Storage device for digital camera (MemoryStick) without computer?

[AndrewR]

I have a Sony DSC-717 camera which, unlike its newer brother the 828, only uses MemorySticks for storage. We are going to China at the end of the year to complete an adoption, and we are likely to take hundreds upon hundreds of pictures. Right now, I have a 256MB stick and a 32MB stick, for a grand total of about 120 pictures at maximum resolution. I typically take that in 1-2 days of photography while sightseeing.

In lieu of buying additional MemorySticks (at about $90 per 256MB), is there some sort of standalone storage device to which I can upload pictures without a laptop (which I don't have)? I saw one item in the store here, a combination MP3/video display thing, that might work, but it's $500. Ideally, an external hard drive with capacity to download flash memory would be the choice, to the tune of 20-40 GB. My selection locally is horrible so I'm stuck looking online but so far haven't found anything.

Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!

 

[AndrewR]

Anyone? Anyone at all?

 

[DeeKnow]

I recently ran across one of them external USB/FW hard disks that had a flash memory slot for precisely what you need... I'll see if I can dig up the reference

 

[ROJAS]

Take a look.

http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/sc/main_item.asp?id=964586512

You will have to buy the optional Sony memory stick adapter.

 

[Bolvangar]

I've been looking for one of these as well. That nixvue is 500 bucks! could buy plenty of memory sticks with that much cash.

I remember awhile ago Radio Shack had a special on 1 of these, it was a simple storage bank, no fancy lcd showing pictures or anything but it was also around 120 and was 10-15 gigs I believe. You should check them out and see if they still have it.

 

[sunase]

Aren't internet cafes more popular in Asia? A usb memory stick reader and a usb drive enclosure (with one of your current drives brought along) would probably run under 50 bucks total and let you transfer anywhere you can get access to a computer at least.

You might also ask friends if they have any old laptops laying around. I do anyway abd even something like a PII would be sufficient. That's all I can think of. Maybe just rent a laptop, they aren't that expensive for a month or two.

 

[kpb]

Probably not the cheapest option unless you happen to have an ipod but they make accessories for ipod to copy files from the cards to the ipod hd. You can see them at http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=158350

If you happen to have an ipod already thats a pretty good option.

 

[AndrewR]

Thanks for the response. Someone emailed me some excellent choices so I'll provide those for the forum. Check this link for one review -- the rest are linked at the bottom of the page.

We're leaning toward the Apacer Disc Steno CP-200 because you can connect it to a TV to verify that your photos are in fact transferred (blame my wife for needing that extra assurance). It's for sale for about $260 at a couple places (check Pricegrabber). The X's Drive Pro is available at Computer Geeks without laptop hard drive for $119 or thereabouts. Add a 20-40GB drive for $70-120.

The LaCie PocketDrive will not operate without a computer so it's useless for this. I didn't bother to look at the Innoplus Phototainer because it's about $500 -- I could buy a laptop for that kind of money.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: sunase
Aren't internet cafes more popular in Asia? A usb memory stick reader and a usb drive enclosure (with one of your current drives brought along) would probably run under 50 bucks total and let you transfer anywhere you can get access to a computer at least.

You might also ask friends if they have any old laptops laying around. I do anyway abd even something like a PII would be sufficient. That's all I can think of. Maybe just rent a laptop, they aren't that expensive for a month or two.

The other issue I forgot to mention is that we're going to be SEVERELY limited on luggage so even the 10lbs of an older laptop is going to be a hefty price to pay. Plus, for security reasons, I am NOT leaving any of my electronics (camera, Palm, phone) in our hotel room in China, and I don't want to drag a laptop around all day.

The Apacer drive is rather nice also because it can be used as a regular external CD-RW burner. So, I can get rid of the Plextor burner in my wife's computer and perhaps defray the expense of the new drive by about $30 or so.