REVIEW: Hyperdrive SPACE

I bought one of the new hyperdrive space backup devices. i like it so much i thought id post my comments for others. First ill discuss cost. For what i got, i think it is a steal. I decided to buy just the case for $149. because it was said to be backordered, the comapny included the external battery pack, and either a neoprene case, or the cigarette plug to usb charger (one is included, and the other was extra) and free shipping. even though it was said to be at least a week backordered, mine shipped in 3 days! For a hard drive, i went with a 5400 RPM 100 GB Samsung 8mb cache drive (model HM100JC), shipped for only $74. Total price was $223 (cost is $279 with the 100GB drive already installed). You can buy one with up to a 160GB drive installed, or install your own, with no size limits!

The drive is awesome. it reads 18 different card types, and will do up to an amazing 100GB of transfer on one battery charge, and up to 300GB with the battery pack (which uses 3 AA's). You can of course have it verify the files are copied in a few different ways, which will use extra battery, but i did about 40GB of transfers with the highest verification level, and it still showed a full battery (have seen someone say they did 104GB or transfers and still had battery life left). It charges via of a mini usb cord, which most cameras and some cell phones use anyways. you can charge it directly from your laptop, with your phone or camera charger, or in your car with the cig plug to usb adapter and a usb to mini usb cord.

Operation of the device is very easy. 5 buttons and the screen tells you what each does. the screen is also backlit which helps a lot in low light. The size of the device is also nice. it will fit in your shirt pocket, so you are never seperated from your photos. As far as i am aware, it will read any file type (RAW and MOV files are no problem).

I have yet to actually take it on a trip, but from using it so far, i think it is an excellent product and have had no problems at all.

More info on it can be seen HERE

Thanks for the review.

I had been looking at this type of thing for trips when you can't take much gear.

Would you trust it with your images for a several week long trip? Knowing my luck i'd drop it and break the arm off the hard drive or something! I like the way you could potentially carry several hard drives and swap them out as they fill on a trip. Keeping it all in a small pelican case.

I have one of the older Hyperdrives. I have also used a Tripper and an Image Tank G2. The Hyperdrive is significantly faster than either of the other drives. The other important factor is that it hasn't died like the Image Tank, although I suspect I should take some blame for the Image Tanks demise.

The Hyperdrive uses AA batteries and can run off your car battery or wall current.

I would trust it for backups while traveling, but treat it like any other piece of camera gear, it will break if dropped or soaked.

Last trip I was on I used my Hyperdrive to store my images and I also backed the same images onto my laptop.

Hyperdrive promised 48 hour delivery, they didn't deliver on time but they did deliver 2 weeks later and included 8 Maha AA as compensation for the late delivery. Fair enough for me.

I did buy the empty shell, but looking at their prices, the included hard drive versions are a good deal.

I have one of the older Hyperdrives. I have also used a Tripper and an Image Tank G2. The Hyperdrive is significantly faster than either of the other drives. The other important factor is that it hasn't died like the Image Tank, although I suspect I should take some blame for the Image Tanks demise.

The Hyperdrive uses AA batteries and can run off your car battery or wall current.

I would trust it for backups while traveling, but treat it like any other piece of camera gear, it will break if dropped or soaked.

Last trip I was on I used my Hyperdrive to store my images and I also backed the same images onto my laptop.

Hyperdrive promised 48 hour delivery, they didn't deliver on time but they did deliver 2 weeks later and included 8 Maha AA as compensation for the late delivery. Fair enough for me.

I did buy the empty shell, but looking at their prices, the included hard drive versions are a good deal.

Used the same (Space) device with great satisfaction. Advice: ALWAYS make sure you have two backups.

Michel

Thanks for the review.

 

I had been looking at this type of thing for trips when you can't take much gear.

 

Would you trust it with your images for a several week long trip? Knowing my luck i'd drop it and break the arm off the hard drive or something! I like the way you could potentially carry several hard drives and swap them out as they fill on a trip. Keeping it all in a small pelican case.

i trust it with my images so far, but i also make surei have access to a computer to make disk backups as well. of course it is etter than nothing. you could change out multiple harddrives, but i wouldnt suggest it. i would go ahead and invest in a larger quality drive.

Color me paranoid if you must but I only trust non-magnetic media for my trip backups.

I'm a computer professional and I can tell you the formula is pretty simple:

Forget about Mean Time Between Failures and all those other supposed measurements about reliability and remember this one simple measure:

The chance of a disk crash is in direct proportion to the irreplaceability of the contents.

I use Aperture and have resorted to setting up a separate project for each day. One folder for me and one for the wife. At the end of each day I burn the project onto a DVD. 4.7Gb is quite a few images even at 13Mb per...