S3 portable storage

I'm just waiting for the DP review to buy the S3, and wondered if anybody can recommend a portable storage device. I don't need fancy gadgets, just somewhere to dump images while on holidays, so that I can re-use the SD card. Small and cheap would be useful. Also, the device would need to be available in Australia.

Thanks for all the great threads about the S3, it certainly helped me make up my mind, being a novice to digital technology.
Cheers, Donna

hi, i have the exact same questions

i was concerned id have to spend as much on the camera in memory cards to get a couple of hours of video until i heard about Portable Storage Devices

--at least the reputable ones, you could buy probably 4 to 5 2g basic SD cards and not have the complexity of maintaining another piece of gear. Each card will hold 300 to 600 images at good quality, or a generous mix of video and good quality images.
MATTinNE_FL

Donna;

Go to the Storage and Media Forum on this site and do a search. You will find all the information you need (sizes, prices, reliability, transfer assurance, deals, battery used, displays, you name it) discussed there. I have the Vosonic VP6210 with 80GBHD that I bought about 8 months ago for a trip to China. It's great but there has been so many new PDS devices since, I wouldn't know what to recommend now.

--mamallama

Thanks, folks - especially mamallama. (I've been stuck on CanonTalk and haven't explored anything else!).

At least I can look up a few PSDs now and check them out - hope my non-digital brain is up to it.....
Donna

I have the Vosonic VP6230, which can be viewed at http://www.vosonic.com .

It has built in slots to suit most cards for downloading photos and videos, which can then be viewed on a 2.5 inch screen. It also plays MP3 and other sound files. It connects to a compter by USB2 and is just another hard drive where you can open new files change files, add and remove photos or sound. Very good if you plan to travel.

I tought I would suggest the Addonics MFR (multi function Recorder). It has a card reader built into a portable CD (or DVD) burner and can back-up all your photos to a disc. I even use it to watch DVD movies in the car with a small monitor and/or review my photos on a TV while traveling. Another great use is to burn photos of every one's digital camera's at family weddings or parties. I just have to borrow the data card for a few minutes and I have their pictures. On a trip to Italy a few years ago I burned a CD every nite and mailed it back to my home so that if my camera was stolen I would still get the pictures. It is really a quite versatle, small battery operated piece of equipment. It is a little bigger than a portable viewer/HD but is less expensive and more durable.

I agree with previous posts that buying an extra 2GB or two is the simplest solution, with safe and cheapest buying through advertisers in say Melbourne Age Green Guide or Sydney equivalent. However for immense storage I can also recommend the Vosonic x-Drive, which I've found totally reliable - even in the Antarctic. I found http://www.powerinnumbers.com.au in Melbourne very good people to deal with.
--
Barry le Mar
Melbourne, Australia
Olympus C-8080 & C-7070

DonnaMc said:

I'm just waiting for the DP review to buy the S3, and wondered if
anybody can recommend a portable storage device. I don't need fancy
gadgets, just somewhere to dump images while on holidays, so that I
can re-use the SD card. Small and cheap would be useful. Also, the
device would need to be available in Australia.

Thanks for all the great threads about the S3, it certainly helped
me make up my mind, being a novice to digital technology.
Cheers, Donna

Click to expand...

For anyone that may be interested on 12-5-2006 from Canon Australia the RRP of a S2IS is $700-00 Australian ( $535-15 U.S. ) and the S3IS is $800-00 Australian ( $611-60 U.S. ) . The store that i bought mine from sells the S2IS for $530-00 Australian ( $405-19 U.S. ) and the S3IS for $615-00 Australian ( $470-17 U.S. ) .

You can buy them and other associated accessories from " msy.com.au " and they have stores too, in NSW, QUEENSLAND, and VICTORIA ( Clayton, Box Hill, Malvern, and Pascoe Vale where mine is on order from ) .

Anything else you need to know just ask me from my threads at anytime.

Believe me, for any hardware computer related, no one is cheaper than "msy". [ N.B. This includes from computer swap meets where you don't get any guarantees. ]

Also check out the review on the S3IS at "dcresource.com"

-Colin.

Colin sounds like you work for MSY. ;-)

MSY are certainly cheap, especially for Canon camera's.

I picked up an S3 IS from MSY a week ago. When ordered they didn't even know what price it would be, but I knew it would be the cheapest place to buy one. Same AU$615 price, a bargain.

From memory Umart(NSW) was next cheapest at AU$627.

I can also recommend http://www.yeahdone.com.au for cheap SD cards. They are a adata retailer. I picked up a 4GB 150x adata SD card for AU$157 delivered.

Check out the review on this device:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1023&message=18352128

--
2005 Canon S2 photo gallery:
http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/hits/hits.html

CarAddict said:

Colin sounds like you work for MSY. ;-)

Click to expand...

