SmartDisk Corporation Photobank 40GB USB Digital Image Storage Device
Note: accepts cards up to 2GB maximum.
The SmartDisk Digital Photo Bank is very simple to use. There is virtually no set up, and it ships with a built-in, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so there are no batteries to replace. You can use it in the field with the battery power, which takes up to four hours to fully recharge, and conversely you can also use it with the included power adapter. It features memory card slots for the most popular memory card formats, such as Compact Flash Type I and II, Microdrive, Secure Digital, multimedia card, Smart Media, memory Stick, and memory Stick Pro.
The memory card slots are built along the sides of the device. Compact Flash and Micro Drive are located along the top of the unit, Smart Media along the right side, and SD, MMC, and MS located on the left side of the Digital Photo Bank. When you power on the unit, you can then insert your memory card and the Digital Photo Bank will detail the amount of memory on the card as well as the amount of disk space remaining on the drive. Press the copy button (which is next to the on/off button) and it will start copying the data from the memory card to the drive. While other similar devices will enable you to view your images, the SmartDisk Photo Bank is strictly a storage device for storing and transporting digital images to another device, such as a computer. When images are stored to the SmartDisk Photo Bank, the device updates, displaying how much space is left on the unit.
Copying images from the device involves plugging one end of the in the included USB cable into the SmartDisk PhotoBank and the other into your Windows 98SE or later or Mac OS 9.2 or later computer. Turn the SmartDisk PhotoBank and it will appear as the drive letter PHOTOBANK in Windows or a drive icon on the Mac OS. Drag the folders on the PhotoBank to the host computer. As it copies, it shows an icon detailing the type of memory card installed, as well as the percentage of copying performed. Once copying is complete, it will read 100 percent. The chart below details how fast the device writes data from various memory cards.
| Card type/capacity |
minutes:seconds |
| Compact Flash/505MB |
3:28 |
| SD/252MB |
2:46 |
| Compact Flash/ 252MB |
1:47
|
| Memory Stick Pro duo/987MB |
8:08 |
The SmartDisk PhotoBank PB40 is the perfect device for digital photographers who need to offload their memory cards while on assignment but don't want to lug around a notebook computer to do so. It is nicely built and supports the most popular memory card formats. Slightly larger than a deck of playing cards, it is constructed of metal and plastic and sports a tiny but readable LCD screen. The data you can read on the screen includes the amount of disk space left on the drive, the amount of space read on the memory cards, if the unit is attached to the computer via USB and battery power. It is so simple to use and helps to reduce the amount of stuff you would have to otherwise carry. The SmartDisk PhotoBank ships with a USB cable, carrying case, manual, and AC adapter for charging the battery or powering the unit.
Key Features
- Transfer and store photos to internal 40GB hard drive, allowing reuse of a flash memory card
- Copy photos quickly and easily from Compact Flash I/II, MicroDrive, Memory Stick, MS-PRO, SD, Mini-SD, MMC and
- SmartMedia flash memory cards
- Monitor data transfer via the LCD status indicator
- Connect to PC using Hi-Speed USB
- Store over 20,000 photos (based on 1.6MB file size)
- Transfer multiple flash memory cards on a single battery charge (rechargeable lithium-ion battery)
What's Included:
- AC Adapter/Charger
- USB Cable
- Carrying Case
- User Guide
- Manufacturer's Limited Warranty