Suhit Gupta
05-27-2004, 03:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dpreview.com/news/0405/04052504sonyhdpsm1.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.dpreview.com/news/0405/04052504sonyhdpsm1.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Sony Japan today announced their new portable storage device aimed squarely at 'high megapixel digital still camera'. The HDD Photo Storage HDPS-M1 has a 40 GB hard disk built-in, Memory Stick and Compact Flash slots, a Lithium-Ion battery, a one-button Copy function and USB 2.0 (high speed) connectivity. Clearly designed to be very easy to use the HDPS-M1 has no LCD display or video output capability, instead it is purely intended to be used as a backup / mass storage device for digital photographers. The compact HDPS-M1 measures just 135 x 92 mm (5.3 x 3.5 in) and is 30 mm (1.1 in) thick, it weighs just 300 g (10.6 oz) ready to use. It's expected to go on sale in Japan on 18th June at a price of 29,800 YEN (approx. $270)."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/sonyhdpsm1-front.jpg" /><br /><br />Hmm, light, high capacity, supports multiple flash cards and USB 2.0. That sounds like a really sweet device. In fact I can totally see this being useful since I went to CeBIT yesterday and found that I have to carry around my laptop and CF to PCMCIA adapter so that I could transfer images from my Canon 10D over to the laptop as soon as the 1GB CF card became full. The price is also fairly attractive. There are two small drawbacks, no LCD screen which means it is fairly limited in its UI and low battery life. Still, I wouldn't mind having one of these. Now let's just hope they release this here in the US instead of making this another one of those cool Japan-only gadgets.