Digital Wallet vs mucho CF/SM

Howdy all...

It hadn't been a consideration previously, but Fry's is discontinuing the Digital Wallet and has dropped the prices fairly significantly.

My question is: Is it worth it? As opposed to having a grand collection of CF/SM cards? While I realize that there is certainly the headache of transferring your files from card> wallet, I can't help but notice the cost savings. The 10GB model is selling for the cost of a couple 256MB CF cards.

I'm still not convinced after searching previous threads about the wallet. Perhaps those of you that use them quite regularly could shed some light on your findings. (write time, durability, hassle of carrying around, etc) Feel free to be brutaly honest...I have lots of reservations, but as I need to begin acquiring memory cards again I wonder if this is a viable option.

Thanks ya'll --Best Regards...

doug1tx

Just my 2 cents, I ahd a great run with the Micro Drives, but I went with a used laptop for field downloading. You can find them all over cheao,a nd you can also check your work on the screen!

Downside, laptopswont fit in your pocket

Happy Holidays

doug1tx said:

Howdy all...

It hadn't been a consideration previously, but Fry's is
discontinuing the Digital Wallet and has dropped the prices fairly
significantly.

My question is: Is it worth it? As opposed to having a grand
collection of CF/SM cards? While I realize that there is certainly
the headache of transferring your files from card> wallet, I can't
help but notice the cost savings. The 10GB model is selling for
the cost of a couple 256MB CF cards.

I'm still not convinced after searching previous threads about the
wallet. Perhaps those of you that use them quite regularly could
shed some light on your findings. (write time, durability, hassle
of carrying around, etc) Feel free to be brutaly honest...I have
lots of reservations, but as I need to begin acquiring memory cards
again I wonder if this is a viable option.

Thanks ya'll
--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso http://members.home.net/mackey135http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

I agree. I'm planning on purchasing a laptop as soon as I
get out of the hole of debt Christmas has put me in. Sometimes
I wish Christmas only came around once every three or four
years.

Brian Mackey said:

Just my 2 cents, I ahd a great run with the Micro Drives, but I
went with a used laptop for field downloading. You can find them
all over cheao,a nd you can also check your work on the screen!

Downside, laptopswont fit in your pocket

Happy Holidays
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Click to expand...

--Bob Graham

Brian/Bob,

I have a laptop (for work, actually) and had considered it. I can see certain situations (like a photo shoot) that would allow for it. But, I think in the cases where I would need extra storage that dragging around a laptop would be impossible. ie: games, events, zoo/exhibit outings, etc.

Thanks for the suggestion, though...it is appreciated

Bob Graham said:

Brian Mackey said:

Just my 2 cents, I ahd a great run with the Micro Drives, but I
went with a used laptop for field downloading. You can find them
all over cheao,a nd you can also check your work on the screen!

Downside, laptopswont fit in your pocket

Happy Holidays
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Click to expand...

--
Bob Graham

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

then I would go with compact flash storage, get a couple of 512k's and you should make it through the day..

Im just to leary of the Digital Wallets.

doug1tx said:

I have a laptop (for work, actually) and had considered it. I can
see certain situations (like a photo shoot) that would allow for
it. But, I think in the cases where I would need extra storage
that dragging around a laptop would be impossible. ie: games,
events, zoo/exhibit outings, etc.

Thanks for the suggestion, though...it is appreciated

Bob Graham said:

Brian Mackey said:

Just my 2 cents, I ahd a great run with the Micro Drives, but I
went with a used laptop for field downloading. You can find them
all over cheao,a nd you can also check your work on the screen!

Downside, laptopswont fit in your pocket

Happy Holidays
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Click to expand...

--
Bob Graham

Click to expand...

--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso http://members.home.net/mackey135http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Hi,

I have a 20 gig DW and it works great, far better than a laptop for me. I have travelled a lot with it and never had a problem. It fits in with my cameras in the same bag. I usually do not want to waste time reviewing pictures, I can do that at home, as they usually need some touch up anyways, viewing the pics on a contrasty lcd screen is not the same as a good calibrated monitor. The digital camera makes it easy to burn images, take a bunch and you will get good results, constant reviewing is a waste of time IMHO, I would rather take pictures than review. I can take a lot of pictures in the time it takes to load it into the laptop and then decide if I like it or not, and besides you can always delete later. It also does not cost you any more to take 10 pictures than it does to take 1, so bracket, bracket, bracket. I have 10 cf cards and 8 sm cards so what I normally do is download at the end of the day or at a convenient down time, or back at the hotel. A lot of laptops do not have 20 gig of hard drive space available to store pics, the DW doesn't have all the overhead of the OS and utilities.

