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General discussion

Macally SyncBox- Good or bad choice for picture transfering?

Apr 26, 2005 12:17PM PDT

Hi everyone. I am contemplating on buying this awesome portable device that will let me transfer my pictures from my Kodak DX7590 camera into it, and then I can download them into my computer later on from this devide.

Anyone out there familiar with it? How do you like it? Is it worth the $40 or so? I will appreciate the good advice!

Thanks Grin
YLC

Discussion is locked

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You'll need a memory card.
Apr 26, 2005 12:52PM PDT
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I'll need just the memory card... read this
Apr 26, 2005 12:58PM PDT
http://homepage.mac.com/techedgeezine/2004-0624_syncbox1.htm

It says here that you just have to insert your memory card into it and it reads it and it downloads the pictures into it. It saves them there until you want to download them into your pc's hard drive. So I only have to get that with a memory card and I'll be good to go!

Thanks. Grin
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Does the dx7590 support PTP?
Apr 26, 2005 1:08PM PDT
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I don't know what PTP is, lol... but I'll find out...
Apr 26, 2005 11:16PM PDT

if it supports it. I can also contact Kodak on this too or go to a local retail store and ask them too. Where did you get your device?

Thanks.

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Mine was from...
Apr 26, 2005 11:42PM PDT

compgeeks.com but they don't always have it. Newegg.com has them as well. After I got mine, a few friends picked them up too. The units double as external hard disks so that's a bonus.

Bob

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Sure, you are good to go until your card fills up. Then you
Apr 26, 2005 1:37PM PDT

are dead in the water until you buy another card, or download it to a computer.

Bob's solution stores 30-40 gigs. How much will you pay for 30-40 gigs of flash drive?

My camera has a 1gig card. I can easily fill it in a morning.

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VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE II VP2060 - Too Expensive for me
Apr 26, 2005 11:22PM PDT

This device sounds like is really cool and all but I can't pay that much for it. I only need something simple that I can download pictures in on a daily basis, maybe once or twice a day. I'm going to France but not on vacation, I will be taking classes there for 3 weeks - I'm in college and I can't spend that much money cause I don't have it. That's why I like the Macally SyncBox.

Happy

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Wait - NOT EXPENSIVE AT ALL!
Apr 27, 2005 12:05AM PDT

Ok, I went to that website you gave me to find the VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE II VP2060 and it said it was like $139 euros. But Newegg.com has it for $65, is that right?? WOW! So if I get this device, what else would I need? I'd only get it, the 1GB memory card and then I can just empty my memory card into it until I'm ready to download the pictures from the VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE II VP2060 into my pc's hard drive?

I appreciate all your help, Proffitt! Grin

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I used that plus a laptop hard disk.
Apr 27, 2005 12:11AM PDT

The price for laptop hard disks are all over the map. The first unit was some 11 GB I pulled out of my old laptop which I had upgraded to a 40GB 5400 RPM drive for 79 bucks.

Tip: For this device, you want the 4200 RPM drive. It takes less power (most models) than the 5400 or even 7200 RPM drives.

I would be surprised if you can't beat the cost of that other device even if you have to pick up a SD memory card.

Bob

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OK, so this device does not include the hard drive?
Apr 27, 2005 12:16AM PDT

So why would I choose the VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE II VP2060 over the Macally SyncBox? With the SyncBox I'd only need to buy in addition an USB drive and the memory card. Seems cheaper than buying the X's-Drive don't you think?

Let me know your opinion... I'm just so burned out on this. I want the easiest and cheapest way of doing this. Thanks for your help. You are great! Happy

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Simple. Even with my 11GB hard disk unit.
Apr 27, 2005 12:24AM PDT

You could hit close to 1,000 bucks in usb memory keys.

Do the math and consider that the macally unit seems to rely on the PTP (a protocol) support in the camera and I'm unsure about such.

Check for the return policy if it doesn't work out.

Bob

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OK, check this website and tell me what you think...
Apr 27, 2005 12:30AM PDT
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No hard disk in that unit, but a good price.
Apr 27, 2005 1:14AM PDT
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I can get 1GB memory card for...
Apr 27, 2005 2:06AM PDT

$70 in Sam's club. Good deal, right? Ok, so you don't think the camera is compatible with the Macally SyncBox and that it'd be cheaper to go with your X-s Drive?

Thanks.

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(NT) (NT) Those work. I have a few tosh and hitachis.
Apr 27, 2005 3:08AM PDT
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The one you recommended is refurbished...
Apr 27, 2005 7:34AM PDT

Can I trust refurbished electronics? Cause the one I showed you on that website are new, that's why they are more expensive.

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to Circuit City tonight or Friday.

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The ones you listed were new and ..
Apr 27, 2005 8:26AM PDT

Within a few bucks. Your choice, but new is nice.

Bob

PS. I get too much stuff from newegg and geeks.com

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Ok, back to the Macally SyncBox - Got new info
Apr 27, 2005 9:17PM PDT

I emailed the editors of the article I gave you about the SyncBox and they told me that they were told by Macally that the SyncBox should work with any camera with a USB 1.1 or 2.0 download port.

