Henning wrote:
Yes, the Nexto uses LiIon batteries. That's part of what makes it half the weight and size. Even with the external attached, it's still a lot smaller and lighter, and with the external you never have to recharge until you're back home. No fiddling with chargers, extra batteries etc. Smaller and lighter (and simpler) again.
Then, in about an hour the whole Nexto drive is backed up onto your home drive. No other storage device is that fast.
that last statement is false. the fact that you need to go plug it in and wait an hour for it to charge makes it considerably slower. i go and swap my 4 AA batts out in under 15 seconds with the ones i have on stationary charge and i'm back up and running. and i to can externally power the HD80 if i wished with my DCB which i use to power my external flash. in addition the nexto battery will need replacement in approx 2+ years and i hope their still around so that you can. kind of specialized battery i thing there.
you say no fiddling with chargers. well how do you charge it up?
no spare batteries. to me spare are the greatest advantage.
on close inspection the holes become quite apparent.
Just done a timing - from hyperdrive to pc, 1 hour for 25GB, usb2. That complies pretty well with what they say. The manual is very good, explains just enough, and laid out well. You can delete the files from the pc, but not format the drive. Have to do that with its own firmware.
raymw wrote:
Just done a timing - from hyperdrive to pc, 1 hour for 25GB, usb2. That complies pretty well with what they say. The manual is very good, explains just enough, and laid out well. You can delete the files from the pc, but not format the drive. Have to do that with its own firmware.
and thats a good thing so you do not screw yourself in the field by accident. you would actually need a software "KEY" placed on a CF card to format. a most delibrate action indeed. someone out there has a basic understanding of human nature.
If the format issue is one of losing data, you can still delete the files on the hyperdrive from the PC. Its no big deal. either way. By using the formatting within the firmware, it stops you doing hpfs, or whatever Apple/other op systems may want to default to.
I don't know, not checked, if there are any firmware changes, but I do not think there is much they can improve.
On a side note, what type of laptop drive are they including for you?
I'm planning to switch my SmartDisk FotoChute 20Gb to one of these. The FotoChute has worked flawlessly, but I like the idea of being able to swap larger sized drives, built-in card reader, AA batteries a lot!
If the format issue is one of losing data, you can still delete the files on the hyperdrive from the PC. Its no big deal. either way. By using the formatting within the firmware, it stops you doing hpfs, or whatever Apple/other op systems may want to default to.
I don't know, not checked, if there are any firmware changes, but I do not think there is much they can improve.
i'm talking about people with busy fingers in the field. more people do more damage to their own gear/images on their own then blame the machine. they just made it that much more robust a system by going the way they did. back at base thats exactly what you want to do dump the memory core and erase it for further use. like i said smart designers. i've had my PD70x since last june 2005.
as to the changes in firmware the promised increase in usb xfr speed from unit to PC would be a plus.
klam wrote:
On a side note, what type of laptop drive are they including for you?
I'm planning to switch my SmartDisk FotoChute 20Gb to one of these. The FotoChute has worked flawlessly, but I like the idea of being able to swap larger sized drives, built-in card reader, AA batteries a lot!
you have the option of buying it empty and putting in the appropriate flavor of 2.5 HD you wish or buy it with one installed. in the US were using seagate drives.
sjms wrote:
that last statement is false. the fact that you need to go plug it in and wait an hour for it to charge makes it considerably slower. i go and swap my 4 AA batts out in under 15 seconds with the ones i have on stationary charge and i'm back up and running. and i to can externally power the HD80 if i wished with my DCB which i use to power my external flash. in addition the nexto battery will need replacement in approx 2+ years and i hope their still around so that you can. kind of specialized battery i thing there.
you say no fiddling with chargers. well how do you charge it up?
no spare batteries. to me spare are the greatest advantage.
on close inspection the holes become quite apparent.
Edited by sjms on Mar 28, 2006 at 08:07 AM GMT...Show more →
I don't think you read what I wrote. Please try again.
I wrote that on one charge, I can download to the unit as much data as it can hold; in my case 100Gb. That means that I don't have to take a charger along on any trip/assignment that takes me away from a power outlet as it will not discharge enough to need recharging. I then bring it home, plug it into the computer, and in an hour the full 100Gb are on my computer's HD. I don't have to recharge it to do this; I can plug it in while it is downloading.
