Epson PhotoPC P-1000 Photo Viewer

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=527' target='_blank'>http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=527</a><br /><br /></div>"<i>The first thing that struck me when I unpacked the Epson unit from its box was how compact it is, particularly considering its better than average screen resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Measuring in at 142 x 91.5 x 23mm (WxDxH), the relatively modest dimensions of the P-1000 mean that it's (just about) small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. Its diminutive size is no doubt due, at least partly, to the fact that Epson has crammed 212 pixels per inch into the P-1000's 3.8in LCD display.</i>"<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/Epson-PhotoPC-P-1000.jpg" /> <br /><br />It would appear that the Epson P-1000 would give you the ability to take as many pictures as you wish with your camera and not have to carry around a laptop to store and view them, but with only 10 GB of space and a price tag ($830) that is WAY to high, I can't see how Epson will sell too many of these. 8O

[Phoenix]

Now I'm all for these types of devices, but don't get me started on this one. :lol:

I think a better choice would be SmartDisk's FlashTrax.

1) With FlashTrax, you get a clamshell based design which inherently protects the screen when not in use, which, IMO, is better than a soft pouch of some sort, which is all Epson may offer with their unit. But this isn't a huge concern. Just an added bonus, IMO, with the FlashTrax unit.

2) With FT, you get a minimum of 20GB, clear up to 80GB. The 40GB version will only run you $490. Better value already.

3) FT will also support various video and audio formats as well as photos, which is a nice bonus.

4) FT has native USB 2.0, Epson only has USB 1.1.

To me, this equates to much better value found with FT than with Epson's P-1000.

Although FT offers a 3.5" screen of good quality, I think Epson's screen is better and slightly larger at 3.8" (which isn't a huge difference in size). But I think that's the only thing Epson has over competitors' devices. But that isn't to say that the screens are poor or substandard in those devices. FT, however, offers much better value and features.

I think Epson could have a really great product on their hands here, but they need to go back to the drawing board by adding and changing some things: add USB 2.0 Hi-speed, don't shove any HDD under 20GB into it, allow it to support a wide variety of audio and video formats, and lower the price down to around $400 or $500.


The thing now, is that the market is really starting to show signs of a lot of different portable media devices. So it seems that devices that only store photos and nothing else are not going to be good sellers. They're going to have to support all types of media.

IMO, any of these products really need to have great screens - nothing under 3.5" (I don't want a screen as small as what's on my digital camera - what's the point of that?), 20GB HDD's and CF II slots, in addition to supporting photos, audio, and video. FT has the ability to store and manage more than just photos and has greater HDD sizes, where as Epson does not. Not offering these features reduces overall value and will continue to do so as PMP/PMR's really begin shipping in the marketplace. Epson better get on the ball or they're going to be out of the picture about as fast as they entered it.

I'd like to see FT offer support for even more audio, video, and photo/graphics formats than it does. The thing I'd also like to see added into these devices is an FM tuner and a TV tuner as well.

FT seems to come the closest to what I believe a PMP should be, but many of the devices being annouced never get it all right. They always miss something. They either have a HDD and no card slot, or the other way around, instead of both. Or they don't support many formats. Or their screens are too small.

If the FT unit could support more audio and video formats especially (and a few more graphics formats wouldn't hurt either), upgrade the screen to something even nicer, and add in an FM tuner and a TV tuner, they'd have the best PMP/PMR out there, IMO.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I don't care for the video screen.

I also don't care for any audio stuff.

I do care for reliability, so these things aren't the top choice in my book, and if I do get one, it'll probably be a nixvue unit, with its data verification feature, its price, and since it's a bare kit, I can choose what size of the drive I want and probably pay less in all.

[Phoenix]

I don't care for the video screen.

I also don't care for any audio stuff.

I do care for reliability, so these things aren't the top choice in my book, and if I do get one, it'll probably be a nixvue unit, with its data verification feature, its price, and since it's a bare kit, I can choose what size of the drive I want and probably pay less in all.

Wow 8O You wouldn't want video capability in your pocket? Man, I sure would! To me, that would be like saying you don't want your Pocket PC to play video.

Of course, if you have video, then it would have to support audio, too, of course. So why not have it handle many different formats, too?

As far as reliability is concerned, I'd have no reason to believe these devices would be any less reliable than any other electronic item.

I can see that there are a lot of different types of these things popping up and at all different prices. But for the best, we're going to pay the most. It'll be interesting to see what else will be available. :)