CF
Short for CompactFlash, CF is a 50-pin connection storage device. CompactFlash is a storage medium commonly found in PDAs, digital cameras, and other portable devices. The CF card had a pretty large range of sizes, in terms of storage capacity, ranging from 2 MB to 128 GB. The picture shows a SanDisk 4.0 GB CompactFlash card.
The two types of CF cards, along with their physical dimensions, are listed below.
· Type I - 43 mm x 36 mm x 3.3 mm.
· Type II - 43 mm x 36 mm x 5 mm.
PDA
Short for Personal Digital Assistant, PDA is a computer that fits in the palm of your hand to help collect such information as contacts, appointments, files, and programs. The picture is the Palm Tungsten | E2 and an example of a PDA. Because touch screens were not available at the time to use a PDA a stylus was used to input data into the device. Also, with no Internet connection to backup or transfer data between a computer and the device it had to be connected to the computer, usually over the serial port.
The term PDA was first used by John Scully at CES on January 7, 1992, while describing the Apple Newton. Today, with the popularity and advances in smartphones, PDA's are rarely found and used as users migrate to smartphones like the iPhone.
Portability
Portability may refer to any of the following:
1. A term used to describe an object that can be easily moved, such as a portable computer.
2. When referring to computer software, portability refers to how easy a software program can be moved between computer operating systems.