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Colorgraphic VGA adapter.
Product: CF Type I VGA adapter for Windows OS (CE, 9x, 2k, XP).
Maker: Colorgraphic (http://www.colorgraphic.net)
Price: $175 Buy it here. ($150 from the MobilePlanet)
One of
the most attractive solution offered by PDA is the ability to transport
and show presentations without the use of a laptop through different
types of media.
Presentation solution are relatively new in the PDA industry and so
far limited to PocketPCs.
Enter the Colorgraphic VGA CF adapter, a very ingenious mobile presentation
solution offered to PocketPC users.
The Package:
I've always stressed the importance of proper packaging. Many
products that I've had the chance to review, some of the highest quality,
did not offer pleasant (if any) package. The fact is consumers do
like professionally packed items, maybe adding to their peace of mind
while spending the big bucks. The Voyager VGA adapter came in a very
neatly packed box, and contained all necessary material to get your
started in no time; the VGA CF adapter cable, and install CD. My biggest
concern here was that no hardcopied documentation/user guide was available
though they can be found as PDF format on the bundled CD. I don't
think this should be much of an issue, especially when Pocket PC manufacturers
don't even bother including a paper user guide with their much more
complex devices.
The product also had a PCMCIA adapter for use with PCMCIA enabled
devices or even with laptops.
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The Type I CF card will work with any PPC currently available as well as with laptops. It also features a quick disconnect cable for easy transport without the need to remove the CF card.
The adapter allows you to connect your PPC to a VGA enabled device (monitor, overhead...), or to a TV or device featuring composite connection (RCA) or S-Video. The Colorgraphic VGA CF is the only card able to connect to a variety of devices without being specific (the FlyJacket will work equally well but is restricted to iPAQ owners).
The left picture shows the VGA CF card (left) next to an IBM 1GB Microdrive (right). The difference is significant; Type I vs. Type II.
The
installation:
In order to get
the card to work you will need to install the proper driver that is
included on the CD. Simply insert the disk in the drive and let it
autoplay (or launch it from the CD). You will then have to select
your device from the long list of supported PocketPCs. Active Sync
will then launch the self install program; make sure the driver is
saved in main memory (unless you are using a dual sleeve or SD card)
as the CF memory will not be available while using the adapter. A
22kb exe file, 18kb dll as well as a larger 1MB unload file will be
copied onto the device.
The install CD also include Conduits Pocket Slides as a shareware. You will have the option to install it on the device for a 30 days evaluation but it isn't mandatory in order to get the card working.
Note: the included version of the shareware was version 1.1. You can download the latest version on the Conduits website.
Info
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