Expert: Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen

Q: I'd like to access the (multimedia) files on my external 2.5" hard disk from my SD-only i-Mate Jam. The latter has no USB hosting functionality. What should I do?

A: Unfortunately, the i-Mate Jam doesn't have USB host functionality and it only has an SD slot (read: no CF slot). There isn't any USB host card (you'd need it to be able to access any external hard disk) in SD format (only in CF) and there're no CF -> SD converters either.

The only possibility to access external hard disks is using Wi-Fi and dedicated, Wi-Fi enabled HDD enclosures as described at http://pocketpcmag.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13738 . It's not very easy.

Another way to go is getting an image tank that has excellent HDD -> SD file transfer capabilities with an SD slot. Then, you can always transfer the files you'd like to watch/listen to to your SD card before eatching them. It's not direct access from the PDA and there is a lot of overhead involved, but it's much cleaner and cheaper solution than the first.

Please note that I've emphasized the image tank has to have excellent HDD -> SD file transfer support. Unfortunately, that's not the case with most image tanks. Most image tanks are only able to transfer back stuff to memory cards that was previously backed up from them, not any files (an example of them is, for example, the MamboX P353 - the image tank I use - at http://www.mambox.com/P353.htm ). Therefore, you may really want to test/ask about the image tank before you get one.

The forum I really recommend on the image tank question is the Storage and Media Forum ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1023&page=1 ) of DPReview ( http://www.dpreview.com/ ). You may want to enter the search expressions "image tank", "image bank" and "photo bank" in the "Find" textfield.

EDIT at Dec-13-2005: this AximSite thread is also worth reading.