When I first went digital, I had a good look at this type of storage device and found the Epson units were reported to have pretty short battery use between charges. I ended up buying a Jobo Giga Vue Pro 60GB, which cost me only $800.00, so far it has not let me down, the battery charges in around 2 hours from dead flat and lasts long enough to offload at least 15 GBs per charge. This is very handy as I'm shooting Raw files with a Canon 5D and a Sony DSC-R1 using 1GB CF cards in both cameras. As well as that, I recently had to endure a 5 Hour bus trip to Melbourne, from my home in Lakes Entrance, so I copied a dozen or so music CDs to ease the boredom, and was very impressed by the sound quality from the supplied Sennheiser headset.
See product website; http://www.jobo.com/jobo_digital/giga_vu_pro/gb/index.html

Hi Terry,

I've been looking for storage device to transfer digital files from my CF cards. I was in America recently and saw a demo Jobo Giga Vue Pro evolution. The screen was outstanding and all the specs were superior to the Epson P-2000. Have you had a chance to compare the Jobo evolution with the P-4500? Also are there other more affordable mobile storage devices out there that will copy CF cards without using a computer? Having a screen is not necessarily important but knowing the files have been saved are?

Cheers,
Andrew

Andrew:

I have only tried the Epson device and the Nikon Coolwalker. I have looked at the iPod but not tested it. I have not seen the Jobo viewer you mention so I can't compare it with the Epson.

All of these devices are so expensive compared with a basic notebook computer that I don't think I would buy one.

And with 1gb CF cards now under $100 if, as you say, you don't need the viewing screen only the storage space, why pay hundreds of dollars for one of these devices?

Not an easy decision to make.

G'day

I have been using the Epson P2000 (the 40gb precursor to the P4500) for over 18 months and thought I'd throw my comments in the mix.

A fantastic item. Has never let me down, has a brilliant screen, and can also copy from XD cards using the Olympus XD to CF Adaptor (MACF-10). If 80gb is not enough capacity, you can also upgrade the hard drive to a larger capacity notebook drive. All in all a fantastic bit of kit.

David

The device I've been using is the compactdrive, available at Jal Digital - http://www.jalcorp.com.au/ . Do a Google search and check out the reviews. You can buy one with a hard drive included or supply your own 2.5" drive. It runs on 4AA batteries and also contains a recharger in the unit. Absolutely great performance - 1Gb download in 2 mins. I don't think there's much to be gained from getting a storage device with a display.

Ok, so what is available for Sony Memory sticks ?

G'Day Ian,
For your Sony memory sticks, you'd probably not find better than the Sony HDD PHOTO STORAGE WITH LCD DISPLAY HDPSM10, see; http://www.sony.com.au/dis/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=34331
with its 40 GB HDD and priced at $449.00 from Sony Style, although you should be able to shop around at get one for a bit less, I imagine.It takes both memory sticks an CF cards, so it would well fit the bill.

Hi,
I have just purchased a P 2000 to use for my overseas trip for still and video recording. I have bought several 2 Gb SD memory cards. Problem = P 2000 RECOGNISES only 1 Gb SD's. On the internet I fount out that witn FIRMWARE 2.51 installed on P 2000 the 2 Gb Card is recognised. True? Please suggest advice.

Thanks. Thomas

I bought a 60Gb Vosonic 6230 Xdrive from Jaldigital a year ago, and it has worked brilliantly.
It can read just about any card, has one button backup of the card to the HD.
If you have a spare laptop drive you can buy it empty and put that in it.
When you plug the USB cable in a PC (Win or Linux) it is detected as a removable drive, and so are any cards plugged in - you can use it as a card reader.
Came with a spare battery, car and 240V power and every cable you could think of.
Has video and audio out, headphones, and plays a bunch of formats. Oh yeah, it even has a remote control!

Highly recommended. Cost me about $480 back then, but looking at the site the models seem to have been updated.
Don't know about reading 2Gb cards, I only have 1Gb's.

David