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Flash Cards: a Solution for Low Memory Macs - June 8, 2000 Let me ask you this question: on a PowerBook, have you ever seen an out of memory warning? If not, you must have a newer machine. Every time I use my PowerBook 190cs, I get the same warning, but now that problem is gone. You could even say a birdie told me. A camera birdie that is. One day at the elementary school where I help out, we were viewing some pictures on a Compact Flash card. When I got home, I was thinking how to solve my memory crisis (my 190cs is running Mac OS 8.1 in only 7 MB of RAM). Suddenly something came into my head: Why not use Compact Flash cards as RAM? All you need is this: A Compact Flash card A PC card slot or USB An adapter, if necessary The way you do this is to format the Compact Flash card as a hard drive and use it for Virtual Memory (instead of using your hard drive). I do warn you, try this out with someone who already has a Compact Flash card. I've only tested 8 and 32 MB Compact Flash cards on a PowerBook 1400. If you get big enough cards, your PowerBook could have over 1 GB of RAM. Other computers this may be useful for are PCI Performas and some low-end PCI Power Macs like the 5500 & 6500, iMacs, iBooks (especially the Rev. A), and some clones For desktop models you will need a USB card and some form of adapter such as VST's Tri-Media Reader (it works with Compact Flash, Smart Media, and floppy disks). For first generation Power Macs and 68k Macs, low memory is hopeless.* The earlier the model, the less memory it will support. For some Power Macs, it could be a waste of time. The 7300 I'm using right now can be upgraded to 1 GB for less than the cost of a Flash card upgrade. If you have any trouble, email me and I'll try to help you. * You can use Virtual Memory, but it's very slow on 68k Macs and not terribly fast on first generation Power Macs. Your best bet after installing maximum memory is to try RAM Doubler. Visit ramseeker to see if Compact Flash cards fit your budget. Then compare that to current memory upgrade prices for your Mac. If you do try this, we'd love to hear how it works for you. Email . Thanks! <this article available in a printer-friendly format> Share your perspective on the Mac by emailing with "My Turn" as your subject. Recent My Turn articles Upgrading a Digital Audio G4 to work better in Leopard, 06.02. In its original configuration, the dual 533 MHz Power Mac G4 was slow with Mac OS X 10.5, but add the right upgrades, and it runs Leopard quite nicely. My 4 favorite PowerBooks, 05.28. The PowerBook 150 has a big screen for a vintage PowerBook, the 165c has color, the 100 is diminutive, and Lombard has USB and a great keyboard. Upgraded Quadra a great server for vintage Mac networking, 05.21. The compact Quadra 610 runs quietly, and with a PowerPC upgrade, it rockets past regular 68040 Macs. More in the My Turn index. Recent Content on Low End Mac Apple gave Psystar enough rope to hang itself, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.18. By not filing suit against Psystar immediately, Apple allowed the company to do enough to give Apple an air-tight case. Google's 'really good' iPhone App, 10 alternatives to the iPhone, Car Care app, and more, iNews Review, 07.18. Also iPhone 2.0 gives new life to original iPhone, free and low-cost apps, 3G 'tough to kill', inside the iPhone 3G, accessories for the iPhone 3G, and much more 4-core Core2 Extreme mobile CPU in August, 256 MB SSD coming to MacBook Air, and more, The 'Book Review, 07.18. Also Centrino 2 shipping, OS X running on tiny MSI Wind notebook, fuel cell notebooks one step closer, free laptop tracking service, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,649, and more. Best Power Mac G5 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Used 1.8 GHz single SuperDrive, $600; dual, $799, 2.0, $979; 2.3, $899; 2.5, $1,100; 2.7, $1,249; 2.5 Quad, $1,500. Best 17" MacBook Pro deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,275; 2.33 Core2, $1,888; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $1,949 a/r; 2.5, $2,558 a/r; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,449 a/r; more. Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Mac OS X 10.5.1 single user, $99; 5 users, $158; 10.5 Server, 10 users, $450; unlimited, $900. Mac of the Day: Power Mac G4 Cube, July 2000 - compact, powerful, and attractive with limited expansion and a high initial price doomed the Cube. List of the Day: MichiMac is our list for Mac users in Michigan. July 19 in LEM history: 00: To partition or not to partition? - 01: What price rankings? - Owning the market - 02: Free mac.com email becomes fee mail - G4/500 WallStreet and Lombard upgrades - 04: Sometimes you feel like a dolt - 06: Mac OS X 10.5: Which Macs should make the cut? - Why run Linux on a low-end Mac? - Upgrade your Pismo with a dual-layer DVD burner - 07: Apple's first phone never made it to market PowerBook Duo and DuoDock problems, no TPM on most Intel Macs, iTunes for Linux, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.17. Also a Mac mini that displays some Web images in grayscale, vintage Mac desktop patterns, where to sell a used Mac, dithered images, and more. Best Mac Pro deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Refurb 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,888; 2.8 8-core, $2,399; new 4-core, $2,124 after rebate; 8-core, $2,589 a/r; 3.0 $3,399 a/r; 3.2, $4,169 a/r. Best titanium PowerBook G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Used 400 MHz DVD, $500; 867 MHz Combo, $550; 1 GHz Combo, $678; SuperDrive, $899. Best iPod nano deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Used 2 GB iPod nano, $70; refurb 4 GB, $99; new, $139; refurb 8 GB, $149; new, $180. More links in our archive.

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