No mate i'm 3rd generation Aussie, not Chinese, like everyone in msy as you would probably have seen. I ordered mine on the same day like you, but i got the price first before ordering. Your right. The price wasn't even listed on their website or on their in-store computer listings then. They had to ring their suppliers first to let me know the cost.

A friend of mine who frequents computer swap meets put me on to them. And when i was in the market for a new PC, my best friend who has his own Computer Business, and sells everything that i want from him to me at wholesale prices, told me to go buy it from msy because it would cost me at least $500 more from him ( The wholesale price from his suppliers too couldn't compete with their retail price! ) .

Have had the S3IS on order since 5-5-2006 and it takes at least 7 working days, minimum, to be delivered from the supplier to the Pascoe Vale store. But have bought a PC from them Built to Order with no dramas. Also 2 x Scanners, 3 x SD Cards, CRT and LCD Monitors, all with no hassles.

I will let you know how things work out when i get it.

• Colin.

CarAddict said:

MSY are certainly cheap, especially for Canon camera's.

Click to expand...

I concur.

N.B. Go Carlton! We certainly kicked Essendon's Butt today! Wish i had of had my new S3IS whilst i was at the game.

Have a look at the new Samsung Portable Media Center with a 20GB Hard Disk Drive and 3.5" TFT LCD screen. Seems quite cute.
Cheers,
Zabriskie Tom

For all the aussies here I just bought a Apacer 1 gig SD memory card 60X from MSY for $39. I have tested it and it works fine for video over 1 minute long and high speed shooting. I almost bought two at this price but decided that 1 gig will do me at this time.

On a social note though, I hope this type of shop front does not bring down the proper retail store. I guess time will tell.
--
http://www.pbase.com/reelate2
http://www.pbase.com/relate2
Me flying
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hY8VhR4gI3w

Hi Again,

and thanks so much for all your posts! I've happily researched a bit more following all your information and continuing to do so.

AussieColin, please ignore my most recent post, as you've answered my question already (where you bought your S3). I shall traipse to msy as soon as the DP Review is finally posted! Waiting with bated breath....

Has anybody had any experience with the "Digi Drive" seen on the igadget website? It seems to do the job at a fairly competitive price.

CHeers for now,
Donna

relate22 said:

On a social note though, I hope this type of shop front does not
bring down the proper retail store. I guess time will tell.

Click to expand...

No chance of that mate!

Because unless you know exactly what you are after from msy there is no point in going there as they do not provide any product advice or recommendations whatsoever. Besides its hard enough just conversing with the staff in the store with their heavy Chinese accents and understanding them as it is when you are certain of what you want to purchase and trying to pay for it.

Some people are always going to prefer being steered in a certain direction by an "informed" salesperson from the usual "proper" retail stores like Ted's Cameras, Harvey Norman's, DSE, Clive Peeters, etc..

And i reckon if you prefer that sort of service be my guest by all means and pay $745 for a S3IS or $699 for a S2IS from Ted's Cameras!

• Colin.

relate22 said:

For all the aussies here I just bought a Apacer 1 gig SD memory
card 60X from MSY for $39. I have tested it and it works fine for
video over 1 minute long and high speed shooting. I almost bought
two at this price but decided that 1 gig will do me at this time.

Click to expand...

For yours and others reference last Friday the SD Card 1GB price was $49, the 2GB $89, at msy.

The sayings go, that patience is a virtue, and that only fools rush in. Does this mean that by July the 2GB will only cost $1 and that they will be giving away the 1GB ones for free?

• Colin.

Aussie Colin, if you're reading this -

did MSY provide a full guarantee at this price?
According to the staticice website MSY are still the cheapest supplier.
Regards,
Donna

Donna, a sign in the shop or was it on their website I don't remember but it said that all of their products are covered by a manufactures warranty and to take it back to the manufacturer not to the store if you have a problem.

For some LCD screens though they have this

“From 1, Feb, 2005 All Benq “FP Series” Come With First 7 Days 0 Bright Pixel Warranty - Customer Can Either Return To Us (Return To Base) or Direct Return To Benq Service Centre (On-Site-Service)”
--
http://www.pbase.com/reelate2
http://www.pbase.com/relate2
Me flying
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hY8VhR4gI3w

relate22 said:

Donna, a sign in the shop or was it on their website I don't
remember but it said that all of their products are covered by a
manufactures warranty and to take it back to the manufacturer not
to the store if you have a problem.

First 7 days you can get a replacement one from msy, after that it has to go back to the manufacturer.
For some LCD screens though they have this
“From 1, Feb, 2005 All Benq “FP Series” Come With First 7 Days 0
Bright Pixel Warranty - Customer Can Either Return To Us (Return To
Base) or Direct Return To Benq Service Centre (On-Site-Service)”

This applies only to ther LCD monitors for computers ( except the Phillips which have 3 year dead or bright pixel warranty ).

Click to expand...

• Colin. -

relate22 said:

http://www.pbase.com/reelate2
http://www.pbase.com/relate2
Me flying
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hY8VhR4gI3w

Click to expand...