Replacing A Palm's ROM With An EEPROM?

^me^ asks: "I have a Palm IIIe and an EEPROM burner, plus numerous EEPROMs and I can get them manufactured. The Palm IIIe uses a ROM to store system software, and I'd like to upgrade it. Is there any way if I map the pin layouts or something that I can replace the ROM with an EEPROM?" Could a Palm's internal memory space be increased as well via a similar hack? Palm VII's could really use the extra space.

isn't it allready....

[smatthew]

I've got a palm III, and as far as I can tell it's got an EEPROM (or something similar). When you update the system on it - it writes it into the chip. Plus there's palm software out there that lets you move applications over to the bios chip to save memory space.

No offense - but do your homework first.

Re:isn't it allready....

[smatthew]

My bad - i just realized the IIIe is the econo-model..... Hmm - well then - you can probably find out what chip the standard III's use and use that. Next time - just buy the real palm. It's not worth it to buy the cheap one and wreck it trying to upgrade it to the next model (IMHO)

Re: Do your homework first

[irq]

Perhaps if you did your homework first you would have realized that the PalmIIIe purposley lacks flash/EEPROM memory, to lower the cost of the device.

Why not simply sell it or trade it?

[Cable]

Go to http://www.usedpalmpilots.com/ [usedpalmpilots.com] and see if you can sell it or trade it in for a new one? It is a lot simplier than messing with solder and possibly messing up your IIIe.

That or you could sell it on eBay. Apparently I've seen a IIIe sell for as much as $200 because people buying them there don't know the value of a Palm computer. Either that or they got shills bidding on Palms to raise the prices for the buyers?

handspring

[Peartree]

have you considered buying a handspring?

Why bother?

[Bud]

I will be very surprised if there are no pin-for-pin compatible (E)EPROMs available on the market. And I'm quite sure the IIIe will run OS 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5. I've personally installed 3.5 on a PP Personal with a 2M upgrade and I don't think that the more modern IIIe will have any bigger problems.

Peter Stroebel's site at http://www.pstec.de/ppp/ [pstec.de] contains lots of valuable hardware information.

However, I suspect that you will destroy your IIIe in the process. You *need* good soldering tools and the soldering should preferably be done by a reliable soldering wizard. My recommendation is that you save your money and go buy a better Palm.

--Bud