WOLVERINE 6020 20GB SixPac Media Reader & Storage Drive

Rating:
Summary: Basically does one thing--and works well
Review: Without being able to find a review anywhere for this device, went ahead and bought a 20GB Wolverine 6020 from B&H a few weeks ago. To date, have given it only modest use in the field downloading digital images in order to reuse SD memory cards. The 6020, unlike most competitor's products, does not have a blizzard of various data-related functions--no MP3 music capacity, no screen for reviewing work. It just records data off memory cards and can download them onto a computer.

The 6020 comes with a small, nylon zippered bag just big enough to hold the recorder held in with a velcro strap and additional room to hold a standard memory card holder (4 cards) and spare camera battery. Compared to my former habit of hauling around a large format camera, tripod, cut film holders, a change bag and boxes of film, the compact nature of digital photography is simply bizarre and easy on the back. Took the 6020 along with my Panasonic FZ10 to Yellowstone a few days ago and it all seemed to work together especially well.

I have a G4 Mirror Door dual 867 Power Mac using OX 10.2.5 and the Wolverine 6020 works perfectly--in fact, my Lexus 7-in-one card reader seems to fail from time to time causing downloads in Iphoto to quit (quessing its card-reader related and not the computer), but the Wolverine downloads 100's of images at once without a hitch. Just open the icon when it appears on the screen and drag the folders into the opened Iphoto collection of images.

The Wolverine is compatable with all the major memory cards and includes an adapter to read Olympus' newer XD cards. The battery is internal and (according to literature) holds a charge sufficient for 1.6 hours of use. In the field, a full 512MB SD memory card downloads into the 6020 somewhat faster than a Lexus card reader reads data into my G4 at home. Instructions caution to keep the 6020 still while in use.

The instructions give a hair-raising number of problem solving suggestions, giving the impression of great complexity--but these various addressed problems are spread over 4 separate operating systems, including Windows and Apple systems.

Anyone confident that they don't really need to review their images will find the 6020 seems to address the need of freeing up memory cards for reuse--the real reason I bought the thing. Oddly, a 40GB model only costs a little more--but I went for the cheapest version, paying $189.00, I think. My only qualification in this review is that I have not had much use experience as yet. As time goes by and I find serious issues with this device, I'll come back and squawk.

Also a possible caution--there is someone on Ebay selling look-a-like devices for a cheaper price. They seem identical, but do not have the Wolverine name under the device's clear window.