First Impression - ASKA Tripper V Portable Storage Device (Epson P-5000 Killer?)

[KhoKing]

ASKA Tripper V Speed?

One of the most important aspect of a Photo Storage Device is the download speed of photos to the device or so call backup of memory card during shooting. Some device can take upto 20 mins to backup a 1GB memory card, while the fastest that I have known to date is NEXTO Ultra ND-2525 which can backup a 1GB memory card in less than a minute.

Since I got some extra mood today, so I tested the speed of ASKA Tripper V.

Backup memory card data to Tripper V is very very easy. Insert the memory card and press the COPY button, copy will start immediately. Once it finished, it will play a nice piano sound twice (no, the sound is not disturbing). Then it will show a message Completed. You must press the OK button before you can continue.

There are two types of COPY function in ASKA Tripper V: Normal or Quick Copy.

Normal copy is the slow type. During copying, the LCD screen will still remain ON and you can see the copy status bar showing in real time how many files or data has been copied.

Quick Copy is also called as High Speed Copy. During Quick Copy, the LCD screen will go black and the Copy button will flash the blue light.

Default is Normal Copy, but can be changed in SETTING to Quick Copy.

80 Files 988MB Data (Imation CF memory card, 2 years old, maybe around 60X):

    * Normal Copy = 3 mins 12 seconds (http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp shows similar results of 3 mins 23 seconds in their test. Not extremely fast in today’s standard.)
    * Quick Copy = 1 min 52 seconds (http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp shows similar results of 1 mins 34 seconds in their test. Pretty good by today’s standard.)
    * ASKA website claims the time to be 88 seconds with high speed CF memory card, which must be in Quick Copy mode. Memory card does play an important role in backup/download speed, so with faster card, the time should reduce.

Now I am testing the PC connection speed to Tripper V. It would be useless if the PC accessing speed to the data on Tripper V is slow.

For the backup data above (80 files, 988MB):

    * from Tripper V to PC via USB2.0 = 63 seconds

5 movie files total 1.01GB:

    * from PC to Tripper V via USB 2.0 port = 65 seconds

66 Nikon NEF files total 1.01GB:

    * from my PC to Tripper V (Write Speed) = 63 seconds
    * from Tripper V to PC (Read Speed) = 62 seconds

Why do I test copying speed from PC to Tripper V? Sometimes if you want to move or copy some movie files to play on the Tripper V, then you will appreciate the write speed of the Tripper V.
Conclusion:

Memory card backup/download speed is acceptable. Quick Copy mode is shows satisfying results (988MB downloaded in 1 min 34 seconds), which I would probably set it as the standard mode.

PC connection speed to Tripper V is quite impressive and satisfying. Definitely a pleasure to use when copy data from Tripper V to and from PC.

[PeteD]

Great testing, thanks Kho.

Now the next test I would like is how long the battery lasts playing video?

And how long playing music, does the screen blank once music is playing?

I am so close to buying one of these.

Will you be selling them with no HD?

Thanks.

Pete

[KhoKing]

Hi Pete,

Testing video or music is difficult for me...as I don't want to spend hours staring or listening to it...but might do it maybe in future...

All comes as default with HDD from ASKA. They do not sell one without HDD. Not sure if HDD can be self-installed or not, but quite possible. The operating system inside should be on ROM not on the HDD itself (unlike Epson), so is a good design...but I am not 100% sure. Haven't got the chance to open up the thingy (will void warranty).  Oo)

Screen will not go black during music playback. On video, it will jump to the next video automatically once finished playing. I supposed same for music but I have not tried it yet. Spent time till 1.30am last night...need more time to test and play... 

[KhoKing]

Hi Pete,

If you are considering the Vosonic and the ASKA, the choice is obvious. Go for the ASKA!

If you are considering the Epson and the ASKA...hmm...a bit tough...Epson is good for their design and brand name, but ASKA is giving bigger and similar if not better screen, while having higher capacity HDD.

The 120GB version I am having promotion price now.

http://shashinki.com/shop...s-p-870.html?currency=USD

[KhoKing]

This is the Extra Battery for ASKA Tripper V: 

[tcom]

Hi Kho

I am thinking of ordering you one 120GB device. Do you have them available?

[KhoKing]

Hi Kho

I am thinking of ordering you one 120GB device. Do you have them available?

Hi Dominique,

I just received the stock today, have ready stock now. Can EMS out immediately the next day.

[tcom]

Many thanks Kho, the delivery was very fast. I received it this morning.

I switched the device on, set date and time, configured copy to fast.

I put in a full SD SanDisk ExtremeIII 2GB card, the SD symbol on the display showed some activity, the copy button went blue, I pressed the button and within a few minutes, the full content of the SD card was on the device. I repeated the same procedure with another 2GB SD card, went smoothly. Then I entered the folder where the datas have been saved and looked at some photos. It is quite nice, zooming into the photos is however a bit on the slow side, but it works. The photos look good on the display.

Then I connected the device via USB to the computer, windows detected a new device and within the normal recognition time, an additional drive icon appeared in the file explorer. I went in and copied the folders to the computer, worked great. The main feature seems to work.

In the file explorer on windows, I saw a folder music. I copied a folder with some mp3 and a folder from iTunes with songs in the iTunes aac (m4a) format onto the ASKA. I stopped the USB connection and went onto the ASKA device, selected the music player. First I tried the mp3, worked well and song title, album and artist are displayed. Then I tried the m4a files from iTunes and was pretty much sure it will not play them, but it does! It does however not display song title, album nor artist.

The only drawback with this device is that it comes only with Japanese leaflets. The user manual on the CD is also Japanese. Thankfully the user interface on the device can be Japanese or English and come configured as English. But such a device must be usable without manual. I do not want to take a manual with me on holiday just to copy SD cards to a harddisk.