Is P2 store obsolete?

Green Hornet

Green Hornet

Veteran
If the P2 store is only 60 gig, and cost $1,600 with very few buyers,

and there will be other hard drive based streaming solutions that are 100 gig for around $1,000, does that make the P2 store obsolete?

I think it was explained why they were only 60 gig, but for the price, it hardly makes sense.

For a days shooting, you would need more than one.
If the laptop solution works, you gain a laptop for the same money.
 
I have yet to hear any logical explaination as to why they're only 60GB. I would imagine that for the ruggedness of the unit, a drive using three 20GB platters would make sense in terms of density and heads wandering due to shock/vibration and motion. ...But I have not read or heard such a reason.

As P2 card sizes increase beyond 8GB, a 60GB P2 Store is worthless.
 
I thought it was only intended to be an intermediary between P2 card and laptop (or post-house)? So, the camera operator would wear it on the belt-buckle, and download every third P2 to it. Every hour or so, the production assistant would take the P2 store, and download that to laptop (or drive it to the post-house).

I could be mistaken, but a Panasonic rep told me that was its intended function.
 
That is the intended function. It's just that it loses its effective usefulness as P2 capacities increase. With 4GB P2 cards, you can only store 14 P2 cards worth of data on the P2 Store. 7 cards worth with 8GB P2s, etc... The 60GB hard drive also isn't that fast and speeds are barely real-time.

The P2 Store has been around a while... It probably made perfect sense for an ENG application for DVCPRO[50] and 2GB P2 cards. But as P2 capacities increase and with other options like the FireStore and CinePorter, I think the P2 Store has little life left in it.
 
Green Hornet said:
and there will be other hard drive based streaming solutions that are 100 gig for around $1,000
Click to expand...

If the FS100 turns out to only be $1,000, then I'll be pretty happy. The lowest estimated street price I've heard is $1,400. Others say $1,800.
 
I own a P2 Store and, in my experience, the idea of clipping it to your belt and downloading as you shoot is a fantasy. The unit - like any hard drive - must be placed flat and not shaken around at all while downloading. Even riding in a car causes the warning light to flash. To be honest, the best thing about it is how it can re-format the card. Reformatting in the laptop is kind long process, and reformatting in the camera requires you to stop shooting.
 
Bono said:
I own a P2 Store and, in my experience, the idea of clipping it to your belt and downloading as you shoot is a fantasy. The unit - like any hard drive - must be placed flat and not shaken around at all while downloading. Even riding in a car causes the warning light to flash. To be honest, the best thing about it is how it can re-format the card. Reformatting in the laptop is kind long process, and reformatting in the camera requires you to stop shooting.
Click to expand...

Interesting! Hmmm. I'll definitely re-think the P2 Store.
 
I want the P2 store.... It just isn't worth what they are asking.
First coffee was .59 cents, then Starbucks charged $2-$3. This is like getting the same coffee for $15

Even Donald Trump can see that the pricing just isn't right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top