In a message dated 4/23/2004 5:08:52 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >From dpreview, a full summary someone has posted:
I've collected the important specifications info & included it in the list, together with the prices via http://www.NexTag.com as of today: Portable Hard disk Devices - 12 devices (sorted by price): >- Vosonic X's Drive II VP2060 [~$240 for 40 GB; ~$90 for unit] (Any 2.5" HDD, no MP3, 130x75x25mm, 300g, B&W LCD for status) http://www.vosonic.com/index.php?php_mode=spec&php_itemid=11 >- Aska Tripper [~$250 for 40 GB; ~$140 for unit] (2.5" HDD, no MP3, 138x91x33mm, 300g, B&W LCD for status) http://www.aska-corp.co.jp/oem/e-pro-top.htm http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/tripper/ >- Archos Gmini 220 [~$260 for 20 GB] (2.5" HDD, MP3, USB 2.0, 68x78x23mm, 170g, Gray-scale 2.5" LCD) http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500452.html >- Jobo Image Tank G2 [~$260 for 40 GB; ~$120 for unit alone] (Any 2.5" HDD, MP3, 145x87x35mm, 340g, B&W LCD for status) http://www.image-tank.com/englisch/e_itg2.html http://www.jobodigital.com/products/image_tank_g2.htm >- Vosonic X's-Drive Pro VP300 [~$270 for 40 GB; ~$120 for unit] (Any 2.5" HDD, MP3, 136x86x37mm, 329g, B&W LCD for status) http://www.vosonic.com/index.php?php_mode=spec&php_itemid=20 >- Archos AV140 Video Recorder [~$350 for 40 GB] (2.5" HDD, MP3 & Video/TV, 110x79x29mm, 290g, Color LCD) http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500431.html >- Vosonic V-MP3H [~$350 for 40 GB] (Any 2.5" HDD, MP3 & Video, 154x92x46 mm, 446g, Color 2.5" LCD) http://www.vosonic.com/index.php?php_mode=spec&php_itemid=4 >- Nixvue Digital Album Lite [~$380 for 40 GB] (2.5" HDD, no MP3, 146x83x29mm, 290g, B&W LCD for status) http://www.nixvue.com/products/da/albumlite/index.html >- Nixvue Vista [~$470 for 40 GB] (2.5" HDD, MP3, 146x83x29mm, 290g, Color 1.8" LCD) http://www.nixvue.com/products/vista/index.html Delkin eFilm PicturePad [~$440 for 40 GB; same as above] http://www.delkin.com/delkin_products_picturepad.html >- FlashTrax SmartDisk [~$480 for 40 GB] (2.5" HDD, MP3 & Video/TV, 143x92x32mm, 340g, Color 3.5" LCD) http://www.smartdisk.com/Products/DigitalMultimedia/FlashTrax.asp Innoplus Phototainer [same product as above, different marketing name] http://www.innoplus.com/html/eng_prod2.htm >- Archos AV340 Video Recorder [~$500 for 40 GB] (2.5" HDD, MP3 & DivX/XviD/TV, 112x82x31 mm, 350g, Color 3.8' LCD) http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500521.html Portable CD-R/W Recorders - 4 devices: >- Addonics MFR (also a DVD player) http://www.smartdisk.com/Products/DigitalMultimedia/FlashTrax.asp >- Nixvue Vizor http://www.nixvue.com/products/vizor/index.html >- Jobo Apacer Disc Steno CP200 http://www.apacer.com/apacer_english/product_html/disc_stone_cp200.asp >- ezPnP DigiMagic CD burner http://www.digi-magic.com Well, best choices depend on what you want and already have. E.g. if you got a notebook, then you don't need big LCD on device, and neither CD Recorder if you got one in notebook, for such people top three choices are probably: 1) Archos Gmini 220 [smallest and lightest, but just 20 GB] 2) Vosonic X's Drive II VP2060 [cheapest unit, but no MP3] 3) Jobo Image Tank G2 For those without notebook there are two categories to choose from, HD based & CD based devices. If one has big Compact Flash card or big Microdrive then I doubt CD recorders are wise choice, to backup 4 GB microdrive to 700 MB CDs is very slow... So, to me the top two choices with big LCDs are: 1) Archos AV340 Video Recorder [biggest LCD, plays DivX & XviD] 2) FlashTrax SmartDisk [nice & big LCD, video playback] >From CD recorders I like best Addonics MFR, since it's also DVD player, and as someone said, he has A.MFR and a small HDD device, good combo. I'd only buy portable CD recorder if I had to send copies around. But if some company comes out with DVD recorder, that would be much, much better device to choose. One could backup whole 4 GB Microdrive to one DVD media. One could have tons of MP3s on DVD media, one could have it to watch DVD movies too, etc. I think any serious field photographer should have two devices: 1. Small and light 12" tablet PC with DVD recorder for final backups 2. Smallest and lightest portable HD based device for field usage Anyone want to add some other devices and opinions? There is much more into these devices than specs & prices of course :) Hope this helps to someone & good luck with your choices! Boyan P.S. Shop with good selection of portable devices: http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/s.nl/c.ACCT139057/sc.2/category.3/.f --------------- Hey, cool, hadn't realized this thread had continued or that someone HAD gathered all the info. together. Personally, I almost went with the Apacer Steno Disc (because of not having to worry about a portable hard drive), then I ended up with the Image Tank because I found it cheap at http://www.mydigital.discounts. After reading a lot of reviews, several of the portable HDs with built-in card readers are about the same. Mostly good the same. I may get the Apacer later, because I think two different types of storage devices *are* a good idea. OTOH, I rarely travel. If I did I would, for sure. Marnie aka Doe Thanks for finding the info.