The DW is light and small in size, and uses the same drive as in a laptop, so the same care and feeding but in a smaller package. The other thing is that with all the airport security it is a lot easier to get through with the DW in the camera bag than to tote a laptop and a camera bag through the screening process. When I am travelling I use my PDA to send and receive email, so still no need for a laptop.

Just my $0.02, YMMV

Alan

doug1tx said:

I'm still not convinced after searching previous threads about the
wallet. Perhaps those of you that use them quite regularly could
shed some light on your findings. (write time, durability, hassle
of carrying around, etc) Feel free to be brutaly honest...I have
lots of reservations, but as I need to begin acquiring memory cards
again I wonder if this is a viable option.

Click to expand...

Brian,

LOL...nice thought! A couple of 512MB CF cards, I'm afraid...are just a tad out of my budget

I am also somewhat leary of the wallets which is why I posed the question. I'd like to see how many others feel the same.

Party on...

Brian Mackey said:

then I would go with compact flash storage, get a couple of 512k's
and you should make it through the day..

Im just to leary of the Digital Wallets.

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

Alan,

Thanks for responding. Could you describe the write times for the digital wallet? Write time from CF/SM is more important than the time it takes to download to the pc...by then you're done shooting and don't need such quick turnaround.

Also, as I said to Brian...I am somewhat leary about it's reliability. Sorta spooky to trust a single device with so many photos. Ever had a problem?

Thanks again!

Alan Smallbone said:

I have a 20 gig DW and it works great, far better than a laptop for
me. I have travelled a lot with it and never had a problem. It fits
in with my cameras in the same bag. I usually do not want to waste
time reviewing pictures, I can do that at home, as they usually
need some touch up anyways, viewing the pics on a contrasty lcd
screen is not the same as a good calibrated monitor. The digital
camera makes it easy to burn images, take a bunch and you will get
good results, constant reviewing is a waste of time IMHO, I would
rather take pictures than review. I can take a lot of pictures in
the time it takes to load it into the laptop and then decide if I
like it or not, and besides you can always delete later. It also
does not cost you any more to take 10 pictures than it does to take
1, so bracket, bracket, bracket. I have 10 cf cards and 8 sm cards
so what I normally do is download at the end of the day or at a
convenient down time, or back at the hotel. A lot of laptops do not
have 20 gig of hard drive space available to store pics, the DW
doesn't have all the overhead of the OS and utilities.

The DW is light and small in size, and uses the same drive as in a
laptop, so the same care and feeding but in a smaller package. The
other thing is that with all the airport security it is a lot
easier to get through with the DW in the camera bag than to tote a
laptop and a camera bag through the screening process. When I am
travelling I use my PDA to send and receive email, so still no need
for a laptop.

Just my $0.02, YMMV

Alan

Alan Smallbone said:

I'm still not convinced after searching previous threads about the
wallet. Perhaps those of you that use them quite regularly could
shed some light on your findings. (write time, durability, hassle
of carrying around, etc) Feel free to be brutaly honest...I have
lots of reservations, but as I need to begin acquiring memory cards
again I wonder if this is a viable option.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

I had a digital wallet for a few weeks and it worked exactly like described, and did everything it claimed. The storage was nice, but I didn't like carrying around yet another device. After a few weeks with it, I sold mine on EBAY, I just didn't like it. Instead I've purchased a collection of 2 256MB CF cards and a 1GB Microdrive.

Many people just carry around a small laptop with them and download their images to it, but for me that's too big. (I do outdoor photography, so everything must fit in my backpack, along with a weeks worth of gear and food). For field viewing my images, I use a Compaq iPAQ PocketPC. I can slip the CF or Microdrive into it and then view the images on my PocketPC, checking them for content, focus, etc.

So, to your question... I prefer to just carry around the small storage cards, it's easier and lighter. I'd pass on the wallet.

doug1tx said:

Howdy all...

It hadn't been a consideration previously, but Fry's is
discontinuing the Digital Wallet and has dropped the prices fairly
significantly.

My question is: Is it worth it? As opposed to having a grand
collection of CF/SM cards? While I realize that there is certainly
the headache of transferring your files from card> wallet, I can't
help but notice the cost savings. The 10GB model is selling for
the cost of a couple 256MB CF cards.

I'm still not convinced after searching previous threads about the
wallet. Perhaps those of you that use them quite regularly could
shed some light on your findings. (write time, durability, hassle
of carrying around, etc) Feel free to be brutaly honest...I have
lots of reservations, but as I need to begin acquiring memory cards
again I wonder if this is a viable option.

Thanks ya'll
--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

...it makes a huge difference.

If you're located in the states and have access to NewEgg and
retailers like that I suppose the preferrable way to go is CF. It's
safer - especially with rough backpacking trips, cold places and
very high altitudes.

