Rating: 
Summary: Backup digital photos without a computer
Review: The RoadStor is great for backing up digital photos
and playing DVDs when traveling or after you get home.
It can also play audio CDs and connect to a computer.*Backing up Digital Photos*
The RoadStor can back up the following types of
media cards to CD without a computer:
- MultiMedia Card and Secure Digital
- Memory Stick
- SmartMedia
- CompactFlash Types I/II and IBM Microdrive Backing up a media card is super simple--stick in
the media card and blank CD, and press the backup
button twice. You can burn multiple cards to the
same CD as long as you have room on the CD. (Watch
out for media cards that hold more than a CD!) The RoadStor does mess up the file dates for the
picture. The file dates for all photo burned
at the same time have the same date, even though
they were taken at different times. You can extract
the correct date information from the exif data in
the photo. *Connecting to a TV*
You must connect the RoadStor to a TV if you want to view any pictures on CD or view a DVD. It can
connect via S-video or RCA cables. The cables
are included. You can also connect the RoadStor to a digital
camcorder that takes an s-video input to view
pictures on CD. *Playing DVDs*
The RoadStor also works as a DVD player, if you have
a TV to hook the RoadStor up to. You'll need the included
remote control. Some of the buttons on the remote control
have confusing labels. *Playing Audio CDs*
You can play audio CDs on the RoadStor. You need
headphones (not included). Plus, you have to use
the remote control to adjust the volume. *Connecting to Computer*
You can connect the RoadStor to a computer via USB
to use it as a regular CD burner / DVD reader / card reader.
You have to turn the RoadStor on before plugging it
into the computer, or some functions might not work correctly. *International Travel*
The RoadStor can switch between NTSC and PAL formats
and is dual voltage. You will still need a plug adapter
for power and the proper hook-ups on the TV. *What You Get*
The RoadStor includes everything you need (except a TV)
- the drive itself
- some blank CDs
- CD burning software for Windows computers
- carrying case
- battery
- power adapter
- remote control
- all cables *Summary*
The RoadStor does a lot in a portable package. It is most
useful for backing up digital photos when traveling without a
computer. The other features (playing DVDs, playing audio CDs,
connecting to a computer) are adequate, but not as nice as
DVD/CD burners and players that don't backup photos.
Rating: 
Summary: The perfect hotel room buddy
Review: The two most popular solutions for backing up a digital camera during a vacation is to either bring your laptop computer or use a digital wallet (portable hard drive). Laptop computers are heavy and take up valuable carry-on baggage space. Portable hard drives do not give me the most amount of confidence, but are small enough to stuff in a camera bag. This gizmo backs up photographs to CD-R or CD-RW (I prefer not to use CD-RW since a multi-session CD-RW is not as reliable to read). Backing up digital photos to CD-R while traveling provides a shock-proof, xray-proof media which will have you sleeping a bit easier at night. It also eliminates that long USB download when you get home. It's a little bulky to drag around during landscape photography day trips, but it makes a wonderful hotel room companion. Just unload your CF card(s) at the end of the day with the press of a button. Bring an RF modulator with you to review your photos on the hotel TV. It also doubles as a DVD player which can play all my DVD-R's. It also holds many hours of MP3's, using the video output and infrared remote as a song selector. There are a few annoyances, for this otherwise perfect device. The USB cable is too short to do anything with. The power cable can wiggle out unless you prop it up just right, but the plug is compatible with most popular battery packs and 9v adapters. The owner's manual is only a few pages long, so if you don't like figuring stuff out through experimentation, it may drive you nuts for a while. But, as for the function and design - you can't find anything better. The drive is similar to those found on most laptop (notebook) computers. The built-in DVD player is wonderful. It's just a great idea and I wish I had thought of it myself. Oh, in case your notebook computer needs a CD burner or DVD drive, it will do that too. Grab one before they raise the price.
Rating:
Summary: The perfect hotel room buddy
Review: The two most popular solutions for backing up a digital camera during a vacation is to either bring your laptop computer or use a digital wallet (portable hard drive). Laptop computers are heavy and take up valuable carry-on baggage space. Portable hard drives do not give me the most amount of confidence, but are small enough to stuff in a camera bag. This gizmo backs up photographs to CD-R or CD-RW (I prefer not to use CD-RW since a multi-session CD-RW is not as reliable to read). Backing up digital photos to CD-R while traveling provides a shock-proof, xray-proof media which will have you sleeping a bit easier at night. It also eliminates that long USB download when you get home. It's a little bulky to drag around during landscape photography day trips, but it makes a wonderful hotel room companion. Just unload your CF card(s) at the end of the day with the press of a button. Bring an RF modulator with you to review your photos on the hotel TV. It also doubles as a DVD player which can play all my DVD-R's. It also holds many hours of MP3's, using the video output and infrared remote as a song selector. There are a few annoyances, for this otherwise perfect device. The USB cable is too short to do anything with. The power cable can wiggle out unless you prop it up just right, but the plug is compatible with most popular battery packs and 9v adapters. The owner's manual is only a few pages long, so if you don't like figuring stuff out through experimentation, it may drive you nuts for a while. But, as for the function and design - you can't find anything better. The drive is similar to those found on most laptop (notebook) computers. The built-in DVD player is wonderful. It's just a great idea and I wish I had thought of it myself. Oh, in case your notebook computer needs a CD burner or DVD drive, it will do that too. Grab one before they raise the price.
| 
