DIGITAL PHOTO VAULTS

Epson P-2000

A photo vault is a portable device that lets you offload digital photos from your digital camera (either via memory card or USB transfer), and then view those pictures when you're on the go. You get the advantage of freeing up storage space on your camera to take more pictures, as well as easily sharing your photos with others via the photo vault's LCD screen.

For all practical purposes, just about any portable video player can be used as a photo vault, as can some portable audio players (those with bigger screens, anyway, such as the iPod Photo). But the best photo vaults are those dedicated to the task, such as my favorite device, Epson's P-2000.

The P-2000 comes with a 40GB hard drive, which is as big as the drives in some desktop PCs; it'll hold a ton of photos, even at high resolution. You view the photos on a big 3.8'' color LCD, which is a lot easier than staring at the smaller display on the back of your camera. The display has a zoom feature, so you can zoom into just part of a picture to see more detail. You can also connect the P-2000 to a television or projector by connecting a standard video cable.

You transfer photo files from your camera to the P-2000 via USB 2.0, or just by inserting the camera's flash card. (The P-2000 accepts both CompactFlash I/II and SD memory cards.) And here's an added bonus: You can print directly from the P-2000 to selected Epson printers, no computer required.

Aside from storing photos, the P-2000 can also function has a portable video and audio player. That's right, you can use the P-2000 to view photos, play movies, and listen to music and with that 40GB drive, you can store lots of each type of file.

Model: Epson P-2000 Manufacturer: Epson (www.epson.com) Storage capacity: 40GB Display: 3.8'' (640 x 480) Dimensions: 5.8'' (w) x 3.3'' (h) x 1.2'' (d) Weight: 1 lb. Price: $499.99

Archos AV420

Remember when I said that any portable video player can double as a photo vault? Case in point is Archos' AV420, which has 20GB of hard drive storage and a 3.5'' LCD display perfect for storing and viewing digital photos. You can transfer files via USB 2.0 or CompactFlash cards (or, with an optional adapter, SD, SM, MMC, and MS cards). The AV420 is also a full function video recorder and player that can hold 80 hours of television programs.

Model: AV420 Manufacturer: Archos (www.archos.com) Storage capacity: 20GB Display: 3.5'' Dimensions: 4.9'' (w) x 3.1'' (h) x 0.8'' (d) Weight: 9.88 oz. Price: $499.95

SmartDisk FlashTrax XT

SmartDisk's FlashTrax XT is an affordable photo vault with a cool flip-up 3.6'' LCD screen. File transfer is via USB 2.0 or CompactFlash cards. The FlashTrax XT has a 40GB hard disk and can display photos in JPEG, GIF, BMP, and RAW formats. (It also functions as a portable video player.)

Model: FlashTrax XT Manufacturer: SmartDisk (www.smartdisk.com) Storage capacity: 40GB Display: 2.6'' Dimensions: 3.82'' x 6.22'' x 1.38'' Weight: 15 oz. Price: $399.99

Jobo GIGA Vu PRO

Jobo's GIGA Vu PRO is one monster photo viewer, available in both 40GB and extra-large 60GB models. Whatever size hard disk you choose, you get a really large 3.8'' touch screen LCD display that doubles as both viewer and controller. Add an optional WiFi card and you can exchange and view photos over any wireless network; otherwise, you can transfer photos via USB 2.0 or CompactFlash cards.

Model: GVP040/GVP060 Manufacturer: Jobo (www.jobodigital.com) Storage capacity: 40GB or 60GB Display: 3.8'' Dimensions: 5.7'' (w) x 4.2'' (h) x 1.5'' (d) Weight: 14.8 oz. Price: $549.95 (40GB), $599.95 (60GB)

Sony MCS1 PhotoVault

Our final photo vault is Sony's MCS-1. What's unique about this gizmo is that it lets you transfer photos directly from your camera to mini CD-R discs, instead of to hard disk. Once you burn a mini-disc, you can play it in any computer CD drive. File transfer is via USB 2.0 or Sony MemoryStick media (no CompactFlash reader, sorry); while you do get a video-out jack to display pictures on any TV, there's no built-in LCD display.

Model: MCS-1 Manufacturer: Sony (www.sonystyle.com) Storage media: Mini CD-R discs Dimensions: 4.5'' x 3.5'' x 1'' Weight: 7 oz. Price: $199.99