I can't keep up with you so here is 2 out-of-phase replies.
The device can be PC independent in the end-use mode. You might even try an Arduino based 'reader' to gather codes and then a separate end product that uses them.
BTW, check this Teensy with micro-SD adapter:
http://www.pjrc.com/store/sd_adaptor.html
Only problem is they don't sell it assembled and if you solder as poorly as I you can burn little parts up on the SD adapter trying to solder the pins in place then hear a >loud< snap when you power it up. Honest, I first thought someone shot a 22 in through the window!
drhoff:
Those are good suggestions. I had never even heard of F-ram before. Looks very good for some applications (speedy and large storage sizes available), but the chips seem fairly expensive compared to the other options.It's really not that hard even with IDE 0022 and has been streamlined a bit since..
Can you point me to some more info on how to do this? I think this is my preferred option. Otherwise, I think I'll just have to get some eeprom chips and play with those. Also, for the people that know about eeprom, is there anything I should look for, or avoid specifically in a chip? For example I've seen serial and parallel versions, and I probably don't want to waste more pins than I need to with a parallel chip.
You have 32k of flash on the 328P and 1k of EEPROM which is not nearly enough for your needs.
The SD modules are cheap and easy, pick up some extras just because shipping can take 2-4 weeks.
It took me literally minutes to wire one up but then I did have a 10-pack of female-male jumpers (female ends fit onto the module header pins, male ends plugged right into the Arduino holes, pin map is right on this site). If you have an old floppy cable I can show you how to use that and just plain old breadboard jumpers to make the connects (boy do I like old PC cables!).
Making test code to verify the connections were right also took minutes. Collecting docs on the module took a day (had to be emailed, they're not public domain), trying to understand them and ask questions here took another day, working up the nerve to try it out without being sure the thing could take 5V took about 2 hours buy HEYYYY it worked fine so you don't have to go through that part!