That kind of speed (storage unit to computer) is well beyond what the Hyperdrive offers. Also, two Nexto's are just a little larger than one Hyperdrive, and also weigh only a little more. That, and the lack of need to fiddle with batteries makes them a better fit for travel.
you have the option of buying it empty and putting in the appropriate flavor of 2.5 HD you wish or buy it with one installed. in the US were using seagate drives.
The HD80 at $200 comes with a 40GB drive. I'd say that's $50 well spent over the driveless version.
I repeat and add information to a previous post: The 100GB model is a hair under USD 3 bucks a gigabyte - cheapest $$$ per GB of the entire Hyperdrive family. Dirt cheap, in fact, for a device that does what it does as fast as it does it.
Hyperdrive prices per their website broken down per GB:
40GB = ~ USD $4.975 per GB
60GB = ~ USD $3.9833... per GB
80GB = ~USD $3.3625 per GB
100GB = ~USD $2.99 per GB
120GB = ~USD $3.325 per GB
Subtract the "bares bones" USD 149 bucks and that means buyers are getting a 100GB HDD of digicam storage for USD $150.00.
I "googled" for a price on a 100GB laptop HDD and found nothing close to USD $150.00.
BTW, my 100GB Hyperdrive is on UPS schedule for delivery about this time tomorrow ..............
Rgds,
EDITED:
I stand corrected: www.pricewatch.com NOW shows a 5,400 RPM Samsung HDD for USD 123 bucks. Shipping will bring the price close to USD $ 140.00. (Then I have TWO warranty items to woory about!!!!)
For the extra USD $10.00, I'll let Hyperdrive assemble the thing for me so all I have to do is open the box tomorrow and use it ....
Convenience is worth a few dollars ...............
go4it wrote:
For the extra USD $10.00, I'll let Hyperdrive assemble the thing for me so all I have to do is open the box tomorrow and use it ....
Convenience is worth a few dollars ...............
Good luck if the hard drive fails. I'd rather have a real 3+ year factory warranty on a hard drive than hope that the guy in the condo will still be around and send the unit to China for service.
Henning wrote:
I don't think you read what I wrote. Please try again.
I wrote that on one charge, I can download to the unit as much data as it can hold; in my case 100Gb. That means that I don't have to take a charger along on any trip/assignment that takes me away from a power outlet as it will not discharge enough to need recharging. I then bring it home, plug it into the computer, and in an hour the full 100Gb are on my computer's HD. I don't have to recharge it to do this; I can plug it in while it is downloading.
That kind of speed (storage unit to computer) is well beyond what the Hyperdrive offers. Also, two Nexto's are just a little larger than one Hyperdrive, and also weigh only a little more. That, and the lack of need to fiddle with batteries makes them a better fit for travel. ...Show more →
100GB on 1 charge you say? well unfortunately the reviews i have read on it fail to bear that out or anywhere near it as in try 24-26Gb on a charge. ref: http://printerboyweb.net/reviews/NEXTOCF/page5.php
from the review:
The replaceable battery has roughly the same power and capacity as a Nikon EN-EL1 li-ion battery. Using the same configuration as above:
Test 1: 54 full downloads, total = 24.84GB
Test 2: 58 full downloads, total = 26.68GB
In both tests, I was unable to make another download attempt because the unit warned of low power and soon automatically powered off. Also, the battery is still fresh, and it takes quite a number of charges before it reaches full power. I ran the second test because I couldn't believe what I'm getting on the first one.
well thats really nice to know. i see spending money wisely is your prime directive. as in buying a 3-5 year warrantied hard drive and then tossing it in a about a year (as you said). think about what you say.
Rhys wrote:
As for the hard drive, I believe in tossing out 2.5" laptop hard drives annually. I figure after a year of use in a none-too-stable environment they need to be replaced. I believe in replacing before failure. Besides, they can always be completely erased with Norton Disk Erase and sold on ebay to some sucker afterwards.
Excellent knowledge of hardware AND a winning personality!
Rhys wrote:
The warranty is no good if the hard drive fails and loses your data.
A drive might have a 3-5 year warranty, based on the drive not being moved while in use.
I wouldn't trust a drive in something that moves and that is used while in motion to last more than a year. Beyond a year is a ludicrous gamble.
I'm sure this conslusion is supported by factual data of millions laptop users losing their data annually.
I used to support multi-thousand users corporate networks with VERY important data, and while backup is of course always mandatory, I haven't heard of laptop hard drives failing at significantly higher rate than any other hard drive.