In Europe - and possibly also in other parts of the world - the
price per MB is still much much much lower when going for the
DW option. I'm personally considering the (Sima/Level) Image
Bank which also sells as a [cheaper] empty unit so you can fit
your own 2.5" laptop-harddrive in there. Kind of a neat solution.

cheers,

Bram----------------------------------------------------------------------Amsterdam, The Netherlands http://www.pbase.com/brambos

doug1tx said:

Howdy all...

It hadn't been a consideration previously, but Fry's is
discontinuing the Digital Wallet and has dropped the prices fairly
significantly.

Click to expand...

Hi - Most likely Fry's is discountinuing their current models of DW's because a newer model is coming out soon. Basically same capacities, but in a newer slightly smaller and sexier package with a backlit screen. The firmware is improved, but no major functional upgrades. The back lit screen is a nice feature, but with my 20gig DW dumping a card is so easy I can do it by the feel of the buttons without looking at the screen.. It would just be nice to see it. Oh.. The new model has firewire so that's a big improvement, but not major.

I've had my DW since May when the 20gig first came out. I love it. The NIMH rechargeable battery will download over 10gigs of CF cards on a charge, so I carry a spare in case I ever need to DL 20 gigs before getting to a charger.. Fat chance of that happening. Hooking the DW to your computer without using the charger will discharge the battery in 10-15 minutes of use because it's then powering the USB port..

I've never had an error, problem, etc. It's small, fits nicely in my camera case, and can extend my stays in the field to weeks vs. a day. I have a laptop also, and was for sure glad to leave it behind for the DW. Reviewing on the road is a waste of my time and I don't do it, same with the built in LCD screen of the E-10, I review on my computer in the comfort of my home or hotel if I'm based away from home for any time.

Write times.. Ok. A 256mb card DL's to the DW in about..I'm guessing 70-90 seconds. Not real significant. I usually do it when I take a break, eat lunch, etc.

From the DW to the laptop? About the same speed as a slow hard drive. In fact, I have all of my email, browser, photoshop, ACDSEE, and other programs I might want to use on the road installed on the DW. So if the need is great, I just go into a internet cafe and buy time. So far no one has complained about me loading the driver and then deleting it. I carry it on a 3.5, and they usually don't notice what I'm doing. Another feature of the new model is direct connectivity with XP. A plus for the future since Internet Cafe's aren't rushing to spend the buck to upgrade to XP.

I've dropped my DW several times on cement, but since I keep it in the optional leather case it kinda cushions the blow and no problem. The case is cut so you can do all functions while the DW is in the case.

My only question about the DW, is should I buy another and have a totally redudant back up. At the prices you mention I might. Right now I get away with 6 256mb CF's and a bunch of SM cards. The CF's do the job all the time now so I'm giiving my SM cards to a friend.

I hope this anwers any questions or reservations you might have had.. AND, their on-line customer service and tech department is great. Before I bought mine I had several questions and it never took them more than six hours to return an email.

BKKSW

Doug,

I was just looking at the Fry's ad and did not see the Digital Wallet. How big and how much $s?

I have done the laptop route while on vacation and it works well. However, I am planning on some "excursions" where the laptop isn't practical. I have almost 1GB of CF cards, but I expect to fill them before the day is over so I need someplace where I can download the photos and these portable HDs seem like a good solution.--Thanks.Cleave

eh? isnt the wallet like 499?

Did the price bottom out? I have seen 512k CF cards for 329.00 heh, dont know if they work or not though...

doug1tx said:

LOL...nice thought! A couple of 512MB CF cards, I'm afraid...are
just a tad out of my budget

I am also somewhat leary of the wallets which is why I posed the
question. I'd like to see how many others feel the same.

Party on...

Brian Mackey said:

then I would go with compact flash storage, get a couple of 512k's
and you should make it through the day..

Im just to leary of the Digital Wallets.

Click to expand...

--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso http://members.home.net/mackey135http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Brian,

I'm not sure what the original prices were on the wallets, but Fry's has them for about $200/$250 for the 3GB/10GB models...see why now? ;-)

Brian Mackey said:

Did the price bottom out? I have seen 512k CF cards for 329.00 heh,
dont know if they work or not though...

doug1tx said:

LOL...nice thought! A couple of 512MB CF cards, I'm afraid...are
just a tad out of my budget

I am also somewhat leary of the wallets which is why I posed the
question. I'd like to see how many others feel the same.

Party on...

Brian Mackey said:

then I would go with compact flash storage, get a couple of 512k's
and you should make it through the day..

Im just to leary of the Digital Wallets.

Click to expand...

--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

Cleave,

I was in my local Fry's on Tuesday. The store had several units left and were red tagged. They were priced at $219(3GB) and $279(10GB). The salesperson said they were being discontinued (or) they were no longer going to carry these models. He also said to check back on Friday when their ad hits...wouldn't be in the ad, but that's when they do their price changes and it was likely that they would drop another $20-$30. I need to stop by today and see if this actually happened and make a decision.

