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P2 Store (will there be a new version?)
Hello
I use the P2 Store (own one). I love the idea of it but find that it is not very easy to use. To me it has always felt like a prototype of something better in the works (one with a LCD screen that explains what is going on with a read-out, one that accurately counts the amount of GB space you have used and have left, one that starts copying the card at the point of insertion without having to press a button for two seconds, one that can be carried while moving without risk of a shake error, one that tells you what the error is instead of having a code that needs a reference book to determine what to do etc.) I know that Panasonic has the technogy to do this (it exists in my $90 boom box!!) so why not with the P2 Store? And its so expensive – for what it is.
I’m at a point where I’d like to get a second one – maybe a third – but don’t want the same user-unfriendly version.
Does anyone know: will there be a new version anytime soon?
Thanks in advance
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14 Replies
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[no1115] “, one that can be carried while moving without risk of a shake error,”
Come on man, let’s be realistic. At least Panasonic is warning you that you are risking the integrity of the transfer if you pick up your hard drive and shake it around. WOuld you pick up your computer or raid while it was capturing and subject it to you walking it across the room and shaking it? I doubt it.
[no1115] “one that starts copying the card at the point of insertion without having to press a button for two seconds,”
You’re kidding, right? You don’t have less than 2 seconds?
An LCD screen would be nice, the point you make about needing the manual to decipher the errors could be better. You can check the status of how full your drive is by hitting the HDD button. The number of flashes determines how many cards you can put in there. It’s really very simple. If you can read the short manual, you will find that the p2 store is really really easy, but it’s not something that you can look at for the first time and figure out what’s going on without reading anything.
The biggest improvement would be a fw800 & eSATA port right on it for faster transfers. Higher capacity would be nice as well. 200 Gigs is the biggest, most current 2.5″ drive.
Jeremy
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Technology evolves and is improved upon. Guessing from the response I received these evolutions may not necessary in helping some people in their jobs and what they do. But that does not mean they might not be helpful for other people and what they do. Its about how this technology is being applied, and maybe the creators of P2 Store had no idea that documentary filmmakers would be wanting to use this product for shooting on the run. Sure, if I’m shooting a commercial and using the P2 Store I can put it on a table and press the button for 2 seconds (or have the camera assistant do it for me.) No problem. But in a doc environment where reality doesn’t stop for downloads its more difficult. So yeah I would like the cards to load automatically as I insert them (call me crazy) but its more challenging to shoot when your attention is divided between the camera and finding buttons to push on the P2 Store (and I’m not saying its impossible – I’ve done it for hundreds of hours of footage so far- BUT it would be easier…. this is evoltion.)
And who knows – maybe I am being unrealistic – maybe its impossible to make a shake free version (I’m not an engineer) But I know my HVX200 shakes around and is still capable of recording to P2 cards, my discman shakes around and still plays music, my car stereo shakes around without skipping). But maybe this technology is impossible to apply to P2 Store. I don’t know. I hope not. It would be helpful.
As would an LCD screen. As would faster transfer speeds. As would more memory….
Don’t get me wrong – I’m committed to this product – but I am just trying to get a sense as whether or not there will be a new version of this device. If there is I will consider investing in it.
But I guess we don’t know….
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You are right, we don’t know. In the P2 store is a hard drive, probably similar to what is in your laptop. Same physical size and everything. It spins, takes power and writes to little discs inside (think of a record player reading the music off of a piece of vinyl, except it is also possible to write to the vinyl as well). P2 is solid sate, it’s little switches that turn on and off. Since there is no ‘needle’ writing to the disc it is less error prone and doesn’t require a needle to write to a disc. Solid state technology is cool, but as you know is highly expensive. 60 Gigs of solid state technology would be cost prohibitive. Your discman has a memory cache that is probably good for 20 seconds, perhaps more. If you shake it for longer than that, it will skip. It’s a different technology and also, your disc man is a laser that reads media only, not writes. With the P2 store you are writing new media to the disc, not reading imprinted media from it. I understand evolution, I understand you want things to be better. But you have to understand what’s under the hood and how it works before you can drop the engine, bore the cylinders and make a hot rod. the P2 store will still transfer when you are walking around with it, but it slows down to prevent errors. If you are a documentary film maker and a one man band, I’d figure out a way to either buy more p2 cards, have a place for your P2 store set up at locations, or check into a firestore.
Jeremy
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Thanks for the reply – I will say this in defence of the P2 Store – for a technology that wasn’t designed to be moved while transferring it still does a seriously good job. In fact it only errors maybe 1 or 2% of the time – and its easy to correct. So I wouldn’t dissuade people from using it this fashion and I will continue to keep it on my belt.
I will need to purchase another (I’m not a fan of firestore) – but just didn’t want to be in a situation where I buy one and then 3 weeks later there’s a new version with all the bells and whistles I’m looking for.
But it doesn’t seem like anyone has heard of anything new so I’m probably just going to get the same thing.
And yes full support for it in a more controlled non-doc environment – people lookiing to buy it for this set up won’t find any problems with it.
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[no1115] “But it doesn’t seem like anyone has heard of anything new so I’m probably just going to get the same thing. “
I would wait with NAB a few months away. 16 Gig cards were just announced along with 32 by the end of the year along with a P2 store like thing, with (you guessed it) an lcd screen and firewire connectivity. It’s called ‘P2 Gear’ model # AG-HPG10
Panasonic listens, don’t they?
Jeremy
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Wow that’s great news. Some pricing would be nice, and some capacity on the new p2 store would also be nice.
I’m in a dangerous spot right now. I need to buy in the next month, I need a working system, but with all this awesomeness around the corner with what I imagine will be price drops on the older stuff, I really have to be careful about over-committing.
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Pricing says it’s 3995. No word on capacity.
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get a fs 100 move it shake it ( no vigarously ) and shoot for 200 min. iin quicktime mode
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That’s fantastic news!
thanks for your reply & resreach.
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