I just did a non-scientific comparison of backup speeds with various Windows programs and my 972KB memory used (65% full) Zaurus 5800. The PC used was a 100 MHz Pentium, 32M FP DRAM, 18 ms hard disk, 95% available resources, 8550 9600 port config, no other software running, no screen saver, W95 with latest msoft.com internet upgrade, W95 managed swap file, a Sharp cable & an Actysis ACT-IR200L infrared link. The software was (1) the latest version of Rupp's Rupplynx version 3.1 software, (2) their SynchoLynx Schedule+ program version 1.0, (3) Sharps Data Exchange Utility 1.1, and (4) the librarys BR-9 shareware DOS program. I installed all the library patches/upgrades if they were available. I threw in 2 different PCMCIA cards to compare a $60 (used) 2M GRID SRAM card and a $125 (used) Apple Newton flash card. Also, I looked at the program IntelliLink version 3.4.1, which is not a backup program, but a sorta PIM conversion program to see if it could be used. It could be by setting it to a Zaurus-to-Zaurus conversion. Lastly I backed up using Sharps old DOS program OLII, version 2.1 (circa 1993). IntelliLink and OLII do not backup NOTES, SCRAPBOOK, retain LINKS, and probably some other things yet in a emergency one could use them. Here are the approximate results. Your mileage may vary due to different PC configurations and Zaurus ap memory mix. I have 1,225 Contacts 1's. 1. Rupplynx, in the file-by-file mode, with the cable...18 minutes. 2. Rupplynx, in the Backup mode, with the cable...19 minutes. 3. DEU, with the cable...29 Minutes. 4. DEU, with the wireless interface...35 minutes. 5. SynchroLynx using only the backup mode & with a cable...1 hour and 32 minutes. You read it right, over 1-1/2 hours, not acceptable nor did I test a RESTORE for obvious reasons. 6. BR-9...I never got it to work using com 3, running from the DOS prompt or Windows 95, and using a cable. The following two didn't backup the complete Zaurus as one was designed a long time ago and the other wasn't designed to be one. Their speeds were fast, though, probably because they didn't have to handle the Zaurus's bit map applications. 7. IntelliLink did the non-complete backup in a surprising 16-1/2 minutes. Their engine looks surprisingly fast and they should add a backup program to their program honoring the Zaurus's NOTES, SCRAPBOOK and Links. 8. OLII screamed in at 15 minutes running it from the DOS prompt. The cards, of course, blew everything away but there were differences even between the two. 9. 2M SRAM card...1 minute 19 seconds and another 1 minute 49 seconds to get the use again of the Zaurus after initializing. The initializing was longer then the backup! Total time was 3 minutes & I could be using my PC while it was backing up. 10. 4M Apple Newton flash card...52 seconds (THE FASTEST OF ANY BACKUP) and another 2 minutes 30 seconds to get use of the Zaurus after it initializing for a total time of around 3-1/2 minutes. Flash was faster in backups but total time was faster with SRAM. Again my PC could be used during the backup. THOUGHTS... a. If your Zaurus uses little memory any of the above will be OK. b. None of the programs would allow me to minimize and do other things while backing up. If they had they would have gotten my BEST BUY rating. Sharp and Rupp should allow this in newer versions. c. I've never been able to get an IR link to run with any of Rupp's programs even though I have written the library file WONTCONN.ECT, am an EE & have spent hours trying. I believe it is unique to my system, bios, IRQ's, and other issues. The shareware DOS program not working sorta confirms this. I also have never been able to install RUPP's add on programs using their DOS install program. I normally use Rupplynx or the DEU and move the PC FILE to the Zaurus. d. Some of Rupps & Sharps library upgrades do not show a new version number so one never knows whether it took or not. Version numbers should be always, repeat always, upgraded by the manufacturer. e. Each of the programs have their different strengths and are like comparing apples, oranges and lemons but the above results should show something about their overall speed. Again, your mileage may vary. RECOMMENDATION: A. Buy Sharps DEU, whatever you do, as it's cheap @ <$10. It should have been faster with the speedier IR link but I don't know why it wasn't. I'm going to look into how to increase my port speed although changing it in W95 has never worked. B. Rupplynx 3.1 wins hands down in software backup speed but it costs $80. It does offer other superior PIM features and PIM conversions. C. Synchrolynx, at $50, was unacceptable and the slowest. For those wanting a seamless, no-brainer Schedule+ link it's the best on the market. Just buy Sharps DEU, though, for your backups. D. Card backup was the winner if that is all you want to do. Of course, don't keep it in the Zaurus as if you lose it, you lose the card also. The downside with a card-only approach is you can't read your data, if you lose your Zaurus, until you get a new Zaurus. SUMMARY: Buy one of the programs that suits your needs and a card so to have redundant backups. Good luck. --JHC P.S. For more on each program see my library file ZWEBS.TXT for access to each of their web sites as well the library files ZACCESS.TXT & MAILPALM.TXT. --------------response from Rupp----------------------------------- Date: 12-Nov-96 12:08 PST From: Scott Glasgow > INTERNET:sglasgow@rupp.com Subj: ZBACKUP.TXT Notes Jim, first, great work on the backup comparison document. I'd like to clear up a couple of things though, if I may. File by File mode is not a complete backup. There are more files covered in a pure backup, hence the time difference between backup and file by file using RuppLynx. Also, between RuppLynx and Intellilink, as you stated, Intellilink does not do all the files that are on the Zaurus...some system files, probably not spreadsheet and who knows what else...I have not seen the latest version of Intellilink. So the 16 1/2 minutes is actually fairly slow considering the other files that are on the Zaurus. We do not use updated version numbers on patches because technically a user can change it and we might not have an accurate reading. Also, a lot of parts in RuppLynx are actually separate programs, thus we go by file dates and size of the modules. The DOS install program IS NOT a Rupp product. That is provided by Sharp and always has been. The next version of RuppLynx will have built-in Z-App installation module. I can send you a copy of RuppLynx 4.0 for Windows 95 to see if like. Minimizing and allowing you to continue working is not an option for any Windows PC Link because the process to communicate with a Zaurus/Wizard must have processor time and Windows is task switching not multitasking. RuppLynx 4.0 allows you to do other things (although you still cannot minimize the window) while a backup/transfer is occurring. For this reason, people with screen savers who were getting communication errors when doing transfers, was a result of this. A process kicks in and takes control and the time sensitive process of communicating with a Wizard/Zaurus was lost. Also, you said something about changing your port speed. It won't matter. You cannot do anything as the PC-Link specs call for 9600 baud regardless. There are many things that depend on speed of transfer and unfortunately I cannot get into all of them because of our NDA with Sharp......but I wish I could. As for SynchroLynx, was that with 1.0 or 1.01? I will have to look into that..I do not remember SynchroLynx taking a long time for a normal backup...just Synchronizing. Not a good outcome at all....I will definitely have the programmers know about this. Thanks for listening.... Scott -----------------------end of response------------------------------