Portable storage devices

[steve bingham]

Times change - new products are everywhere. Anyone seen a new portable storage unit for downloading images in the field? I am looking for a small firewire device that would store my many raw files while in the field or on vacation. There is a device called an Image Tank but it uses USB 1.1. Sigh. The shirt pocket device I now use requires a computer. Any suggestions? Not interested in lap tops or palms. Just an inexpensive storage medium. Looking for around 20 gigs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Looked at some new Kodak DCS 14n tests. Aaarrgg. Not for me. Great resolution BUT . . . artifacts and no filtering kill it. I have a feeling a possible S3 Pro would smoke the competition with its new chip technology and a larger sensor. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

[MrFish]

There is a device called the XS-Drive which is quite small and weighs only 300g, storage starts at 20gb and it has USB2.0
It lets you plug in and transfer from nearly all the common card types.

look it up at http://www.xs-drive.com

costs from about £200

[steve bingham]

Looks good. I wish there was a USA distributor. I had seen this earlier, but was concerned as I have yet to read a review on it. Perhaps because it hasn't hit the US market yet.

[kgravett]

Steve, here are several sites with information that should be helpful to you. I bought the Tripper, with a 40 gig hard drive for just under $300. Here are some sites you might check out. The most recent thing I have seen and like is a device you put your card in and it burns a cd on the spot.....Cool.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/insidecomputer/superdigibin.html

http://www.nixvue.com/index.html

http://www.jobodigital.com/products/vizor.htm

http://www.jobodigital.com/products/disc_steno_cp100.htm

That should keep you busy looking for a while. Ken

[apb]

I happily use my MindStor 20gb backup drive. It has everything I can ask for: a PCMCIA slot for my 2 cardbus media readers, a firewire and USB 1 interface, rechargeable batteries, simple dos based onboard OS, the ability to both download and upload to a media card.

Unfortunately they somehow screwed up and went out of business.

And all of the likely candidates for replacing this unit at the worst have USB 1 (imagine backing up 20 gigs over USB 1!), and at best have USB2. So has microsoft been paying all these companies hush money to have them ignore FireWire? Most of the digital shooters I know are Mac based, and most macs don't have usb 2 (yet - I hope) - hell I don't think most PCs have USB 2 yet. Yes I can add a PCI card to my desktop, and probably someone makes a USB 2 cardbus widget for laptops, but I really wonder why they are ignoring FireWire?

andy

[jknights]

I've got a Nixvue Digital Album and it has been great.

My only problem with it is that it does not support RAFs but the new Nixvue DA II does as does the Nixvue Vista.
I like to preview my NEFs, RAFs on a TV in the hotel. Nixvue DA II gives you that other do not.

If I was starting again I woudl go for the Nixvue DA II or a simpler device like the XS-Drive.


The Apacer Disc Steno gives you the chane to burna CF card contents directly to CD without the need for a PC. This great but I use 1GB CF cards so I wish it was a DVD instead of a straight CDR.

[Bob Brudd]

Does anyone know if the tripper will store S2 RAW files?

[kgravett]

I am sure it will, but will try it if you like. A raw file is a digital file just like a JPG is. Ken

[kgravett]

I tried it and it backed the files with no problem. They have a RIF extension. Ken

[Bob Brudd]

Thanks,

I ordered one and then had an afterthought - often a dangerous thing!

[kgravett]

You will love it. The portable hd works really great. It shows files as they are downloading and the percent of download. It also tells you how much of the hard drive is unused. It uses USB2 so downloading is fast. The screen has easy to read numbers and a good menu system.

I had a Minds at work portable and it would drag down the batteries when not in use. Several times I had to recharge the unit to make it work. I finally started unhooking the battery.

I initially charged the Tripper, and let it set for three or four weeks. When I checked it yesterday, it was still fully charged. I am sure you will like it. Ken :)

[Bob Brudd]

Thanks, Ken,

Can't wait to get it. I just bought an S2 last Friday and got my computer out of the repair shop tonight. Tomorrow it's download all the software and start the learning curve.

BOB

[EverStaR]

I have the Archos Multimedia Jukebox Player and love it. It has USB 1, 2 and Firewire support (Firewire is extra).

I simply use it USB and with 2 512MB Flash cards. While one card is dumping to the drive, I am off shooting up the other. Takes about 4 minutes to dump a card.

It Plays MP3's so i can Jam while I am shooting, works as a portable HD, Photo Wallet, has video out to do slideshows on TV or a projector. You can even look at your photos on it or play MPEG movies.

Its fairly rugged too.

It will copy raws, tiffs, jpgs, whatever you want.

The built in Nav is friendly and this device is very easy to use.

http://www.archos.com/lang=en//products/prw_500375.html

Hope this helps!
Mark

[Bob Brudd]

Looks like a great product. Thanks for the link as well. I'll definitely take a look.

BOB