TB storage for eBook readers...

recycledelectron · 02-27-2008, 11:22 AM

Please forgive the formatting of this post. I'm trying to explain something, but I'm not sure I'm very good at that.

BACKGROUND: I've been using my Sony PRS-505 for months now. (The Sony PRS-505 is an e-Ink based eBook reader & MP3 player that weighs under 1 pound, and has a battery life measured in days.) I love the ability to read books on the go, but regretting that everything has to be on a MSPD card or SD card. Those cards can cost $5 / GB, so they are too expensive to store a few terabytes (TB.)

NEW TECH GADGET: Yet another company (this time they are called HyperDrive) has released another battery-powered hard disk with a screen (this one is called the ColorSpace) that allows you to copy all the pics from a digital camera's memory card to it's internal hard disk. The logic is that you can store as many pics as you want, and not buy dozens of memory cards. OK, this is the 18th company to release one. (yawn)

GOOD NEWS: The HyperDrive ColorSpace will let you copy files back from the internal Hard Disk to the memory card. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO MAKE A CARD READER / BATTERY POWERED HARD DISK THAT CAN COPY BOTH WAYS. Previously discussed models often only had 1 button. They only copied from the card to the HDD.

With the ability to copy both ways, you can store massive amounts of information (books, pics, MP3, etc.) on your hard disk, and copy what you want to read over to your eBook reader.

This device even does data recovery from damaged cards & undeletes files.

TECH SPECS:
* No size limit on the SD, MSPD, or CF cards (all are tested to 16GB.)
* 4TB size limit on the 2.5" SATA 9.5mm HDD (available with 250GB installed.)
* Rechargeable via USB or another DC connector.
* Single 18650 Li-Ion rechargeable battery (user-replaceable.)
* Transfer <= 120GB per charge.
* ABS plastic case is slightly larger than a 2.5" hard disk.
* $149 + S/H for the bare machine, w/o HDD.

REFERENCES:
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5431#comments
http://www.digitalreviews.net/review...he-go-rev.html
http://www.hyperdrive.com/
http://www.hyperdrive.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=27

SUMMARY:
I can buy the following and have a 1/2 TB library in less than 2 lbs:
* HyperDrive ColorSpace ($149)
* 500GB 2.5" SATA 9.5mm HDD ($169)
* Sony PRS-505 ($299)
* Solar USB Charger ($99)
* 2GB SD Cards ($9 each)
* 8GB MSPD Cards ($79 each)
* Padded Case

Andy Out!

NatCh · 02-27-2008, 11:30 AM

Dunno what you're apologizing for, the formatting looks great!

And this is a neat find and a nice summarization. Thanks!

radleyp · 02-27-2008, 12:53 PM

I assume that many (if not all) of these photos are in color: why would you even want to display them on the Sony (or the Kindle, or the Iliad, or the Cybook) since they can display only in black and white?

badgoodDeb · 02-27-2008, 12:57 PM

He's not interested for the photos --- he's going to throw away the 'photo' concept and use the thing to store BOOK files instead. Sounds like a nifty idea!

radleyp · 02-27-2008, 12:58 PM

Terabytes of text files? Why that's the size of a large library!

Taylor514ce · 02-27-2008, 12:59 PM

Right.. eBookDisplay + portable HD with TB storage, and a single SD card as the eBook ferry. Nice idea!

athlonkmf · 02-27-2008, 01:30 PM

The question is... why?

By the time I've finished my 200MB+2GB+8GB worth of ebooks, I think I might be able to get back to my computer to switch books...

radleyp · 02-27-2008, 01:36 PM

Yes, indeed, why? Who needs this? I remember years ago, when I was in college (that was many years ago) reading a book by the physicist George Gamow that included a description of a machine that would print everything ever written, from Shakespeare to the notes to your milkman. I think this arrangement could hold it all.

NatCh · 02-27-2008, 01:37 PM

I think the answer is probably at least partly: "because it's there."

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-27-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radleyp

Terabytes of text files? Why that's the size of a large library!

Exactly.

athlonkmf · 02-27-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I think the answer is probably at least partly: "because it's there."

Until eink has an refreshrate comparable to TFT, you don't want to click through a few TB of textfiles

Richard Herley · 02-27-2008, 02:10 PM

This is very interesting -- not so much recycledelectron's setup, although it's an ingenious solution using what's available now, but as an idea for the future. With memory prices falling and capacity rising, how long will it be before we have a handheld reader that can in theory store every book ever published in the language(s) of your choice? And one, maybe, that you can plug into the internet and leave overnight to get refreshed with whatever has just appeared?

