Comments on: Review: SmartDisk FlashTrax 30GB Portable Multimedia Thing

By: adam

adam — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:23:36 +0000

Did you find out how to open the Flashtrax. The reset button on mine fall off. It’s look easy to put back. There is a screw under the warranty sticker, but that can not open it either.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 08:18:10 +0000

Thanks for writing this review, I was just about ready to buy when I looked it up but you really helped me. I thought this would be great for movies but I guess not. Thanks again.
Jeff

By: Yoz

Yoz — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:12:47 +0000

Marc, I’m still using mine (at least, my girlfriend is) so I may be interested in taking one of those batteries off you. Mail me.

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:02:47 +0000

I’ve now had to return TWO of these things after only a few weeks of use each time. Never again! And what am I going to do with the god-awful-expensive extra batteries I’ve bought???

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 16:43:53 +0000

I agree with Nate. I have this product and I absolutely LOVE it! It’s excellent for looking at your pictures and thinning the herd. Now I don’t have to take my laptop on vacation. The drive is blazing fast if you use usb 2.0. I think its the best of the image tanks out there right now and I’d definately recommend it.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 05:00:26 +0000

I did not find the product nearly as bad as the reviewer for the combination of things that it does. It is a great back up disk that connects easily to Apple as well as Microsoft computers. The photo display, though not plasma display quality, is adequate and better than most camera displays. The display on the TV look fine. I have play the MP3 player for 6 straight hours and found it to perform well and I had no problem with the screen burning out. I have iTunes on my Apple and loading to the Flashtrax was simple and fast.
I also like to use of the AVIs. This is not for looking at full-length movies but for capturing short clips of (the kids, grandkids, etc.) playing or at sports events. (I don’t think it advertises as anything more). How many people want to look at more than 15 second of your kids sporting events? If you want to show a whole game use your VCR, DVD, etc.
The audio quality of the player depends on the quality of the recording. The built in speakers are not good but does iPod provide built in speakers? Do you care? Use a good set of headphones and the sound is great. Plug it into your stereo system and the sound is great. I have even play it through an amp designed for a keyboard and the sound is great. Who cares if the timer skips every 2 seconds?
Showing off the kids, listening to music and backup up your computer (Apple or Microsoft), showing Powerpoint slides on TV is easily done with this product.
Battery life does suck, but most places that I use Flashtrax for a prolonged period of time has power outlets. Buy extra batteries if you use it in the field.
I obviously like this product. It could be better, however, I have been upgrading PCs both Apple and Microsoft system since 1980 still waiting for the perfect PC. Or do you use what suits your needs at this particular time? I’m sure a better product will arrive and this one will improve. I’m sure it’s not for everybody, but today it’s a good product.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 20 Nov 2003 02:26:59 +0000

Thank you for your review! I would not be using it for mp3 – just photo storage. What are your thoughts on just using it for that? Is the picture image really that bad? I saw Archos has a new one out – anyone hear anything about that one?

By: Joel (another Joel)

Joel (another Joel) — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 23:30:58 +0000

Great review. Thanks. Really makes me wonder what’ll happen to the comp. once apple release an ipod with a big colour screen (poss. touch screen to get rid of their buttons an allow for a screen the size of the ipod itself) that replays videos. If the music industry is pooing its pants at MP3, then it should be even more worried when we all start watching the videos on bus on the way to work.
Hurry up Apple and get that damn colour screen, video playback enabled ipod out. I’m waiting…
Jx

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 05:34:21 +0000

Cheers for this review i was gonna buy this but i aint now, found your review very descriptive
Cheers

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Oct 2003 13:25:05 +0000

The above mentioned heat problem had sucessfuly burn out my LCD after 45 minutes in my jacket pocket (while I was jogging). I had return it to the store as defective (after 8 weeks), unfortunately they can only exchange it for another Flashtrax. Now I am nolonger using the Flashtrax as a Mp3 device. I also have to fashioned a CPU fan to cool it for any extended use (what a pain). It was very useful during my 6 days shoot(20gigs of raw Nikon) in Asia. Now it was just 1 disappointment after another. I wish I had found your review earlier, I would just pack my laptop.