On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:56:12 -0500 (EST), Matthew Orgass
<darkstar@city-net.com> wrote:
> On 2005-02-18 acruhl@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> > This firmware apparently locks the drive into IDE mode. Apparently
> > this is fine if you are using a USB card reader on a computer, but it
> > won't work in some cameras and other devices.
> >
> > The other mode they use is CF I/O according to what I've been reading,
> > and this works like a normal CF card I believe. This should work I'm
> > guessing.
> >
> > Does anyone know if either mode will work in the CF card slot of the
> > Mobilepro 880?
> 
>   If "IDE mode" == "ATA mode" then it won't work.  PCMCIA and CF flash and
> disks can connect directly to an ATA bus with a simple connector (I don't
> know where to actually buy such a thing, but it would make sense for many
> devices to use that mode).  Many of them can do fun things like DMA and go
> much faster in this mode.  I wish the internal CF slot on the Clio was an
> ATA port since it is behind the battery anyway, but it is a standard CF
> port.

Thanks. That's good information.

I've been looking at microdrives, and the Seagate 5 gig ones available
used are showing up. They are apparently pulled from various devices
since Seagate hasn't sold them retail yet. Some devices have this
firmware which apparently locks them into IDE mode (that's what I
read), but I suppose you could be right about ATA mode. Note that it
might still work if you use a CF card reader in the PCMCIA slot... But
I don't think we can boot from that? Not sure about that. Anyway, that
would mean I would have to buy a CF card ethernet adapter too, which I
haven't done...

The simple answer is to buy a CF card microdrive that will do both modes.

Andy