The device could learn your preferences; you could rate things as you went along; it could make suggestions as to what you might like to read next. If you came across a word or reference you wanted to look up, you'd just indicate this in some way (tap it twice with your fingernail, say) and a search engine would come up with the answers, after which you'd hit "back" and resume your reading.

It could have any number of users, each of whom would have their own profile and preferences -- and of course every page you ever visited could be remembered for ever and found again using a database.

Sorry if this sounds like one of those predictions, in 1964, that we'd all be wearing Bacofoil by now, driving around in hovercars and working 30 minute weeks, but who could have foreseen the present crop of ebook readers even 20 years ago?

Does anyone else have a features wishlist for the ultimate reading display?

Taylor514ce · 02-27-2008, 02:48 PM

And then imagine it had a built-in tutorial, an AI that could teach you to read... or how to use the device. Then imagine a primitive alien civilization gets hold of it (Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon The Deep" - best-realized aliens EVER)... or that it gets sent back in time to Stone Age England.

Just when Tagart learns to read and discover... the battery dies.

NatCh · 02-27-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by athlonkmf

Until eink has an refreshrate comparable to TFT, you don't want to click through a few TB of textfiles

With the files stored on the device recycledelectron described, you'd be going through the files on that device and then putting the ones you actually wanted to read right now on a memory card which you'd then put into the Reader for actually reading on the e-ink screen, at which point you'd only be flipping through the pages of the file.

recycledelectron · 02-27-2008, 03:10 PM

First, an appology. I said SATA, but the internal HDD is PATA / IDE. (oops)

The thing even does SMART diagnostics on the HDD: http://www.hyperdrive.com/kb_results.asp?ID=95

Quote:

Originally Posted by athlonkmf

The question is... why?

By the time I've finished my 200MB+2GB+8GB worth of ebooks, I think I might be able to get back to my computer to switch books...

You might be able to, but what about a soldier stuck in IRAQ?
What about a school kid in a country governed by sharia law?
What about someone interested in libertarian ideas who lives in China?
What about a couple of college kids on a cross-country bike trip?
What about a bright kid stuck in a 3rd world country, where running water is a rareity?

I've got 2 audiences in mind: (1) someone who is told they should not be reading "inapropriate" material, and (2) someone who is out of touch with modern infrastructure

This is a toy for the rich at $1k per setup, but we've seen computer prices drop over time. I recall a 5MB, $5k hard disk that was difficult to lift. Today, 256MB keychain drives are $3.99.

One day, we'll have a $10 device that contains every book ever published. That should scare the heck out of every non-libertarian. he he he

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

And then imagine it had a built-in tutorial, an AI that could teach you to read... or how to use the device.

One of my research projects (that I have a few students working on) is to build a database (PHP / MySQL) to make searching quick. I hope an eBook reader will be able to use the database. Right now, it runs on a cheap NAS unit's built-in web server.

The system includes language learning tools that should work for an illiterate person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Then imagine a primitive alien civilization gets hold of it (Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon The Deep" - best-realized aliens EVER)... or that it gets sent back in time to Stone Age England.

I'll look up the book. It sounds like me idea of a great story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Just when Tagart learns to read and discover... the battery dies.

Just my luck.

Andy Out!

