available. If you insert an I/O card into a card slot, the corresponding drive becomes unavailable. • If you create another drive on your OmniBook—such as a RAM disk in memory using the RAMDRIVE driver—it may cause the card slots to have drive letters higher than drive D and E. The table below describes several types of PC data-storage cards supported by the OmniBook—how they operate and how you can use them with the OmniBook. Disk Type Characteristics Rotating hard disk A spinning magnetic medium and read-write head. The medium requires no power to maintain its data, though it requires significant power to operate. Most hard disks are “ATA-type” disks. Typical capacity: 170 MB or more.
Can be used for drive E in the lower card slot. (Because of its physical size, the drive eliminates the upper card slot otherwise used for drive D.) Flash disk (ATA-type) Electronic memory chips called “flash” inside a plug-in card and designed to work like a rotating hard disk. A flash disk requires no power to maintain its data. Typical capacity: 5 to 40 MB. Can be used for drive D in the upper or E in the lower card slot. RAM card Electronic random-access memory chips called “RAM” inside a plug-in card.
A RAM card requires continuous power to maintain its data—power is supplied by the OmniBook battery while the OmniBook is turned on, and by the card’s internal battery while the OmniBook is turned off or the card is removed. Typical capacity: 1/2 to 2 MB. Can be used for drive D in the upper or E in the lower card slot. For more information about compatible cards, contact Hewlett-Packard—see the Support and Service booklet or click Start, Programs, OmniBook Library, OmniBook Support. About PC Data Storage Cards The OmniBook works with PC data storage cards and Card Standards type II and III, such as Hewlett-Packard ATA-type hard disks and flash disks.
(This OmniBook model doesn’t provide the software needed for Flash File System or flash-memory cards, such as Intel Series 2 cards.) If you’re using a RAM card with the OmniBook, keep these suggestions in mind: • For a new RAM card, install its battery before you insert the card in the OmniBook. 21