Mindstor or Nixvue or notebook?

[robertwgross]

Soon I will be on some trips where I will fill all of my compact flash memory and will need more space. The obvious solution is to purchase either:
(1) Mindstor or Nixvue digital wallet storage, maybe 10GB... and those run around the US$250-400 range.
--or--
(2) a notebook computer (US$1000 for a minimal one).

If I am vehicle-based, then the notebook computer is easy to transport and power. If I am human-powered (backpacking or X-C skiing), then the smaller storage devices are far easier to transport. Obviously the notebook computer has a much broader range of purposes, but it would be used here just as a "dump" for the CF memory cards until I get back to the main computer.

Ultimately, I may have to go both ways, since I travel in all modes.

Any ideas or opinions?

---Bob Gross---

[MrChevy]

I have the Delkin e-Film PicturePad (same as the Nixvue) 30GB, I really like it. I looked at the 10GB and decided on the 30GB so I wouldn't have to buy another soon. http://www.delkin.com/products/picturepad/index.htm

So nice to just be able to dump the CF card and continue shooting!
Regards,
Ken

[robertwgross]

Is the Delkin battery life an issue? With the display, I could understand a limited battery life. I was more interested in something without any display.

There is a display on the back of my digital camera, so I don't need to duplicate that.

---Bob Gross---

[Longwatcher]

I also have the Delkin 30 gig Picture Pad, battery life is a problem. It is the only serious annoyance I have had with mine.

You will get about 5-6 copies of a 340 meg micro drive and 7-8 transfers of a 256meg CF card on a fully charged battery from my experience. Obviously fewer with a larger CF or microdrive. However, the drain rate is not linear as it uses more power starting up the transfer then completing it. I highly recommend a spare battery (or two) if you go with the picture pad and plan on traveling without power for awhile.

Other notes:
- Being able to view previous files on the Picture Pad is kind of handy, but I noticed this sucks up battery even faster then transfers (in terms of operation time).
- I seem to remember they also have a car charger for the Picture Pad.
- It is also real easy to get through airport security as you should not be required to take it out of the bag like you do with a laptop. I haven't yet.
- You can treat it somewhat harsher then you could a laptop.

I almost forgot to mention that I used it on a trip to Jamaica when they were having frequent power outages due to storms, it was plugged overnight during a few of those with no problems.

UPDATE: I just read on the Delkin site:
1. They don't have the car adapter, so if I saw it it must be third party. (This is what I was looking for)
2. As of Jan 08 2003, they now include support for RAW format images on the display, including Canon D30/60.

[MrChevy]

Yes it is, I am limited to 6-7 dumps of my 256mg cards. But am not like you, I have the vehicle avail to charge the battery. Going x-country you would have to pack an extra battery(ies?), thus an added expense. I don't know what Mindstor's battery life is. If a person were to go to each website and read the tech specs you would get an idea.
I do know their (MindStor) website says it will transfer at up-to 2MBsec... going by that they say you can dump 40 or 50 256MB cards to it on one battery charge. I WOULD have to see that happen in real life to believe it! (ie 100 minutes of average use per charge).

Regards

[gsrossano]

I use/used a 30GB Mindstor with my laptop. The battery life is just a few hours. I mostly use it with AC power. It can stand alone, or be used as a card reader attached to a computer. The USB 1.1 port will transfer data at about 1 MB/sec actual throughput. It also has a firewire connection, but I haven't tried it. Firewire will transfer data from the Mindstor disk to the computer much faster, but will not read out the card any faster if your CF cards are only 12X or slower. (12X is 1.8MB pre second).

Don't know how reliable the Mindstors are. I use mine for two weekends ok, then let it sit in my equipment bag for a month. When I got back to it, it was OOC (out of commission). I sent it back for repair and am awaiting its return. Their customer service is kind of weak. It takes multiple e-mails over several days before they reply. Also, they hosed me on a $60 rebate. So I guess I would say I like the technology, but the company leaves a lot to be desired.

[robertwgross]

Thanks for the various ideas, folks. You have confirmed some of my concerns. I'm not quite sure why battery life has to be an issue, but that's the way it goes.

