Are there any external dvd/cd rom drives that can work with e800?

[young gun]

Is this possible with e800?

[WPdaPet]

> Are there any external dvd/cd rom drives that can work with e800?

Look for the discussions on external USB drives:
http://discussion.brighthand.com/sho...threadid=97681

Most USB DVD/CDROM drives are just (readonly) storage devices. The same general advice on using the USB host port applies.
[ie. assuming it doesn't need an extra special driver]

There are a number of battery powered ones too (for use with laptops)

HOWEVER, that will just give you the ability to read CD and DVD raw data. It won't give you a good multimedia experience for other reasons.

[young gun]

Thank?s again!!!

Do you know what are the reasons for poor multimedia....can it be optimized???

[WPdaPet]

> Do you know what are the reasons for poor multimedia

Let me clarify.
Plugging a USB CD or DVD drive into one of the USB Host hardware options (presentation pack, newer cradle, host cable) connected to the e800 will only give you access to the raw digital data that shows up as regular files.

[For example: put a DVD or CD into your PC's drive, then look at the disc contents with Explorer - rather boring. Don't double click to launch a PC specific player program]

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So think of it as a CDROM or DVD-ROM file access, with relatively slow (USB 1) access speed.
If you have a Pocket PC program that can read that format, then you will be happy.

Typically *you* will be the one burning the CD-R or DVD-R in this configuration. For example: burn your .MP3s to a CD-R

If you have a custom database program that runs on the Pocket PC and reads databases stored on CD-Rs, that's another possibility.

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Commercial Audio CDs and Movie DVDs won't work in this configuration

Audio CDs may not show up at all. DVD Movies won't have a player to play them (you will see some large files in the VIDEO_TS folder, but you can't do anything with them).

If you want to play those format discs, buy a portable audio CD or DVD movie player instead.
If you want to play the songs or movies on your e800, use your PC to rip and convert/compress them [ie. CD-Audio -> MP3 or WMA, DVD -> WMV or MPG]
See other advice on this bbs for how to do that

[cpoole]

I assume that the USB interface to a Creative NOMAD Jukebox 3 would not be standard. I do not have my e800 yet to try this.

[WPdaPet]

> I assume that the USB interface to a Creative NOMAD Jukebox 3 would not be standard

From reading the specs, it looks like that model would be ok.
" USB connectivity connects Nomad Jukebox 3 to virtually any computer. "

Most of the jukebox devices these days are standard USB storage volumes as well as players. Plug the jukebox into a USB cable on your PC and it appears as a disk volume on your computer desktop.

---
However, the configuration is not that useful in the general case.
[ie. if you are going to bring the PDA and the NOMAD, just listen to music on the NOMAD]

Here is one useful scenario:
Keep a large MP3 collection at home on your PC.
Copy 20MB of your favorite songs to your NOMAD, leave the PC at home
When away from your PC, connect your e800 to the NOMAD and copy 1GB of your very favorite songs to your e800 (using a 1GB CF card).
Then leave the NOMAD behind

When you get bored of the songs on your PDA, replace them with other songs from your NOMAD collection [without having to go back home to your PC]

NOTE: some jukebox products sell a Compact Flash reader-writer adapter to support these scenarios. With the USB host support you can do it without any additional hardware.

[cpoole]

Thanks for the NOMAD Jukebox reply. I am new to both the Jukebox and the e800 (it will not arrive til middle of Jan).

I actually just picked up the Jukebox in the bargain bin at FutureShop - no accessories, charger, software, manual - just the unit - so I really do not know it's capabilities at all. I was wondering if it could hold movies and they could be spooled to e800. BTW - I only paid $9.99 for the Jukebox plus $25 for a 3 year warranty!!!