Can I use FW HD as a Firestore alternative?

H

HVX Austin

New member
I can't afford the firestore or p2 cards right now. What options do I have for Firewire Hard drives that would be compatable or support my footage. I read someone on another board mention a FW card that sells for 1,800. Do I need this too?
 
There are a few drives that are battery powered that will let you download a P2 card in the field, but none that you can actually record to. (Requires intelligent controller chipset) I use a USB battery powered on the go drive. Just push the button on the drive after you connect the USB cable and it takes about a minute per gig to transfer. Of course you cannot use the camera during this process. Since you have no P2 card your ONLY other option will be a laptop with capture software. (you can find Firestore for $1800, thats how much I payerd for mine which is on order)
There is the Citidisk option which is cheper than the Firestore but the jury is still out on how well it will actually work.
 
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You don't have to have the capture software on the laptop, but you do need to have a laptop. You can buy a mac powerbook (refurbished) G4 with full warranty for about $1300. Much cheaper than the firestore or P2 store. Get yourself an additional firewire drive for about $200 to $300 and you are out cheaper. Figure out your power needs , but I feel fs and p2 store are waaaaayyy to expensive for the size.
 
Those refurbished powerbooks are from apple and they have all warranties that new ones do . go to apple.com /store and scroll down to SAVE with the large red tag...knock yourself out. I bought a refurbished g4 over two years ago and haven't had one hiccup.
 
I also have 2 powerbooks BOTH refurbished (12" & 17") and they ROCK! You will still need some kind of software to capture a la Final Cut Pro.
 
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