Cleave said:

Doug,

I was just looking at the Fry's ad and did not see the Digital
Wallet. How big and how much $s?

I have done the laptop route while on vacation and it works well.
However, I am planning on some "excursions" where the laptop isn't
practical. I have almost 1GB of CF cards, but I expect to fill them
before the day is over so I need someplace where I can download the
photos and these portable HDs seem like a good solution.
--
Thanks.

Cleave

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

well pain em red and call me shirlie! I think at that price, nooooooooo I cant,I wont nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Seriously, at that price, I would go for the 3 gig, and try to get another 50.00 off

doug1tx said:

I'm not sure what the original prices were on the wallets, but
Fry's has them for about $200/$250 for the 3GB/10GB models...see
why now? ;-)

Brian Mackey said:

Did the price bottom out? I have seen 512k CF cards for 329.00 heh,
dont know if they work or not though...

doug1tx said:

LOL...nice thought! A couple of 512MB CF cards, I'm afraid...are
just a tad out of my budget

I am also somewhat leary of the wallets which is why I posed the
question. I'd like to see how many others feel the same.

Party on...

Brian Mackey said:

then I would go with compact flash storage, get a couple of 512k's
and you should make it through the day..

Im just to leary of the Digital Wallets.

Click to expand...

--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

Click to expand...

--
Best Regards...

doug1tx

Click to expand...

--'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso http://members.home.net/mackey135http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1403846

I have the first DW (the 6G one) and its works fine. I have a SM and a CF card in the camera, each of 128M. When traveling, I shift between them and download the one which is full when back at the hotel. For heavy days, I have a third card (a 128M CF).

My 3X128M are enough for an excursion of a day or two, and in this case I download them directly into the Mac. But for longer travels the DW is a must. I have no laptop: too heavy, too expensive (not only when buying: think to the lot of money you would loose in case of theft) and I would have no other use of it, since I have a Mac at home and another in my office.

I think Mindsatwork has replaced this old model by a trio of new ones (3,10,20G). There is also the Nixvue digital album: with this one you can also see your pictures on a TV.--Jacques Bijtebier

Hi,

doug1tx said:

Alan,

Thanks for responding. Could you describe the write times for the
digital wallet? Write time from CF/SM is more important than the
time it takes to download to the pc...by then you're done shooting
and don't need such quick turnaround.

Click to expand...

I will have to time it, but it is quicker than downloading from my card reader via usb. I am at work so I don't have it with me.

doug1tx said:

Also, as I said to Brian...I am somewhat leary about it's
reliability. Sorta spooky to trust a single device with so many
photos. Ever had a problem?

Click to expand...

How is this any different than trusting a lap top? They have the same drive, both run on batteries but can be hooked up via ac. They have the same reliability, I have had more problems with windoze corrupting the FAT, I have never had the DW corrupt anything. Do you carry 2 laptops?

Alan

Alan,

Point well taken...I guess that's a difficult point to see. I have a good deal of confidence in my laptop not because I assume it to be of superior quality to the construction of the digital wallet, just that I'm used to it I suppose. But, point is...I hadn't really thought of it that way. You're absolutely correct. Doesn't appear that anyone here has anything negative to say about the wallet other than perhaps it just isn't/wasn't the right thing for them. Personally, I don't LIKE the idea of carrying an extra device around all the time but for the $$ MB, it's unarguable. I really want to do more experimenting with TIFF/RAW files. Not because I need them really, I'm not selling any work here, I just want to be able to compare how differently my results are in PS, etc.

Again, thanks for your comments...greatly appreciated!

doug1tx said:

Alan Smallbone said:

Also, as I said to Brian...I am somewhat leary about it's
reliability. Sorta spooky to trust a single device with so many
photos. Ever had a problem?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Alan wrote

Alan Smallbone said:

How is this any different than trusting a lap top? They have the
same drive, both run on batteries but can be hooked up via ac. They
have the same reliability, I have had more problems with windoze
corrupting the FAT, I have never had the DW corrupt anything. Do
you carry 2 laptops?

Alan

Click to expand...

--Best Regards...doug1tx

I use the Image Bank for my photo excursions..I use 256mb cf cards in my digicams..E-10..cp950..dc290..and I find that poppin the cf into the IB is extremely simple..I only shoot at the highest quality/res of each cam and I use raw with the E-10..so the files are big..the only trouble I've had is not downlloading from the cf card when there is 1 pic storage space left, if ya take the card to "0" then there is sometimes a xfer error when uploading from the IB to the computer..I bought the bare unit IB and added my own 10gb hd to it..tot cost with drive about $280

http://members2.clubphoto.com/earl224916/owner-34dd-1.phtml
--egstrait