H.C.L. Electronics 16MB Flash Springboard Module

Owners of 2MB Visors need to be forewarned, however, that individual data files and applications are still limited by that 2MB barrier since they are first installed onto the Visor's internal memory and then moved to the module. Chances are this won't be a problem for you.


From A Medical/Professional Prospective   November 4, 2001
 39 out of 39 found this review helpful

So you took your brand new Palm out of the box and wondered, "Wow, what am I going to do with 8MB? That's so much memory!" And then after one week of downloading games and beaming programs from your friends, you hit the 8MB barrier. You had promised yourself that you would use it for all those medical databases and your PDA is full before you get a chance to load some. What to do? If you have a Handspring Visor, you can just buy more memory to plug into the SpringBoard expansion slot. The best memory expansion module that I have found for the Visor is the SpringBoard Flash Module by Hagiwara.

The two big advantages to the Hagiwara SpringBoard Flash Module are low power consumption and seamless operation. When I tested out a competing memory standard (CompactFlash Adapter), it drained my batteries within a week of normal operation, regardless of how often I used it. On the other hand, I have not noticed any decrease in battery life with the SpringBoard Flash Module. Moreover, the operation of the SpringBoard Flash Module is seamless. I use the regular program Launcher that comes standard with the PalmOS, I can beam programs and files directly from the Flash Module, and there is no delay when loading a program from the Flash Module. In stark contrast, the CompactFlash Adapter requires a special program to run files directly from the expanded memory and there are significant delays when running programs directly.

The only deficiency associated with the SpringBoard Flash Module is that it is read-only. Meaning, files that are moved onto the Flash Module cannot be edited or updated; they must be first moved into the internal memory (or just kept there) first. With most medical databases, this is not much of a problem, as they are basically unchanging electronic encyclopedias. Additionally, text files and other documents that you may update regularly are often small and the memory savings from saving them to the expansion memory is trivial. However, some programs like Vindigo or ePocrates have files that are constantly updated and edited. If these files are loaded into the Flash Module, the Visor crashes when you try to run the program (just do a reboot and move the file back into internal memory).


An indispensable Springboard module...   July 6, 2001
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

This effectively turns your 8 MB Handspring into a 24 MB device! It's totally intuitive... I've already copied Peanut reader into the module, and moved (a different command!) my unabridge Don Quixote into the module. This will allow me to amass a library of reference works, light (and heavy) reading, more neat little programs, etc. If you're the kind of person who worries more about 'how big is the drive' than 'how fast is the processor' this is the solution. It makes me so glad I got a Handspring instead of a Palm!


best springboard flash modual   June 17, 2001
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

this, i must say is the most user-friendly flash modual for visor owners. when you first put it in a new application called file mover is visible. it allows you to move,delete,copy files from the modual and the handheld. it is very simple. the data transfer rate is about 1mb/minute. ive had mine for a couple months now and the only problem i had with it is if im running afterburner. and with 16mb of extra memory you can fit all those big e-books, dictionarys, games, etc. if you buy this you wont regrete it.