Alternatives to P2 store at DVinfo.net

Nick Harris · December 7th, 2006, 09:01 PM

I have a macbook, but not a macbook pro and I'm going to be using the p2 cards on a shoot this weekend. Since the macbook has no PCMCIA slot, I've been looking all over the internet for a usb 2.0 PCMCIA card reader as an alternative to picking up something like the P2store. Does anyone know of a cheap usb 2.0 PCMCIA device or where I could find one??

Ned Soltz · December 7th, 2006, 10:11 PM

Doesn't exist yet...

David Saraceno · December 8th, 2006, 10:41 AM

Given the fact that the PCI Card slot requires a 32-bit interface, USB2 is a huge technological challenge.

Eric Peltier · December 8th, 2006, 05:33 PM

Duel systems will be releising in about 2 weeks the long awaited express card to PCMCIA adaptor
http://www.duel-systems.com/products/adapters.aspx
price will be around $100.

as far as other option than the P2 store, I strongly recommend the new-(er)
P2 drive from Panny, https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...ive/index.html
it's about the same price than P2 store, transfer rates are a lot fast (for mac users),it's Firewire 800 and USB2, you can insert 5 P2 card at once.
I also checked with Panny, it will work with 16GB card.
This unit combined with P2 genie are a great combination.

Sam Jankis · December 9th, 2006, 12:57 AM

Hmm... maybe I'll get one of them MacBook Pros now...

Andzei Matsukevits · December 9th, 2006, 10:12 AM

Eric, what is the difference between AJ-PCD20 and AJ-PCD10, BH just dont sell the pcd10 one?

Eric Peltier · December 9th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Don't buy the AJ-PCD10, it's useless on the mac cause it's only USB2, you'll end up with the same slow transfer rate than the P2 store.
the AJ-PCD20 as both usb2 and firewire800.
e.

Andzei Matsukevits · December 10th, 2006, 04:18 AM

Eric,

could you please give me some advice in my case:

im planning to by HVX but don't know how to solv P2 problem. I can effort 2-3 P2 cards, no more. I will always have a assistant for dumping them.

-I could spend around $2k for some kind of p2 reader/hardrive, but i heard that its slow for connecting it to PC.
-I can't get a firestore, because i think they make it only for NTSC cameras.
-Then i could by AJ-PCD20 and bring computer along when shooting. I see no problem there.
-But, isn't it cheaper and smarter to buy this new PCMCIA adaptor, i could bring my laptop along with some external drives. As you said its around $100. In this case i would save $1,5-2K

thanks!

Barry Green · December 10th, 2006, 01:21 PM

FireStore is made in PAL.

The cheapest/most-reliable offload station is a PC laptop with the PCMCIA slot. You can get one for under $500.

The adapter will (hopefully) prove to be an ideal solution for those who are using ExpressCard-only laptops. But until it's a marketed product, we can't definitively say that it'll solve your problem. It should, but sometimes "should" and "does" don't line up, so we'll have to see how it performs in reality. I have high hopes for it.

Eric Peltier · December 10th, 2006, 02:48 PM

yep, agree with barry here,
The upcoming adaptor seems like a good solution but we all know that new products often comes with new bugs,
Also, if your shoots require long uninterrupted shots (especially if you shoot 1080 format) whether you buy a cheap PC, or use the adaptor with your intel laptop, you still only have 1 PCMCIA slot to dump your cards.
That 's why I like the AJ-PCD20, it lets you set up a dumping station you can use to dump multiple cards at once and is great for for multi cameras shoots.
As far as the FireStore, I personally don't like it (again, this is my personal opinion, other people think it's the best option.)

Andzei Matsukevits · December 10th, 2006, 10:46 PM

FireStore looks like confortable way for recording material, but i have heard about some many bugs with them, i just want to be really sure that my footage is safe all the time...

ok, so this PCMCIA card should be out in two week or so? that means this year, right?

Eric Peltier · December 11th, 2006, 12:44 AM

yes, that's what the sales guy told me, out before the end of the year, so very soon.
e.

December 7th, 2006, 09:01 PM	#1
Nick Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles and San Diego, CA Posts: 68	Alternatives to P2 store I have a macbook, but not a macbook pro and I'm going to be using the p2 cards on a shoot this weekend. Since the macbook has no PCMCIA slot, I've been looking all over the internet for a usb 2.0 PCMCIA card reader as an alternative to picking up something like the P2store. Does anyone know of a cheap usb 2.0 PCMCIA device or where I could find one??

