P2 offloading solutions?

S

sodotoguwangus

Well-known member
Okay, I know all about the firestore, and the P2 store, and the whole idea behind the I-pod solution.

It seems the best solution, however, is to simply buy a cheap pc laptop computer with a large hard-drive.

That's what I'm gonna do.

A question first:

In buying a cheap (as in dirt cheap) pc laptop for P2 transfer/offload, are there any specific features/specifications that I need to be aware of before I make my purchase? Anything that I should be specifically looking for?

I guess I need a large hard drive, a pcmcia slot, and a firewire port (although I'm not sure that the firewire port is entirely necessary.)

Am I forgetting anything here?

Thanks.
 
Don't but CHEAP, buy inexpensive :-)

You don't need a large HD.. I wouldn't place any of your media on the laptop HD, use external Drives.. My FAV is the Western Digital 120GB PASSPORT
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=199&language=en
$139 at costco, with a cool case..
I've edited an HD Fishing show with this small LAPTOP POWERED DRIVE.. It works great, looks great, and IS GREAT..
I'd get a gig or more of memory but not before you try it with what it comes with..
PCMCIA slot.
Extra Battery for your computer..
Inverter for your car (one that can power a few things, not just a laptop)

I would get one with BOTH firewire and USB 2.0.. You never know what drive your client will give you for you media.. I find USB 2.0 on a PC to be faster.

Good luck..
 
I guess I need a large hard drive, a pcmcia slot, and a firewire port (although I'm not sure that the firewire port is entirely necessary.)
Click to expand...

That's all that's absolutly neccesary. I personally would recommend a DVD burner as well.
 
Justin, thanks. That usb powered HDD is exactly what I was looking for. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

But why do you say you wouldn't place any of your media on a laptop? Because it's not safe? Is the media mor likely to get lost or corrupted? Just curious.

And is that hdd you recommended considered usb on the go?

Thanks again.

Justin Marx said:
Don't but CHEAP, buy inexpensive :-)

You don't need a large HD.. I wouldn't place any of your media on the laptop HD, use external Drives.. My FAV is the Western Digital 120GB PASSPORT
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=199&language=en
$139 at costco, with a cool case..
I've edited an HD Fishing show with this small LAPTOP POWERED DRIVE.. It works great, looks great, and IS GREAT..
I'd get a gig or more of memory but not before you try it with what it comes with..
PCMCIA slot.
Extra Battery for your computer..
Inverter for your car (one that can power a few things, not just a laptop)

I would get one with BOTH firewire and USB 2.0.. You never know what drive your client will give you for you media.. I find USB 2.0 on a PC to be faster.

Good luck..
Click to expand...
 
I would definetly get a laptop with 60+ gigs. It's a PITA to lug around a laptop AND and an external drive. Think, if your laptop HD is large enough, there is no need for the external. Also, when transfering to the external, (at least in my experience) my transfer times take longer. More equipment to lug around and longer transfer times... THAT SUCKS!
 
<Shameless selfpromotion>
You might want to consider the P2 Genie for Windows to help automate the offloading process ;-)
</Shameless selfpromotion>
 
Justin Marx said:
Don't but CHEAP, buy inexpensive :-)

You don't need a large HD.. I wouldn't place any of your media on the laptop HD, use external Drives.. My FAV is the Western Digital 120GB PASSPORT
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=199&language=en
$139 at costco, with a cool case..
Click to expand...

Is the Western Digital 120GB PASSPORT a good first solution, if you don't have the money for a firestore 100gb? It has only a usb 2.0 input. Thats low for a 100mbit/sec capture.
I see that the portable harddrive takes the power from the usb input. Takes the harddrive much of the batteri on the hvx camera?
Im going to buy a hvx200 in december and im right now looking for all the accessories i have to buy. Going to shoot tapeless.
 
Last edited:
Be careful, some peripherals powered by the USB bus require TWO ports because their power requirements exceed the current that can be delivered by one port.

Check if that is the case with this drive, or ensure that you have two available USB ports.
 
I know that you are looking for something cheap,

i had some good experience with a quite easy fujitsu siemens laptop for 200 cards downloading, 2 years old and did cost 1000 euro back then...!

Now i am looking for something else,i would recommend those things:

- internal HDD with 100 gig minimum (when we were outside, i downloaded a lot to the internal hdd, never any trouble, better then the hustle with an external, powered or not)

- PCMCIA (type II)


- expresscard-slot(34 or 54) to have the possibility for e esat or FW800 adapter, that gives you the possibility for much faster downloads to your external HDD , i hope

- DL-DVD burner, internal, big help!

-2 or three usb 2

did i miss something? - to me 1 gig ram is minimum....i also think about to have a laptop with a good performance(which is more expansive of course) to be ableto edit "in the field".
Wount happen often, butt ill be happy to use edius and the laptop in the field!

- firewire-barry suggested that importance(thanks!) to be able to use dvrack..!
 
sodotoguwangus said:
But why do you say you wouldn't place any of your media on a laptop? Because it's not safe? Is the media mor likely to get lost or corrupted? Just curious.

And is that hdd you recommended considered usb on the go?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

It is a recommendation from The Adobe people as well as FCP that you never record your video or place your video on the same drive where your editing program is residing.
I use a maxtor 250 gig hard drive in the field all powered with a portable power.
The WD drive from above looks like it would do the job though.
 
maverickstunts said:
It is a recommendation from The Adobe people as well as FCP that you never record your video or place your video on the same drive where your editing program is residing.
I use a maxtor 250 gig hard drive in the field all powered with a portable power.
The WD drive from above looks like it would do the job though.
Click to expand...


I would assume he is just using this computer for offloading purposes not for editing. If it is just for offloading, there is no need to use an external. I've personally never had any issues with using internal HD for editing/system files. For big projects, I wouldn't use it, but for spot checks of footage and just something really rough/raw, don't be affraid.
 
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