Hello Rita: Don't worry about asking lots of questions, we all were there once and are happy to help.
Please explain the different kinds of cards. I have heard people talking about flash and sd cards. Are they the same thing? No, they aren't the same thing, but they do about the same job. Both cards are memory storage cards in that they can store your files for you like a filing cabinet. The compact flash card is about the size of a package of matches and the SD card is the size of a postage stamp only a little thicker. Both cards can hold varying amounts of data and with your MPower, you have a slot for both on the back of the unit. Additionally, as you've heard, the compact flash slot can be used for more than just connecting a memory card. You can attach a wireless card to allow connection to wireless networks. You can also buy a card to connect to a wired internet network. In addition to these jobs, they can also do the memory storage as well. Which one is better? That is really dependant on personal taste and budget. SD cards tend to be somewhat more expensive but are a lot smaller and in my opinion seem to draw less power, but I could be wrong about that part. The more memory a card has, the more you can store on it. The more you want to store on the card, the more expensive it will be. It used to be that the Compact flash cards were a lot less expensive, but now with this type of media being used in so many different devices, their prices are crashing down. Are their circumstances where it is best to use one type of a card than another? In my opinion, I love the SD cards. They are incredibly small and can hold lots of stuff. I also feel like they connect more securely to the MPower as well. However, as mentioned above, if you want the card to do other duties, you'll need to buy that type of card (Wireless or wired) and then it will only fit in the compact flash slot. But, again, its a matter of taste as to which one you find more convenient. Can you have more than one plugged in the MPower at the same time? Yes, you can have both slots occupied with cards at the same time. With both slots full (Active), the battery drawdown is a bit faster, but not that much. How hard are they to use? Very simple. When you go to open or store a data file or other process on the MPower, you can choose between the various cards you have attached just like choosing between the system and flash disk on board drives on the MPower itself. What information do I need in order to buy a storage card? The manual gives a very specific description of the types of cards the MPower will handle and you can bring that information down to your local Staples or Circuit City or other electronic retailer and they'll be glad to tell you what sizes you can buy. As a size reference, I've got a 512 megabyte SD card in my MPower right now that holds around 450 books (Novels not school text). What do I need for my pc to recognize one of these cards? That depends on your PC. If it was bought in the last few years and it has a free USB port, you can buy a little card reader for around $15 which will read both types of cards. You can pick these up usually at the same place you buy the memory cards. What is a router and where do I get one? A router is a device that allows the sharing of a broadband internet connection like cable or DSL amongst multiple PC's or in your case a PC and an MPower. If you're just using dial-up access to the Internet, you do not need a router. Some routers are wireless and will let you connect up to them without cables between the router and the PC. These are great because you can access the internet from wherever you are in your home or office as long as you are within 300 feet of the router. I hope I answered a few of your questions and didn't manage to confuse the issue more for you. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask and any one of us will be happy to help. Enjoy the MPowerment Jeff [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
