SmartDisk FlashTrax mini-review

[KenE]

Just got an 80GB FlashTrax, and I guess I'm satisfied. It doesn't feel as solid a build as the Epson P-2000, and it seems to only do compact flash for portable input(they recommend a CF adapter for other types of flash media), but dang.. 80GB!

It has a light, plasticy feel to it and sort of a loose fit to the buttons (like what you'd find on a entry level home audio receiver vs a nice pre-amp). Haven't taken off the display film yet, so can't comment on the screen quality. I'll take it up to Pro Photo Supply and give it a good comparison to the P-2000.

Function-wise it has a good basic layout as soon as you get a feel for the controls. Took me about 5 minutes to get comfortable and find the good stuff from the manual- EXIF info, histograms (Y and RGB), different zoom zones. .CR2 files play quickly (via the embedded jpeg) with great range of zoom. I have a shot of a toddler waving his hands around in the air and you can barely make out the mist of the broken soap bubbles he's broken. With the zoom I could get to the mist easily.

Has basic play/pause, FF, REW controls on the side so you wouldn't have to open the screen when playing music. Has a key-lock. And the coolest feature is an infra-red remote control. I've a perfect application for this during an event coming up- each night we'll be reviewing the pics of the day on a projector and the remote will make it really nice to cycle through things.

Seems to have a ton of features- 2 modes of data verification, album creation/editting, use of .m3u playlists, good selection of settings for each mode- file, photo, video, and audio.

Best of all, I can look for a thrifty 50 with the money I saved. ;)

Hope this helps anyone looking at this type of device.

[KenE]

So I went in today to compare the SmartDisk unit with the Epson P-2000.

Bottom line is you pay for tighter buttons and an outstanding screen in the Epson. The SmartDisk beats it in every other way. Some obvious features lacking in the P-2000 are album/playlist creation, lack of histogram display, and many customizeable settings. The P-2000 interface seemed to me like it was set to "simple." I wanted to find the button that turned on the advanced menus. You're not able to format the drive, nor could I find data verification that the FlashTrax had. Also there isn't a remote control for the P-2000.

Interfaces were both quirky and I think it's just a matter of getting used to them for either unit.

All in all I paid USD$80 less for 2x the hard disk space, a plethora of features, a worse (but passable) screen and lesser than "pro-feeling" buttons. Hope it lasts in longetivity- I've heard SmartDisk has improved things in this area.

Ken

[dhbailey]

I just received my 20GB FlashTrax and I think it is just what I thought it would be. It will be a terrific storage tank where I can be certain my pictures have transferred properly (with their verify mechanism as well as my being able to look at the pictures) before I format my CF card for more shooting.

The 20GB model sells for $329.99 at B&H, so with the $50 rebate which is in effect through April 30th, it will cost me only $279.99. That makes it just a bit over half the price of the Epson.

While I might wish to have had the Epson's screen, I thought long and hard about how much storage space I would actually need. I can't see myself shooting more than 20 cards-full -- 22 if I count the final two cards' worth of shooting (I have 2 CF cards) on a vacation, since I shoot jpg-L. Since I bought it only to serve as a storage device (and occasionally a sharing-pictures-with-others device) to hold pictures until I can get them back to my computer for more permanent storage.

I am delighted with the Flashtrax, although I realize I would probably be more delighted with the better screen on the Epson. But the Flashtrax fits my budget better, is actually available, and it fits all my needs at the moment.

The unit I got doesn't have loose feeling buttons -- they are nice and snug. I am thrilled that it can display .cr2 files for those times when I decide to shoot raw. It can also display plain-text files, so I have loaded a bunch of e-books from Project Gutenberg on it. The text font needs improving (I've already e-mailed them asking if it might be improved in a future upgrade -- done via software, which is a great plus) but as a single, well-lit device it will serve me well.

I am glad I made this choice rather than waiting for the Epson and spending nearly twice as much.

If I had bought the 40GB model, the price would have only been $70 less than the Epson of the same size, but with the rebate that would increase to $120, not an amount to take lightly.

I would recommend the Flashtrax, especially the 20GB model, for anybody looking for verifiable storage in the field and also trying to maintain a tighter budget.