Epson P-6000 Portable Multimedia Storage Device

[alex_dannenbaum]

<p>I am an amature photographer who frequently shoots kiteboarders in the area. A few have approached me to consider selling my shots to them. To move forward with this idea, I think I need to do two things. First, I need to show them samples of my work. Secondly, I need to allow a customer to review my work, so they can make on-site selections of the day's shoot. Both of these activities ideally would take place on location at the beach. <br>

I think the Epson P-6000 might be the ticket. Is it possible to have two seperate sections on the P-6000, one for sample work that is not changed, and another for working photos which can be selectively deleted and then uploaded? <br>

Any reason I should not use this in somewhat windblown, wet, sandy conditions? Are there alternative systems I should consider?</p>

<p> </p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>Honestly? I'd give more thought to any of the $300-or-so 10.5" "netbook" style computers, these days. Large (enough) hard drives, and the ability to run your choice of file browsing software. You can dump from your camera's memory card via a USB card reader, or directly tether. A netbook has a bigger display, much more flexibility, and you can use it to hop an a WiFi hotspot, check/send e-mail, etc. <br /><br />They're small, lightweight, have good battery life, and you'll have a better time showing your work to prospective customes. And, at $300-or-so, it's not the end of the world if you kill the machine out in the field. Still... I'd keep it in a plastic bag when you're out working in those conditions, until you need to fire it up.</p>

[alex_dannenbaum]

<p>Thanks Matt, you have a good point. Current price for the P-6000 is $434 with rebate. A simple netbook is approx $100 less. Yes, I save money, and have more flexibiltility with a netbook. My reason for leaning towards the Epson P-6000 is to have something small I could stuff in my camera bag, and something that would upload/download quickly. I am also concerned that a netbook would be an attractive item to get stolen and require more closer monitoring. The Epson is also designed specifiially for the photographer vs. the netbook which has a more varied role. <br>

The rebate ends on 3/31, so I have a couple of weeks to make my decision. I'll check em both out in the store before then. </p>

[jim_momary]

<p>Alex-</p>

<p>Epson P6000 - Amazon lists new for $534.95. (be careful the price you found isn't some scam site))<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Epson-P-6000-Multimedia-Storage-Audio-Video/dp/B001DK72ZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268521414&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Epson-P-6000-Multimedia-Storage-Audio-Video/dp/B001DK72ZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268521414&sr=1-1</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Epson-P-3000-Multimedia-Storage-Audio-Video/dp/B000J3ZGXY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268519698&sr=8-2"></a></p>

<p>size 8" x 9.7" x 4.5", 2.7 lbs. 640 x 480 screen 4" size. 80GB. CF and SDHC built in.</p>

<p>Netbook - for comparison argument, Dell Inspirion Mini 1011 Netbook. Amazon new for $324.90.<br />7.16" x 10.27" x 1.1", 3.2lbs. 1024 x 576 screen 10.1" size. 160GB. SDHC built in, add a reader for CF. (e.g., not sure if CF is built in) Longer battery life probably.</p>

<p>So, no size advantage or weight advantage either way. With the netbook, you can get online from a hotspot. Also do other rudimentary things as Matt intimated. To my simplistic mind, the time for the Epson P6000 has come and gone. It was a niche product, and other things are now strongly encroaching. All this is obviously my opinion.</p>

<p>Jim</p>

<p> </p>

[alex_dannenbaum]

<p>I checked out the netbooks today at Best Buy. I looked at about 5 or 6 different brands. Not one had a built in CF card, they all had SD however. With my Canon 50D, a CF card reader is a necessity. So this would mean if I go the netbook route, I would need to get an additional CF card reader to attach to the netbook. According to this Bob Atkins article<br>

<a href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/sandisk_compact_flash_card_readers.html">http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/sandisk_compact_flash_card_readers.html</a><br>

I should be thinking about a SanDisk reader. This should add between $25 -$60 to the cost of the netbook. </p>

[alex_dannenbaum]

<p>For what it is worth, Jim, the advertised rebate is with B&H, so I assume it is probably ok. Don't know how reliable Epson is about rebates, but I don't anticipate they would pose a problem. <br>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/573863-REG/Epson_B31B191002_P_6000_Multimedia_Photo_Viewer.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/573863-REG/Epson_B31B191002_P_6000_Multimedia_Photo_Viewer.html</a></p>