Portable file storage/viewing device

[DustyC]

Like the Ipod photos, but cheaper!
Anyone got or used one?

Im on the usual tight budget so not interested in the top of the range models but need something so I dont have to lug the laptop around.

Have used a Fastrax which seemed pretty good but no experience of any others.

Read the review in PM a couple of months back but they only tested 3 models and there seems to be loads out there!

Spec required:
- less £ = good
- more GB = good!
- viewing screen
- plays MP3s
- recharges easily or takes AA/AAA batteries.

Thanks!

[pmanson]

I've got an iRiver H320 which has a "USB on the go" connector which gives you a usb port. I then plug my card reader into that and transfer the photos.

It was £200 a couple of months ago and has 20gig storage.

Works well and does video as well.

Interface is very simple as it just uses windows file explorer so transfer from PC to PC is easy (no need for any software!)

I love it!


No battery option but recharges either by USB or AC

>> Edited by pmanson on Tuesday 23 August 15:53

[john_p]

pmanson said:

Works well and does video as well.

Plus of course, plays music which is it's main purpose and something which is it is very good at as well

[rhubarb]

I've got a Epson P2000 and it's fantastic . It really paid for itself at Le Mans this year, camping for 5 days with no power. It's 40Gb and got a huge crystal clear screen. It plays video and mp3 as well - if you really want it to.

The one thing I would say is that while there's no power around you and you're just on battery, then use it to archive, don't spend hours looking at the pictures through it - otherwise the battery will just disappear. We managed to get 7 * 1Gb (pretty full each time too) archived over the 5 days.

The screen is fantastic as well. We looked at the Nikon one and one from StarTrax or someone, but this knocked the spots off them.

[Mr Noble]

Is there any way to transfer pics onto my ipod photo in the field?

Now that would be handy!!



Surely a good option would be to buy a second hand laptop. You can pick them up pretty cheap now and then use it just to hold pics or to manipulate them when youi have power or a car charger etc.

What do you think?

Greg

[F1sh]

I'm looking at these aswell. I am more tempted by the Vosonic X-Drive 6210 80GB. Cheapest I have found it is at Picstop for 250 of your hardest earned pund notes.

Fish

[pmanson]

john_p said:

pmanson said: Works well and does video as well. Plus of course, plays music which is it's main purpose and something which is it is very good at as well

yeah it does that as well

this is the 40gig version of what I have. - £254.99.

[chris.mapey]

Mr Noble said:

Is there any way to transfer pics onto my ipod photo in the field? Now that would be handy!!

You need the Belkin Media Reader then...

like this :http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=158350



Hope that helps,

Chris

[DustyC]

Mr Noble said:

Is there any way to transfer pics onto my ipod photo in the field? Now that would be handy!! Surely a good option would be to buy a second hand laptop. You can pick them up pretty cheap now and then use it just to hold pics or to manipulate them when youi have power or a car charger etc. What do you think? Greg

As in first post, too big.

[DustyC]

Did I say fast trax? I meant flashtrax
www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/photo/misc/smartdisk.html?cd=20051713

[Hansgerd]

The Zen Vision from Creative might be an alternative. It's got all the gadgets plus radio. Unfortunately, it's not yet available in Europe. www.creative.com/

Other options:
Archos AV420 or GMini 400

[DustyC]

Zen vision looks good but how much and where from? HK/USA/JAP?

Still nothing seems to compare to the Flashtrax.
20GB, viewing screen and MP3s for £170.

All the others are at least £100 dearer and thats for the same capacity.

[Hansgerd]

The pre-ordering price of the Zen is 270 USDs.

[frostie]

DustyC said:

Zen vision looks good but how much and where from? HK/USA/JAP? Still nothing seems to compare to the Flashtrax. 20GB, viewing screen and MP3s for £170. All the others are at least £100 dearer and thats for the same capacity.

I have a Flashtrax - excellent device.

The beauty is that its been designed for photographers first and not music/video etc. Downloading from card to device involves a single button press and it creates folders indexed by date so you never get things mixed up and it doesn't matter if you reset sequence numbers on the camera. It can also extract the embedded jpg's from RAW files when viewing on the screen.

Frostie


>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 24th August 12:39

[Mr Noble]

chris.mapey said:

Mr Noble said: Is there any way to transfer pics onto my ipod photo in the field? Now that would be handy!! You need the Belkin Media Reader then... like this :http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=158350 Hope that helps, Chris

Thanks Chris.

To be ordered!!

Greg

[HankScorpio]

I've got the Epson but a guy at work has the older model of one of these he swears by:
www.archos.com/products/gmini_402/features.html

It probably a quarter the size/weight of the epson but I couldn't tell you how good it is as a photo viewer as he's only got video's on it. Certainly very good at those.

[anonymous-user]

Mr Noble said:

Thanks Chris. To be ordered!!

Before you do, I would exercise caution. I thought it'd be a great idea as I already had an iPod Photo, so bought one. However, if I'm lucky, on a full charge, I'll get to transfer about 2.5 1Gig CF cards over. Additionally, when at Fairford, copying the first card over, I noticed that the number copied was lower than the number on the card so ended up faffing about trying to copy it again by which time the battery had died...

Personally, I'll be buying more CF cards, or a cheap screen-less device instead.

[406]

Another FlashTrax user here. Sorted device

[DustyC]

what is the power source for the Flash Trax? AC/Car etc and what are the batteris it takes?


I always thought the Ipod photo was for storing photos when on the move. From what I have seen here it seems it is just for displaying a pretty picture while you listen to your tunes. Is that right?

[jasandjules]

Flashtrax here too, 20GB.

Bought for taking hundreds of photos on hols, and it is ideal as you just plug the memory card right in and copy the piccys.

It also allows you to use a TV to show your piccies, slideshow style, to bore your friends to death.. (Not that we did that....) It can even do some video by all accounts.

Uses a silly little round battery thing, but it recharges quickly, but I didn't think it lasted all that long for viewing photos.