loading programs into the launcher directory on your memory stick. I tried moving programs to memory stick, using the luancher directory, and found the access times abominable. However, with PowerRun not only does it tell me what the access times will be for programs that I want to move to card but, usually these times are 1 second on my TH55. To me this seems like relatively immediate access. I've even moved my default caltulator program, MegaCalc (228Kb), to card because the activation time is so quick I don't have to worry about waiting when I want to do quick calculations. Also, programs moved by PowerRun, to the card, are not backed up by MS backup. Since these apps are already on the card there is no point in backing them up to the card again. Of course, if you want to run apps from the card for free, and don't mind the wait caused by using the launcher directory method, just use Clies Files and the built in "Card" category that comes standard in Palm OS (if this exist in the NX80).

[Ballajura]

Thanks everyone for your help. I've actually settled on both. JackFlash for moving important applications into flash that I need fast access to and PowerRUN for moving other apps into the MS like Games. With FlashJack it seems to only like Apps moved into Flash, however PowerRUN moves the entire app plus databases. I like to try games out and this way I can save as many as I like to my 512MB MS. Since both RAM and Flash are limited in comparison to the MS, I keep important stuff in internal memory and non-important in MS!

[starbuckk]

When programs are moved to flash, do they get backed up via MS-Backup?


No, but they don't need to be because they will survive a hard reset. If you have to hard reset, you only need to restore JackFlash and reactivate it. Your "flashed" programs will be there once that is done.


Also one last question re: Jackflash; I use NetFront and believe it uses flash as a heap memory area. If I leave NetFront in RAM and use flash for storing programs, will it interfere with performance of NetFront?


Netfront has no problem with Jackflash running.

There are several considerations on deciding which programs should be in Flash vs MS. For one, I've found that despite using Zlauncher shortcuts, Quickoffice and SmartListToGo do not hotsync properly if they are running off the MS. They work fine if they are in flash. I started by putting anything with a hotsync conduit in flash or leaving it in memory. Hotsyncs with these programs work faster that way (or in some cases, just plain WORK) than if they are on the MS. Followed by that, I put my most frequently used programs there.

I also put a few larger data files there. Jackflash will complain about it, but if the file isn't going to change, it will be ok there.

Whatever doesn't fit in the above category goes to the MS or stays in RAM.

I still have 4mb of flash memory available. And I have 7mb of RAM free!