Wolverine MVP, 120GB Multimedia Portable Storage Device with 2.5" Color LCD & Built-in 7-in-1 Memory Card Reader/Writer.

2007-02-15T19:00:00

Generally the product met my expectations. It allows to backup flash cards in the field and review the pics. I used it and found it handy. Would I buy it now? Not sure as now I would try competing products first. Here is what I found and what should be of interest for photography people: It's was possible to transfer files from my Kingston 50x 2Gb Elite Pro CF card in approx 7 min on "normal" settings. (See below about settings) The single charge allows approx 3 of these backups (6 Gb at all) . If one uses faster cards it may be possible to back up more cards on single charge - don't know. The good thing that every time card inserted it by default is copied to the brand new directory allowing to create couple of the backups of the same card. Pictures can be reviewed even in RAW mode - at least for Canon. For photo uses this is mostly it. Now what I found to be the problems with the device: 1. It has poorly documented feature allowing to set transfer rate for both cards and hard drive. What I found was that the use of the accelerated transfer rate mutilated the images. I would see files copied without any errors reported but later found that while file size matches original size, the content of the file is corrupted and I would later see images only half-full or with the bands lacking one of the colors. Clearly data was not handled properly during transfer and worst of all no indication is given back to operator. I went back to "normal" rate settings and "fixed" the problem. But some level of built-in data verification would definitely help. 2. The buttons and joystick are little bit clumsy and may have been designed better. 3. I am not into music so i did not care much about built-in media player but still put couple of audio books and some music to listen on the plane. That didn't work -- the maximum volume was sure not enough to overcome the plane engine noise - better headphones probably would help but I doubt it. 4. While song is playing, it's not easy to switch to the next one - you have to stop one first, go back to list - hit couple of buttons - with clumsy joystick not that good idea. 5. Battery life is not great and having spare battery will not help that much as a screwdriver is required to change the battery - not something you want to do in a hurry. 6. Full battery charge takes few hours. 7.The box the device comes in - while it solidly built and has a speaker - is quite bulky to be taken somewhere in the backpack. Still device does what it is supposed to do, allows one to carry any sort of files around while used just as a compact external USB hard drive (60Gb or more) and i don't have much regrets for buying it. Though one may look at competing product -namely HyperDrive HD80 80 GB Backup Storage Device with 24 Bit Copy Verification but for me personally the color preview and multimedia capability of MVP tipped the balance in the favor of the MVP.

Shooter W.

2007-02-04T19:00:00

Used it as my digital photo backup while on a 3-week trip in Africa, including wildlife safari. Backed up over 4,500 photos in both RAW and JPG format. Never a problem.

Safari B.