December 8th, 2006, 05:33 PM	#4
Eric Peltier Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco/Paris Posts: 121	Duel systems will be releising in about 2 weeks the long awaited express card to PCMCIA adaptor http://www.duel-systems.com/products/adapters.aspx price will be around $100. as far as other option than the P2 store, I strongly recommend the new-(er) P2 drive from Panny, https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...ive/index.html it's about the same price than P2 store, transfer rates are a lot fast (for mac users),it's Firewire 800 and USB2, you can insert 5 P2 card at once. I also checked with Panny, it will work with 16GB card. This unit combined with P2 genie are a great combination. __________________ Sights Sounds Stories www.tinboxtwo.com www.reardenstudios.com

December 9th, 2006, 04:40 PM	#7
Eric Peltier Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco/Paris Posts: 121	Don't buy the AJ-PCD10, it's useless on the mac cause it's only USB2, you'll end up with the same slow transfer rate than the P2 store. the AJ-PCD20 as both usb2 and firewire800. e. __________________ Sights Sounds Stories www.tinboxtwo.com www.reardenstudios.com

December 10th, 2006, 02:48 PM	#10
Eric Peltier Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco/Paris Posts: 121	yep, agree with barry here, The upcoming adaptor seems like a good solution but we all know that new products often comes with new bugs, Also, if your shoots require long uninterrupted shots (especially if you shoot 1080 format) whether you buy a cheap PC, or use the adaptor with your intel laptop, you still only have 1 PCMCIA slot to dump your cards. That 's why I like the AJ-PCD20, it lets you set up a dumping station you can use to dump multiple cards at once and is great for for multi cameras shoots. As far as the FireStore, I personally don't like it (again, this is my personal opinion, other people think it's the best option.) __________________ Sights Sounds Stories www.tinboxtwo.com www.reardenstudios.com

December 11th, 2006, 12:44 AM	#12
Eric Peltier Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco/Paris Posts: 121	yes, that's what the sales guy told me, out before the end of the year, so very soon. e. __________________ Sights Sounds Stories www.tinboxtwo.com www.reardenstudios.com

December 7th, 2006, 10:11 PM	#2
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Doesn't exist yet...

December 8th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#3
David Saraceno Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Inland Northwest Posts: 490	Given the fact that the PCI Card slot requires a 32-bit interface, USB2 is a huge technological challenge.

December 9th, 2006, 12:57 AM	#5
Sam Jankis Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Pete, FL Posts: 223	Hmm... maybe I'll get one of them MacBook Pros now...

December 9th, 2006, 10:12 AM	#6
Andzei Matsukevits Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 300	Eric, what is the difference between AJ-PCD20 and AJ-PCD10, BH just dont sell the pcd10 one?

December 10th, 2006, 04:18 AM	#8
Andzei Matsukevits Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 300	Eric, could you please give me some advice in my case: im planning to by HVX but don't know how to solv P2 problem. I can effort 2-3 P2 cards, no more. I will always have a assistant for dumping them. -I could spend around $2k for some kind of p2 reader/hardrive, but i heard that its slow for connecting it to PC. -I can't get a firestore, because i think they make it only for NTSC cameras. -Then i could by AJ-PCD20 and bring computer along when shooting. I see no problem there. -But, isn't it cheaper and smarter to buy this new PCMCIA adaptor, i could bring my laptop along with some external drives. As you said its around $100. In this case i would save $1,5-2K thanks!

December 10th, 2006, 01:21 PM	#9
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	FireStore is made in PAL. The cheapest/most-reliable offload station is a PC laptop with the PCMCIA slot. You can get one for under $500. The adapter will (hopefully) prove to be an ideal solution for those who are using ExpressCard-only laptops. But until it's a marketed product, we can't definitively say that it'll solve your problem. It should, but sometimes "should" and "does" don't line up, so we'll have to see how it performs in reality. I have high hopes for it.

December 10th, 2006, 10:46 PM	#11
Andzei Matsukevits Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 300	FireStore looks like confortable way for recording material, but i have heard about some many bugs with them, i just want to be really sure that my footage is safe all the time... ok, so this PCMCIA card should be out in two week or so? that means this year, right?