PC Show 2004 Product Launch: CompactDrive Portable Storage Device

[crazypaladin]

I bought this during the PC Show. Also used it yesterday for a wedding shoot.

Have to give credit when its due... It's great!

Upz for Eastgear for bringing in better devices!

Is the build-in charger a quick 1-hr charger??

 

[ken00]

anyone knows the dimension and weight of the baby?

thanks

 

[Sausage]

Can this accept 12mm notebook hard disks, or only the 9mm ones?

 

[JLK]

I bought this during the PC Show.

Hi Mapman,

Some questions about the Compact drive:

1) With the USB cable attached, can you shut down the device by simply switching off, or do you need to pull off the cable to do so (like the Superdigibin)?

2) Can the device be used as an external HDD to back up computer files?

3) Is the USB cable end that fits into the compact of standard shape?

4) Are prices quoted on this page in US Dollars ?

Best Regards
JLK

 

[Mapman]

Hi Mapman,

Some questions about the Compact drive:

1) With the USB cable attached, can you shut down the device by simply switching off, or do you need to pull off the cable to do so (like the Superdigibin)?

2) Can the device be used as an external HDD to back up computer files?

3) Is the USB cable end that fits into the compact of standard shape?

4) Are prices quoted on this page in US Dollars ?

Best Regards
JLK

1. There is one 3-way switch (HDD-Off-Card) which dictates the operations. Anyway, I just switch the device off (HDD->Off). Not sure whether this is the proper method. :think:
2. Yes
3. I think its a standard 4-pin USB end (similar to those found in digital cameras)
4. S$249 (w/o HDD) and S$399 (w 40GB HDD)

The device is quite dumb actually, unlike Nixvue which has richer features (ie. CRC verify). When you switch to "Card" mode, it will show (1) info on the diskspace left and (2) perform copy of the card's content to the HDD. When you switch to the "HDD" mode, it will let you use it as an external Hard drive thru your PC.

 

[Mapman]

Is the build-in charger a quick 1-hr charger??

Not sure on this.... I only used my Maha to charge those AAs. :embrass:

Maybe EastGear can help with this query.

 

[JLK]

Can this accept 12mm notebook hard disks, or only the 9mm ones?

More info from manufacturer:
http://www.3hdigital.com/en/fun-pd.htm
http://www.3hdigital.com/en/spc-pd.htm

JLK

 

[Sausage]

btw, since it doesn't verify, does it at least report when errors occurred?

 

[raychan]

More info from manufacturer:
http://www.3hdigital.com/en/fun-pd.htm
http://www.3hdigital.com/en/spc-pd.htm

JLK

Strange. From the links, the specs mentioned that the max transfer speed is 3MB/sec. However, Eastgear advertised it as 4MB/sec.

Furthermore, there are two different models; the PD6A and the PD6F. Any idea which model is Eastgear selling ?

:think:

 

[sneakybear]

Hi EastGear,

http://www.3hdigital.com/en/spc-pd.htm

The website listed 2 models: PD6A and PD6F. The picture on your first post looks like the PD6F but i vaguely remembered seeing only 1 button (i.e PD6A)when I visited you PC show booth. Can you confirm which model you are selling?

Also, is this product available now at your store?

 

[Sausage]

Just got it, and I'm wondering how to use the battery charger function. Has anyone got it to work? The instructions don't document a thing.

 

[BigBelly]

Hi Guys,

The model we have is the PD6A. The image is provided by the manufacturer which is the PD6F.

The manual states a copy speed of 2.6 mb/s. But when tested on a normal speed CF card, the speed was 3.7 mb/s. On a SanDisk U2 or Lexar 40X, the speed was up to 4.5 mb/s.

The battery charger function charges at a current of 800mA. To charge the batteries, plug in the AC / DC adaptor and make sure the device is in the OFF position.

 

[JLK]

Hi Guys,

The model we have is the PD6A. The image is provided by the manufacturer which is the PD6F.

The picture displayed on your website is definitely misleading. As I had visited the manufacturer's web site before, I thought I was about the PD6F which is a higher end product.

BTW, will the PD6F be available from your shop?

Best Regards
JLK

 

[BigBelly]

Unlikely unless there is a demand.

How the PD6F works is the devices makes a disc image of the card regardless of the space used on it. eg. 20mb of a 512mb CF is used. The PD6F however does a 512mb image onto the harddisk.

This takes up a lot of space and time.

However if there is a demand we will definitely bring it in.

Oh...forgot to mention that the PD6F has to be bought with the harddisk like the Nixvue DA2 and Vista and is not user upgradable.

Hi Guys,

The model we have is the PD6A. The image is provided by the manufacturer which is the PD6F.

The picture displayed on your website is definitely misleading. As I had visited the manufacturer's web site before, I thought I was about the PD6F which is a higher end product.

BTW, will the PD6F be available from your shop?

Best Regards
JLK

 

[sneakybear]

Hi EastGear,

Some qns:

Is the product currently available in your shop?
What is the price with and without the harddisk?
What is the harddisk specs you are supplying? Size, brand, spin speed?

I am interested in getting one with 40gb. If the price is right, will go to your shop to buy today or tommorrow.

 

[BigBelly]

1. Yes
2. $399 (40GB), $249 (Shell)
3. Hitachi 40GB, 4200 RPM, 2MB Cache

Hi EastGear,

Some qns:

Is the product currently available in your shop?
What is the price with and without the harddisk?
What is the harddisk specs you are supplying? Size, brand, spin speed?

I am interested in getting one with 40gb. If the price is right, will go to your shop to buy today or tommorrow.

 

[tempest]

I thought that it is to be small and light weight.

Are you all saying that the device cannot be connected to the PC by way of AA sized batteries? This means that everytime when I want to transfer files from the device into my PC, I must first connect it with its AC adapter first. :bigeyes:

Strange. Even X-Drive II is able to connect to PCs like that. I don't see why this device is unable to do that.

yeah ... at least thats what the guys at the PC Fair told me to my surprise.

 

[BigBelly]

the device is able to work with the adaptor plugged in.

 

[EastGear]

When the CompactDrive is connected to the PC, it can be powered either with AA batteries or with AC adaptor.

 

[Sausage]

Can I know the model of hard disk sold with this? Is this the series?

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/5k80/5k80.htm

I need to know if this works with 1.8" or 2.5" hard drives, or both.