I may keep searching for the perfect solution, but time is getting short. I hate to keep buying compact flash cards (currently about US$280 per 1GB), even though that is the lightest weight solution.

Or, I could set the digital camera aside and shoot film for a change. Remember that stuff?

---Bob Gross---

[wcbert]

Mindstor! No! No! No!

I bought one, nothing but problems. Exchanged it for the same model. Again nothing but problems. Sent it to Mind@Work for repair. They gave a new one that works great. Can I recommend it? No! Why should any customer have to go through what I did to get one that works. Love the Firewire connection for my portable PC and wanted a device the has file verification when uploading file, but will never own a Mindstor again or recommend it. Minds@Work has lost a customer for life!

Bill

[Longwatcher]

One quick thought is you might still go with a mindstor or picture pad and use a Photovoltaic setup to recharge it on the road. I use one occasionally with my iPaq 3800, it works (although slower then I can drain it) and could be built if necessary fairly simple with a quick trip to Radio Shack or its equivilant.

I have not had the need for the picture pad, but have considered it just for such an occasion. I am hoping someone develops one before I need one, so I don't have to do the math to figure out exactly what would be needed. Maybe someday I will get curious and work it out.

Consideration: Sunshine can be pretty fickle. Not sure if picture pad has same power detector of iPaq which minimizes potential damage from flaky power supplies, but suspect it is pretty resistant based on experience in Jamaica.

[gsrossano]

wcbert wrote:
Mindstor! No! No! No!

I bought one, nothing but problems. Exchanged it for the same model. Again nothing but problems. Sent it to Mind@Work for repair. They gave a new one that works great. Can I recommend it? No! Why should any customer have to go through what I did to get one that works. Love the Firewire connection for my portable PC and wanted a device the has file verification when uploading file, but will never own a Mindstor again or recommend it. Minds@Work has lost a customer for life!

Bill


Another data point to sadly confirm my fears. Just finished exchanging some pointed e-mail with Mindstor. They want three weeks to effect a repair. So let me revise my earlier post. I like the idea behind the technology but the QC, engineering and customer service leaves a lot to be desired. I would certainly not buy another, and if I could get a refund for my purchase at this point I would (but unfortunately can't). Assuming the weakness is in their engineering and not in the drives (most likely the case) I guess in the worst case I can put the drive into another case and just end up with a very expensive external 30GB hard drive!

[robertwgross]

I've used photovoltaic panels some over twenty years. The little ones that are small enough and light enough to carry don't have much output power. The big ones that have enough output power are big and heavy (and $$).

If I were stuck out on a remote arctic outpost for one summer, then photovoltaic power would be good. But when I am moving every day and only stationary at night, the photovoltaic solution is marginal at best.

I saw a great photovoltaic array in Kenya, on a safari camp. The owner had 2 kilowatts available, so we could get AC power whenever we wanted. The only problem there was that his inverter output was 220VAC 50Hz, and that is rough for some of us from North America.

---Bob Gross---

[D60DIETER]

My suggestion is a subnote. With a mindstore or a nixvue, there is nothing to view. A notebook is to big for backpacking. But subnotes like the ones out of the series Sony Vaio PCG-C1*** are very suitable (a little bigger than a vidoetape). They small, they have a good display to control what you´ve done during your daily work and you can get them 2nd hand at EBAY. Depending on your demands they start at 300-400 € and go up to 2500.-€. If your outdoor you can run them around 2 to 3 hours. This is enough to fill 20 GB and more.

[Cecil Walker]

I have a Mindstor 30GB device and it has been a lifesaver for the motorsports shots I take. I've had pretty good luck with it (knock on wood) but it really concerns me to hear so many problems encountered by others!

It definitely has battery inadequacies when using a 1GB microdrive. I carry the AC cord with me everywhere as it can really only handle one full microdrive download. To be on the safe side, I try to always be plugged in when I'm transferring files.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd seriously look into another device that's similar but you put in your own hard drive. I can't remember the name off the top of my head but it was getting pretty good reviews. As a bonus, it could use several different media!

Cecil Walker