Epson P-3000 40GB Multimedia Storage Drive, Viewer, and Audio-Video Player w/ 4-Inch LCD

Experience the benefits of digital photography with the Epson P-3000. This powerful, compact device brings new flexibility and performance to digital photography. Watch movies in various formats, store and view photos through the crystal clear 4" Photo Fine Ultra LCD. There's a 40GB internal memory for image storage and back-up, long battery life for true portability and built-in CF and SD memory card slots. You can even listen to music on its built-in audio player.

Works Great (P. R. Johnson, East of San Diego, CA USA, 2008-07-30)

This is my first experience with this sort of device. It does everything it says it will do, does it fast, and the resulting images are bright, sharp and clear. The navigation system is easy to figure out and very user friendly. The device comes with built-in slots for Compact Flash and SD memory cards. The instruction book says you can buy a 3rd party Compact Flash Card adapter which can then be plugged into the CF card slot so that other memory card types can be used. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT!!! If you already have a multi-card reader and a USB cord, just plug your reader in to the USB port, then scroll in the menu to "Read USB Device", and bingo, it happily looks at whatever card you have. So far, a very satisfactory purchase. I wish the 80 Gb model wasn't so expensive (I bought the 40). No where in advertising or instructions is any mention made of recharging the battery. It happens automatically whenever you plug in the AC adapter. Be aware, spare batteries are VERY PRICEY! So is this device, but it is worth it.

terrific piece of mind (S. Greene, Sarasota, FL United States, 2008-07-19)

This is a replacement for my P-2000 which is still working but I'm mostly shooting in RAW now and the firmware update on the 2000 makes it run very slow; it was almost full anyway so now it is backup. The P-5000 is everything promised. While travelling (or just out shooting on a long day hike) it is so easy to download the card, review and keep only the ones you really want so you don't go home with hundreds of the same shot, blurry shots, or mistakes. I started using the Epson because I didn't want to lug a computer and didn't trust a transfer to DVD that I couldn't see. This is small, lightweight, easy to use and it has a fantastic screen I can see even without my glasses.

This device is fantastic! (Yoda, Hadera, Israel, 2008-07-18)

This device is absolutely wonderful. Not only does it work as a digital photo viewer but it also enables the user to listen to music files, watch older quicktime videos and can serve as an external hard drive.

With respect to the digital photo viewer options, the well lit 4" screen has superb resolution and reads most RAW files. The device permits user to not only review pictures but also delete those considered undesirable (unlike machines such as Sans Digital and Digi-Photo). That way one can delete pictures while returning from the field and upload only good ones to PC for printing. With respect to uploading pictures, it can upload from all major cards (i.e., SD, compact flash, etc.) at a reasonable rate (i.e., at about same rate as most other similar devices). This device, however, has big advantage over many of its competitors in that it can also upload pictures from other hard drives (via USB), flash cards and many other memory devices. It should be noted that these devices need to be FAT32 formatted. In addition, unlike many competing products, it can also download contents of its hard disk to another stand alone hard disk. The stand alone hard disk must be formatted as a FAT 32 however. For hard disks larger than about 30 gigs this can only be down using software such as Norton Utilities. By doing this you increase your ability to download more pictures. Carry a small portable hard disk with you and download as you fill the Epson p-3000 up and you will effectively have an Epson p-3000 with a much larger hard disk.

As a music player you can listen to mp3 amd wav files. The interface is intuitive and the software that comes with the machine makes this easy. You can also watch older quicktime videos (quicktime 4 and before). Quality of music and videos is quite good.

Last but not least the machine can be used as a portable hard disk (via USB cable).

Hence with the purchase of this product you not only get an extraordinary digital photo viewer/editor but also a music and video viewer and portable hard disk. All this for about 25% more than the price of an upper-end Ipod.

Olaf's (Robert O. Swanson, Phoenix, Arizona USA, 2008-07-10)

As an amature photographer, I have limited funds for equipment. I try to buy the best that I can afford. I wanted an Epson P5000, but settled on the P3000 which was more affordable. This has been one of my best purchases, it is versitle, easy to use and provides on the spot, in the field review that can't be equaled. As I was reviewing some photos at White Sands National Monument, several people stopped by to see them and all were impressed with the P3000. I'm sure you will get many more orders even if half of people buy it. Excellent product and I would like to add that Amazon is a user friendly place to shop.
Bob

Great tool, but.... (robert "doc" adelman, 2008-06-16)

I have a couple three various of these Epson P series digital media storage units. I have had sporadic software issues that allows me to create files that I can't manipulate or delete. It takes up almost no space and is but a minor annoyance, but... if you were thinking for even a moment that Epson on-line customer assistance is going to help you- fuggedaboutit- they don't seem to issue replies on problems with these units. I tried several time in different ways. Not happening. If you want real frustration, call the California customer service number. IF you do get through, IF the call is answered after a very length automatic "hold", IF the delightfully courteous Philippino who struggles with English has an inking of what the P- units are (they don't), you'll have spent an hour+ on the phone. I love these things, I wouldn't leave home without them, but with Apple biting close at their heels, I wouldn't be planning a coming out party for the next generation model. Buy one knowing that is is disposable technology in one of the most quickly evolving arenas of computer technology.