PRESS RELEASE

MESA, ARIZONA (Thursday, December 28, 2000) – MatchBook Products announced today that it will begin immediate production of the MatchBookDrive Adapter, the world’s first commercial adapter to allow the use of Compact Flash memory cards in the Handspring Visor.

"Use of handheld computers is growing rapidly," said Keith Hudson, owner of MatchBook Products. "Many Visor owners find that the 8 megabytes of memory in the Visor Deluxe, Prism or Platinum is simply not enough for all the files they wish to carry with them. The growth of digital cameras has led to widespread availability of inexpensive compact flash memory cards, about the size of a matchbook, that range in size from 4 megabytes of file storage to 192 megabytes of file storage and up. The MatchBookDrive Adapter lets a Visor owner use a compact flash card as file storage in a module that fits into the expansion slot of his or her Visor. Imagine being able to carry 192 megabytes of files with you wherever you go."

The MatchBookDrive Adapter is a passive adapter that fits into the Springboard slot of a Visor and allows files to be copied from the RAM (random access memory) of the Visor to a Compact Flash card for storage. When the file is needed, it can be copied back into RAM in just a few seconds.

The MatchBookDrive Adapter relies on software being developed by Kopsis, Inc. that is scheduled to be commercially released in January, 2001. Presently, it is available as a time-limited free beta. Kopsis announced the development of its FAFileMover software in October 2000, and since then hundreds of Visor users have created their own adapters by making hand modifications to a standard PCMCIA to Compact Flash adapter. Kopsis, Inc. coined the term FlashAdapter to refer to the modified adapter needed to use their software, and published instructions on building the adapters by hand. Postings to the FlashAdapter-Forum discussion group on egroups.com indicate that Visor users have greeted the availability of compact flash memory for the Visor enthusiastically and are using their flashadapters to store medical references, dictionaries, e-books and even full-motion video.

Unlike the Handspring Memory module, the MatchBookDrive Adapter does not contain any software on the module. Users download the software and install it on their Visor themselves. Kopsis, Inc. has announced that the FAFileMover software will be available at PalmGear for $5 when it is released commercially. Unlike the Handspring Memory module, which allows the use of some files directly from expansion memory, the FAFileMover software requires files stored on the compact flash card to be copied into the Visor’s RAM before use.

"We are not trying to compete with the Handspring Memory module," said Hudson. "We wanted to give Visor owners an inexpensive storage option. If they need more than 8 megabytes of additional storage memory for their Visor, or if they are willing to sacrifice a little convenience to save a lot of money, then the MatchBookDrive Adapter may be for them. We just thought there had to be a better way to make use of Kopsis’ software than to hand modify a $10 or $25 adapter, and end up with a compact flash card sticking out the top of the Visor. The MatchBookDrive Adapter allows the compact flash card to remain totally within a standard springboard housing, which makes a much more pleasing form factor. The user just plugs their own compact flash card into the Adapter and snaps the module together."

Hudson is careful to point out that the MatchBookDrive Adapter cannot be called a Springboard module. "The MatchBookDrive Adapter does not comply with Springboard specifications, because it does not contain self-installing software. Adding self-installing software to the MatchBookDrive Adapter would at least double the price of the Adapter and make it prohibitively expensive for many budget-conscious users," he said. As far as he is aware, the MatchBookDrive Adapter is the first commercially available product that makes use of the expansion capabilities of the Visor without complying with the Springboard standard.

The MatchBookDrive Adapter will retail for $30 U.S., including shipping to U.S. addresses. Shipping to Canadian addresses will be $2 extra, and shipping to other international addresses will be $5 extra. Until January 15, 2001, MatchBook Products is selling the Adapter for $20 including shipping anywhere in the world.

The MatchBookDrive Adapter can be ordered at www.matchbookdrive.com.

MatchBook Products is not affiliated in any way with Handspring, PalmGear, the Compact Flash Association or Kopsis, Inc. and all trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contacts
Keith Hudson
MatchBook Products
480-694-1986
visor_products@yahoo.com