It used to be that desktop hard drives needed to be "parked" when moving hardware around. Technology has progressed a little since then, you know...
But if you plan to replace your hard drives annually, more power to you, consider it your contribution to world's economy
Good luck if the hard drive fails. I'd rather have a real 3+ year factory warranty on a hard drive than hope that the guy in the condo will still be around and send the unit to China for service.
Do you buy your automobiles in pieces, too? Engine here, tires there, seats down the street at Sanford and son junk yard ....
Hard drives fail all the time. They're expensive (well, in context with what they do) but at the end of the day, they're disposible / replaceable items.
I'll take HIS mass-produced, mass-assembled and tested device over a Joe Do-It-Yourself, "assembled at the kitchen table" thingie every day of the week.
"Send the unit to China for service"? What an ignorant, illogical statement! I'll bet he accumulates a pile of failed drives, yes. But sending each one back - individually - to China for service? Get a life ......................
Sounds like someone with an anti-Asian attitude. Maybe it all boils down to the fact that one of us just doesn't mind doing business with a little guy - maybe he IS Asian - working his butt off, trying to make his mark in the world ... and the other one DOES!
Just jump up and replace laptop hard drives? What, do laptop hard-drives fail more frequently than desk-top units?
I've had several computers since 1994 and had but ONE hard-drive failure. And it was on a desk-top.
I can surmise this is due to the "portablity' of the laptop vs. the stationary nature of the desktop?
As long as drives are maintained - defragmented and not banged around - I keep my data backed up on a DVD via a burner and just drive 'em (the hard drives) into the ground. =
Except for fluorescent light bulbs (and daylight-balanced photo lighting), I never replace any other types until they burn out either.
=============
BTW, I just received my HyperDrive HD80 (100GB capacity) and it's, like, a total R-O-C-K-E-T!!!! Dumped 348MB from a 2GB SanDisk Ultra II so fast I had a hard time getting a eye on my wrist-watch at the same time. 9-10 seconds? Maybe 12? Just a few blinks of the display and it was a done-deal.
It also displays the folder thumbnails like greased lightning when plugged into my laptop!
I'm MORE than IMPRESSED! It's a fantastic device that will keep the laptop computer doing laptop computer things instead of being dragged around as a simple digital storage device.
Anyone unhappy with YOUR Hyperdrive, well, you must be doing something wrong or else you've gotten a "bad copy".
As to MY HyperDrive, the thing was delivered at 16:30 and I had it up-and-running about 2 minutes after removing it from the box! I had a set of 2500mAh Duracell NiMh AA's waiting .....
Instructions are a little "stiff" (written by a consumer-scared techno-dweeb who doesn't have English as a first language) but other than that, as clear as a bell. They're just extra-cautious in outlining their do's and don't's ....
WARNING: The battery compartment door IS incredibly wimply! Be ULTRA careful or you'll break it off. It's a shame a 300 dollar device comes with a cheap, flimsy plastic 1/2 cent battery door cover .............................
(I see a strip of duct tape in my HyperDrive's future)
Other than THAT, this thing should revolutionize digital media storage for people who choose to take the plunge.
IMO, the HyperDrive HD80 (mine is a 100GB model) delivers everything it promises as advertized - and does it as quick as doo-doo thru a goose!!!
Rhys wrote:
The warranty is no good if the hard drive fails and loses your data.
A drive might have a 3-5 year warranty, based on the drive not being moved while in use.
I wouldn't trust a drive in something that moves and that is used while in motion to last more than a year. Beyond a year is a ludicrous gamble.
do you normally whip around with a 15in screened 5+ pound laptop while shooting? most running HDs can take opterating impacts of 350g for 2ms. if mine got whacked like that i'd be checking the screens condition first since that takes less.
any intelligent individual will back up important info to a less volitile medium. a ghosted drive is easily replaced and back up and running in short order. no
the point is pure math and cost analysis. if it fails and i have my data backed up (and yes i do along with the partitions ghosted) the cost to replace during that 3 - 5 year warranty is the price of returning tha bad drive. for me thats fedex at the cost of maybe $10. that means i have saved a considerable amount of your method of scrub and dump. which then allows me to buy more of the things i really want to buy instead of constantly replacing currently operating equipment. now i do have a small collection of 2.5 drives in housings from upsizing. but they all work just fine as backups