02-27-2008, 11:22 AM	#1
recycledelectron Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 854 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Lifebook T5010	TB storage for eBook readers... Please forgive the formatting of this post. I'm trying to explain something, but I'm not sure I'm very good at that. BACKGROUND: I've been using my Sony PRS-505 for months now. (The Sony PRS-505 is an e-Ink based eBook reader & MP3 player that weighs under 1 pound, and has a battery life measured in days.) I love the ability to read books on the go, but regretting that everything has to be on a MSPD card or SD card. Those cards can cost $5 / GB, so they are too expensive to store a few terabytes (TB.) NEW TECH GADGET: Yet another company (this time they are called HyperDrive) has released another battery-powered hard disk with a screen (this one is called the ColorSpace) that allows you to copy all the pics from a digital camera's memory card to it's internal hard disk. The logic is that you can store as many pics as you want, and not buy dozens of memory cards. OK, this is the 18th company to release one. (yawn) GOOD NEWS: The HyperDrive ColorSpace will let you copy files back from the internal Hard Disk to the memory card. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO MAKE A CARD READER / BATTERY POWERED HARD DISK THAT CAN COPY BOTH WAYS. Previously discussed models often only had 1 button. They only copied from the card to the HDD. With the ability to copy both ways, you can store massive amounts of information (books, pics, MP3, etc.) on your hard disk, and copy what you want to read over to your eBook reader. This device even does data recovery from damaged cards & undeletes files. TECH SPECS: * No size limit on the SD, MSPD, or CF cards (all are tested to 16GB.) * 4TB size limit on the 2.5" SATA 9.5mm HDD (available with 250GB installed.) * Rechargeable via USB or another DC connector. * Single 18650 Li-Ion rechargeable battery (user-replaceable.) * Transfer <= 120GB per charge. * ABS plastic case is slightly larger than a 2.5" hard disk. * $149 + S/H for the bare machine, w/o HDD. REFERENCES: http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5431#comments http://www.digitalreviews.net/review...he-go-rev.html http://www.hyperdrive.com/ http://www.hyperdrive.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=27 SUMMARY: I can buy the following and have a 1/2 TB library in less than 2 lbs: * HyperDrive ColorSpace ($149) * 500GB 2.5" SATA 9.5mm HDD ($169) * Sony PRS-505 ($299) * Solar USB Charger ($99) * 2GB SD Cards ($9 each) * 8GB MSPD Cards ($79 each) * Padded Case Andy Out!

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02-27-2008, 11:30 AM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Dunno what you're apologizing for, the formatting looks great! And this is a neat find and a nice summarization. Thanks!

02-27-2008, 12:53 PM	#3
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	I assume that many (if not all) of these photos are in color: why would you even want to display them on the Sony (or the Kindle, or the Iliad, or the Cybook) since they can display only in black and white?

02-27-2008, 12:57 PM	#4
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,538 Karma: 64201357 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	He's not interested for the photos --- he's going to throw away the 'photo' concept and use the thing to store BOOK files instead. Sounds like a nifty idea!

02-27-2008, 12:58 PM	#5
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	Terabytes of text files? Why that's the size of a large library!

02-27-2008, 12:59 PM	#6
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Right.. eBookDisplay + portable HD with TB storage, and a single SD card as the eBook ferry. Nice idea!

02-27-2008, 01:30 PM	#7
athlonkmf Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 1014039 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3, Sony PRS350, iPad 64GB	The question is... why? By the time I've finished my 200MB+2GB+8GB worth of ebooks, I think I might be able to get back to my computer to switch books...

02-27-2008, 01:36 PM	#8
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	Yes, indeed, why? Who needs this? I remember years ago, when I was in college (that was many years ago) reading a book by the physicist George Gamow that included a description of a machine that would print everything ever written, from Shakespeare to the notes to your milkman. I think this arrangement could hold it all.

02-27-2008, 01:37 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I think the answer is probably at least partly: "because it's there."

02-27-2008, 02:10 PM	#12
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	This is very interesting -- not so much recycledelectron's setup, although it's an ingenious solution using what's available now, but as an idea for the future. With memory prices falling and capacity rising, how long will it be before we have a handheld reader that can in theory store every book ever published in the language(s) of your choice? And one, maybe, that you can plug into the internet and leave overnight to get refreshed with whatever has just appeared? The device could learn your preferences; you could rate things as you went along; it could make suggestions as to what you might like to read next. If you came across a word or reference you wanted to look up, you'd just indicate this in some way (tap it twice with your fingernail, say) and a search engine would come up with the answers, after which you'd hit "back" and resume your reading. It could have any number of users, each of whom would have their own profile and preferences -- and of course every page you ever visited could be remembered for ever and found again using a database. Sorry if this sounds like one of those predictions, in 1964, that we'd all be wearing Bacofoil by now, driving around in hovercars and working 30 minute weeks, but who could have foreseen the present crop of ebook readers even 20 years ago? Does anyone else have a features wishlist for the ultimate reading display?

02-27-2008, 02:48 PM	#13
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	And then imagine it had a built-in tutorial, an AI that could teach you to read... or how to use the device. Then imagine a primitive alien civilization gets hold of it (Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon The Deep" - best-realized aliens EVER)... or that it gets sent back in time to Stone Age England. Just when Tagart learns to read and discover... the battery dies.

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