| Recently I read an article about a photographer who | | | | format, which we tested. It has a large high |
| detailed what he brought when he went on | | | | resolution 3.2" color display and can perform |
| assignments. One of the items was a laptop | | | | numerous picture functions, like zooming in and |
| computer, for "copying and backing up picture files" | | | | examining a picture for focus. What you see ends up |
| he's taken. I guess he has a strong back to lug that | | | | being a lot more detailed than what you encounter |
| behemoth around. Some camera backpacks even | | | | through your camera's LCD screen. |
| come have pockets to accommodate laptops. Too | | | | The instruction manual is the weakest link in the |
| bad this character never thought of the JOBO GIGA | | | | product package. While it can get you up and running, |
| Vu SONIC. | | | | it omits several procedures and explanations. How do |
| No one seems to agree on what to call these | | | | you create "shortcuts" that appear on the opening |
| gadgets. One company refers to them as "photo | | | | menu? What's the difference between "Incremental |
| safes." Another tags them as "photo storage | | | | backup" and "Incremental backup (OTG)?" What do |
| devices." JOBO calls its GIGA Vu SONIC model a | | | | they mean by OTG? On the Go? |
| "picture storage device," so we'll go with that. What | | | | Apart from that, the GIGA Vu SONIC is easy enough |
| it does is similar to the JOBO Spectator: it allows you | | | | to use and, unlike competitive models, can do |
| to insert small SD and CompactFlash cards and copy | | | | incremental backups as well as full backups. (One |
| them to the hard drive within. (Four hard disc | | | | maker said that incremental backups would be "too |
| capacities up to 250 GB are available.) Its download | | | | hard" to devise for his product.) Incremental backups |
| speed is 2 GB of data a minute. At 10 ounces, it's | | | | ensure that the device doesn't fill up with needless |
| certainly not going to break your back to bring it | | | | duplicates of picture files. The screen has three |
| along on shoots. In fact, its case even has a belt loop | | | | brightness levels for battery conservation. You can |
| so you can attach it right next to your cell phone. | | | | also benchmark both its hard drive and the memory |
| It comes with a USB cable, AC adapter (100-240V), | | | | card you insert, displaying its best and worse |
| and car adapter. In a stroke of genius, the USB cord | | | | performances. It also has a USB mode, should you |
| can attach to the AC adapter or the car adapter, so | | | | want to access (or delete ) its contents. |
| you need only one cord. It can do RAW decoding of | | | | This is a worthy tool to own and could replace your |
| numerous RAW image files, such as the Canon | | | | unwieldy travel laptop. |