In Tokyo, need Portable Hard Disk help!!

ondine

Hi! I am a complete photography and techie stuff amateur. I have been reading up on the Portable Hard Disk threads but would very much appreciate direct help for my specific issue as my trip is in four days!!

I am in Tokyo for short term, have a USA configured laptop.

Went to the major elecronics stores and it boiled down to only ONE model of portable hard desk that allowed for:

1. Using 1 GB memory card
2. Did not require Voltage converter/transformer thingy for my use when I go back home to USA
3. Compatability with USA laptop

It is the X's DRIVE PRO 40 GB, $280.

My question is:

1. By any chance does anyone know of used USA photo accessory swaps in TOKYO. I have been to all stores but will check out Electric City as well.

2. I leave for my trip in 4 days...do I have any other alternatives other than the one I bought? As far as online or whatever?

I will go back to the store for help because because the files downloaded to my PC are unknown file type...so I save as jpg but the pics are super tiny.

Thank you very much for anyone's advice, I didn't realize this would be so complicated and I'm leaving so soon!!!


Ondine

gus

Im having difficulty understanding how to help you. You say you want advice to buy a storage unit then you say "do i have alt to the one i bought?"

I have an x-drive (old model) & would buy another tomorrow. Its an excellent machine. Saying that i will add that these things are not rocket science...they are just a hard drive in a case with a battery so i assume they are all very similar. I dont know about only taking 1 gig cards though. I dont know much about that but someone could chime in here & help out with FAT 16/32 (are 2gig cards FAT 32 ?? anyone know) I doubt they would make a machine now that wont take 2 gig but i cant be sure.

That price seems a bit expensive for USD to me.

Have a long read of this recent thread.

photocat

Humungus wrote:

Im having difficulty understanding how to help you. You say you want advice to buy a storage unit then you say "do i have alt to the one i bought?"

I wonder too... if you have a card reader, that one can take as much cards as you want, as you use it to download, fill it up again, and download again on the computer. You can fit most card readers into either the usb or fire wire ports in the laptops... As far as I know, both Japan and USA have a 110 volt system, I am no techie though, if someone can correct me, please do...
Europe is 220. Which means if you plug in an american computer (unless it is a dual voltage laptop) you will fry the thing.

Why do you need extra storage if you take your laptop? Can you put your question a bit different???

ondine

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear.

I am going to travel, won't be taking my laptop.

Question: Was this the right purchase or is there a better option

Supposedly (and the store guy was completely trustworthy, reputable store etc) I was restricted down to just 1 portable hard disk because I have:

1. A 1 GB memory card
2. A US laptop

And the cost was $280 for 40 GB
I did not even want 40 GB, want 20 GB but

Question: It is not working. The files download to my laptop but with unknown filetype. I save as jpg but the pictures are 1 inch by 1 inch original.

It's okay if no responses I think I just have to go to the different stores and try it...

Thank you
Joyce

gus

I dont really know whats going on but im going to guess. You are shooting in RAW mode & your dont have a programme on your computer to open the file this leaving an unopened thumbnail that has something like 'orf file' or the likes written under it.

Any modern storage device will be just fine with any file. Mine is 2 years old & use it like a portable HD to transfer heaps of diff files etc..all it is is a laptop HD after all.

ondine

Humungus wrote:

I dont really know whats going on but im going to guess. You are shooting in RAW mode & your dont have a programme on your computer to open the file this leaving an unopened thumbnail that has something like 'orf file' or the likes written under it.

Any modern storage device will be just fine with any file. Mine is 2 years old & use it like a portable HD to transfer heaps of diff files etc..all it is is a laptop HD after all.

-->Thank you...will look into this then!

pathfinder

If you are not going to have a laptop, take a gander at the Epson P-2000. It stores 40Gb of images, and lets you view them on its lovely screen. Should be easy to find in Tokyo. It lets you see RAW files from Canon and Nikon cameras without using a laptop.

It is smaller than a laptop, and cheaper than most new laptops. Just a thought, it is more expensive than a FIREWIRE connected external hard drive.

Or use a 40GB iPOD, as an alternative - but it will not display anything but jpegs.