With the increasing use of tablets and smart phones in the field there is a growing need for field data storage. You might ask why you’d need field storage if you’re uploading data at the end of everyday and maybe in a few years you’d be right. However, today people are still a bit skittish about having all their data on a “fragile” tablet with no backup. Enter WiFi field storage devices and the HyperDrive ColorSpace for iPad.
Now, there are certainly comparable devices out there that don’t have all the bells and whistles of this one but this device has a few tricks up its sleeves that leave the others wanting.
Let’s get the details out of the way first. The basic model sells for $399 and has a 250GB capacity. That alone is more than enough storage for an entire several-field-crew unit to upload everything to. But, if that’s not enough you can slip in any 2.5 in SATA hard drive (120 to 1TB). You can also carry extra batteries, although, the battery it comes with can backup 250GB of data on a single charge. More than adequate for the typical field crew.
The unit is small at only about 5 in by 3 in by 1 in with a weight of 10.5 oz. The HyperDrive has a 3.2 in color LCD screen with a high resolution display. There are two memory card slots that support 12 different card formats ranging from Compact Flash to SD to xD and others. The data transfer to an iPad is 20MB/s which is pretty quick. Operating temperatures range from 41F to 104F so there might be a problem with use in the winter or in the South ANY time of the year.
The major selling point of this unit that makes it different from most others is the ability to see and manipulate all your files on the color LCD screen. At any point you can check and see what you have and what you need. It might be nice to have in the field at the end of a session when you weren’t sure if you took overviews at that one site several days ago. You can check the photo logs but you can also check the photos directly on the hard drive. That’s way easier than going back to the truck and getting the laptop out.
The other option from HyperDrive is the HyperDrive Hard Drive for iPad. It’s a small hard drive that connects to the iPad using the Apple Camera Connection kit. On the website you can buy up to a 1TB hard drive. It doesn’t have a screen so to see what’s on it you have to be connected to the iPad. That might be a hassle down the road, but, for most operations it’s probably OK.
The hard drive costs $199.95 for the 320GB version and goes up to $399.95 for the 1TB version. There is also a casing only option for $99.95. This allows you to have multiple hard drives that you can insert into the casing and use when you need.
The ColorSpace model would be best for a totally digital operation. You’d be able to plug in the tablets and transfer data anytime you want. You’d also be able to take the memory cards out of the cameras and upload the photos. It’s a full-service backup option for the entire field crew.
Have any other field storage options? Let me know in the comments or on the contact form to the right (if you’re actually on the webpage and not reading this on Feedler or Flipboard or something).
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!