Now, does our camera has one of these? I think it does, but I'm not sure. I went on the Steve's Digicams
website but it doesn't really say.

Thanks for the insight. Happy Have a good day.

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That's a BAD answer!
Apr 27, 2005 9:30PM PDT

The Macally depends on PTP.

I will NOT carry on and explain why this is so in any great detail. But in a nutshell, it shows your contact didn't know what the samhill they are talking about.

How could a Macally transfer pictures from any camera that didn't have PTP and some unpublished protocol?

If you go with the Macally, be sure you can return it if it doesn't work out.

Bob

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Yeah, they are ********.
Apr 27, 2005 9:46PM PDT

I emailed them back telling them that I knew they aren't the manufacturer's but since they did write an article about it, I thought they'd know something, but I guess not! I'm not going to get that SyncBox or anything else till I go to Circuit City. You think I could find something in there, or at least another person with a good brain and great advice?

Thanks Happy

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I wish I could let you try the Vosonic and SD Card system...
Apr 27, 2005 10:22PM PDT

I wish I could let you try out the system I use. It's all of 3 pieces (camera, SD Card and the Vosonic box.) It's the best setup I've had in years and beats the laptop method I used years ago since I don't have a 1,000 buck plus laptop to worry about during the trip.

Bob

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LOL I wish you could too!
Apr 28, 2005 3:02AM PDT

I'm going to Circuit City now and see what they advice and I'm going to mention the Vosonic to them and see what happens from there. I'm running out of time and my budget's a little tight but we'll see what I can come up with.

Thanks for all your help. Talk to you later. Happy
YLC

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This is what they also said about the Macally SyncBox
Apr 28, 2005 10:31AM PDT

Actually, it has nothing to do with PTP, but in fact whether the camera or device supports the USB 1.0 or 2.0 "Mass Storage Specification". Two of the camera's we tested with are two recent Sony models (the DSC-V1 is pictured in the article) in which neither supports PTP but both worked perfectly with the Macally SyncBox. Both support USB Mass Storage Spec.

If you had a chance to visit the manufacturers web site for the SyncBox, it plainly states: " Note: Works with devices that support USB Mass Storage specification. For non-USB Mass Storage devices such as Canon camera and Kodak camera, a USB card reader can be used to transfer photos."

I got a device today... will tell you about it later.

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This is what they also said about the Macally SyncBox
Apr 28, 2005 11:34AM PDT

Actually, it has nothing to do with PTP, but in fact whether the camera or device supports the USB 1.0 or 2.0 "Mass Storage Specification". Two of the camera's we tested with are two recent Sony models (the DSC-V1 is pictured in the article) in which neither supports PTP but both worked perfectly with the Macally SyncBox. Both support USB Mass Storage Spec.

If you had a chance to visit the manufacturers web site for the SyncBox, it plainly states: " Note: Works with devices that support USB Mass Storage specification. For non-USB Mass Storage devices such as Canon camera and Kodak camera, a USB card reader can be used to transfer photos."

I got a device today... will tell you about it later.

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This is what I bought yesterday - Wolverine SixPac 6000
Apr 28, 2005 10:05PM PDT

Wolverine SixPac 6020 with a 20 CB hard drive for $250 (including warranty). It looks like it does the same thing as the Vosonic, can you research it for me and tell me if it's a good choice? I bought it at Ritz Camera - Circuit City had nothing like what I was looking for.

However, I may return it because it was $250 and i realized that I may just get 2 1GB memory cards and lower my MPs on my camera because $250 is a lot of money. But I may get it later on after I get back if you think it's a good device.

I appreciate all your help, Proffitt!

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I paid so little its not funny.
Apr 28, 2005 11:35PM PDT

I'm unsure how to compare a 250 dollar box to my 79+79 buck (160 or less) Vosonic box.

And with the hard disks being about 10 bucks less...

Maybe it doesn't matter but the Macally box does rely on a PROTOCOL. Since your contact didn't know this, it was a bad answer. The Macally box is not a good solution for me.

-> Again, I have tried a few things over the years and this is what I've ended up with and like.

Bob

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Yeah your way is cheaper but...
Apr 29, 2005 6:03AM PDT

I had to buy everything separately and I don't trust buying stuff over the internet. I wouldn't have gotten a warranty and if something was wrong with it, I couldn't return it as easily as going into a store. The Wolverine includes the hard drive and I all I'd have to buy separately is the memory card. Yeah I may be paying extra money, but at least I'd have a warranty for almost everything that can happen to the device.

But I think I'm going to return it because $250 is a lot for me right now. I'm just gonna get memory cards and then later on I can buy the Vosonic, if I trust ordering online, or buying the Wolverine.

Thanks for the help. I will let ya know what I ended up doing. Oh yeah, the writers of the article for Macally, are dumb, lol. Happy

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What about a barely used Vosonic Xs Drive II 20gig portable?
Apr 29, 2005 6:53AM PDT
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The NEAT thing about the Vosonic II drive is...
Apr 29, 2005 7:49AM PDT

It works on USB 1.1 and 2.0. That feature has saved some of my friends oodles of time.

Heck of a deal at 69 bucks.

Bob