Any experience with Imagetank? (Storage on the go)

[Andy Manea]

..or any other stand-alone device that has a hard drive (20GB and up) and can store the contents of your cards on the go?

I went to Rome last month and ended up running to the Kodak store every day to store my pics on CDs, so I could shoot some more. It cost me 90EURO alltogether, so now I can definitely see the use for a device I can take with me when I want to leave the laptop behind.

Grateful for any help/opinion.

[Jason Dunn]

I've always been interested in these devices, but I've never gotten around to actually purchasing one. Maybe I'll try to get one for review here on the site. :-)

[Andy Manea]

I was going to buy one this weekend but am waiting to see if I get any input from this site.

Come on, guys, SOMEONE's GOT to have one of these!!!

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Have toyed with a Nixvue briefly. Impression is that it's plasticky, but it should get the job done. Like all HDDs, treat with care.

[Suhit Gupta]

Argh, I know of this external HDD that has a Flash reader (CF and SD) built in, but I can't remember the name. I think that is what you are looking for.

While I search for the name, take a look at EZDigiMagic Drive 8x (DM220BE1) or EZDigiMagic Drive 24x (DM220SE1) . You can burn CDs out of memory card contents.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

Found it... HANDMARK 730 30gb Portable HD+Flash Memory. Google for it.

Suhit

[Andy Manea]

Yes, something like the HANDMARK Portable drive (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/digitally-unique/730.html) or the Nixvue products is exactly what I was talking about.
The guy at the Kodak store was using a Hama stand-alone 6-in-1 reader / to CD writer. Also a possibility, but bigger and heavier. Around 300-400 EURO, though.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

err.. ouch. Expensive. Do you have Nixvue products in your area?

[Andy Manea]

I have never seen any Nixvue products here, the only thing around here is the Imagetank and the Hama 6-in-1 reader/CD writer. Maybe there is more, but not in stores. If I was to buy something online I might as well do that from a US company, that way my purchase would be a lot cheaper. So: Geography is not a issue here. If someone can recommend somethingh specific, I could get it no matter where it is sold.

[Gary Sheynkman]

if you have a camera that uses microdrives you can always try the 4gb Nomad hack for a low low price of 200 dollars :D

[Andy Manea]

Nope, mine sadly enough still uses SM. :(

[Suhit Gupta]

What is your budget range btw?

Suhit

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Try http://www.eastgear.com

[Andy Manea]

The budget range .. max 300$. Unless of course there is something irresistible out there that I might feel guilty about for the rest of my life.

yslee, that's a GREAT looking drive, looks pretty solid. I might get that one!!!

[Suhit Gupta]

Try http://www.eastgear.com
Their X-Drive line looks great, but one thing to beware of - the device does not come with a hard drive built in, i.e. that has to be purchased separately. Most of the products I am seeing out there that combo the X-Drive Pro/II with a drive are over $250. Still within xendula's budget though :).

Suhit

[Andy Manea]

At mydigitaldiscount.com (http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/s.nl/c.ACCT139057/sc.2/category.133/.f;jsessionid=ac112b791f4383a4fffcce1d403b935cf64fddb72dc2) it's 230 US$ with a 20 GB and 245 US$ with a 30 GB drive built-in. Well, OK, and it's 270 US$ with a 40 GB drive ... the price difference is so small from 10 gig to 10 gig that it would be a shame to stick with a "lousy" 20 gig drive :wink:

Have you guys ever ordered something there? I got burned a few times with online stores, so I want to make sure..

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

No, not X-Drive, Nixvue DALite is better.

[Andy Manea]

No, not X-Drive, Nixvue DALite is better.
WHY !?!?! 8O

I would prefer the Xdrive because:

a) I travel a lot to the US and since the Xdrive looks like an Ipod imitation with headphones and all it would not look suspicious. (And I can tell you about suspicious, because with all the gadgets I have in my carry-on they always give me a hard time.)

b) I don't need to use an SM-to-CF card adapter that I would have to purchase separately. The Xdrive can be used with all current formats, so whenever I buy a new camera I won't have to worry about anything.

So why do you think the Nixvue is better? As always, any comments are greatly appreciated. :)

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

The ability to verify files on the Nixvues is quite an important feature, I feel. I was thinking of the older X-Drives though, when I said the Nixvues are better. I guess it's a toss up between the verification feature on the nixvues and the other features on the X-Drive Pro.

Also, them drives are cheaper here if you buy through a retail outlet. The prices you see are RRP. Not sure how international folks can get them cheaper though. Maybe if there's sufficent interest I can help DMT subscribers get some better deals?

[JTWise]

No real experience with this product, but I just saw a reference to this deal on Techbargains.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F001%5F003%5F009%5F000&product%5Fid=25%2D3104

Looks like a cheap I/O Magic knock-off, but at US$99 after rebate it might be worth a try.

[Andy Manea]

No real experience with this product, but I just saw a reference to this deal on Techbargains.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F001%5F003%5F009%5F000&product%5Fid=25%2D3104

Looks like a cheap I/O Magic knock-off, but at US$99 after rebate it might be worth a try.
I/O Magic Knock-off? You mean it's not the original thing?

Thanks for the link, I really have/had my mind (actually my heart) set on the X's drive, but that price is truly unbeatable. Now I have to do some thinking. ...

It does a lot less than what I wanted, but it also costs a lot less... ayayay! Decisions, decisions!

[Andy Manea]

Also, them drives are cheaper here if you buy through a retail outlet. The prices you see are RRP. Not sure how international folks can get them cheaper though. Maybe if there's sufficent interest I can help DMT subscribers get some better deals?

I'm OK, I can get stuff shipped to an APO address in Germany, that way I avoid ridiculous import taxes and customs!!! I was charged 25$ once because I got a book mailed to me from Amazon.com. It was a present and I still had to pay, so I don't use my German address any more.

Have you ever seen the X's drive in a store in the US? Something like BestBuy? I was in the US last month but never even thought about checking for stuff like this in stores. :roll:

[igroknful]

I have a 3.2Gb Digital Wallet. It's handy on vacations. I haven't had any problems with it.

[Andy Manea]

igroknful, can you post a link or tell me the brand?

Thanx

[igroknful]

It's a Minds@Work Digital Wallet. I bought it in 2001. Here's a review I still had. I know they make units up to 20Gb now.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/digitalwallet/default.asp

[Andy Manea]

Thanks, i.., and everybody.
In the end I decided to wait 'till after this week's CEBIT, because afterwards we might be seeing some new products on the market and presumably the prices of electronics are going to drop. Or so they always say.
Whenever I manage to make up my mind and find something good, I'll post back here.

Gracias senores :werenotworthy: