Choosing a Portable Storage Device

Thanks to the rise of the portable media player, the once-humble storage device market has seen rapid advances in recent years. Buying storage no longer boils down to a choice of capacity and screen size; today’s devices are not only capable of keeping your photos safe, many can also play video files including full-length movies.

More advanced models even offer attachments enabling users to record digital TV. The ability to play MP3 music files is also a bonus – one that can provide a welcome soundtrack to photographers on the move. A high-quality LCD screen is a must and, in most cases, bigger is definitely better.

LCD

A larger colour LCD is easier to view, but don’t forget about resolution. The more pixels, the better.

Capacity

If you are going to use the device mainly as a media player, you may not need the largest capacity. If it’s strictly for storage, bypass fancy features for the larger-capacity model.

File Compatibility

Most accept all major image formats, but more obscure video files may not be accepted by some devices.

Card Support

Not all devices accept every type of memory card, but separate adapters can be used to convert the slot into one compatible with your memory card.