Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer Review

December 2004 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Epson P-2000. Firmware ver. 01.01

Unveiled at Photokina, the Epson P-2000 is an upgrade to the P-1000 storage/viewer that adds an improved screen, wider file support, USB 2.0, a much bigger hard drive, better battery life and an SD card slot, plus numerous other enhancements. As well as offering 40GB of hard disk storage for your digital camera images and a stunning crystal-clear screen to view them on, the P-2000 can be used as a personal entertainment center', with support for AVI and QuickTime movies and MP3/AAC audio files. It can also display raw files from Epson, Canon and Nikon cameras. So is the P-2000 the ultimate digital camera accessory, and can it really replace a laptop when shooting in the field? Read on to find out; here's just a few of the headline features to whet your appetite;

3.8-inch high-definition TFT colour screen
Outstanding picture quality from PhotoFine LCD technology - 212 pixels per inch
40GB hard drive
Raw file support
Compact, lightweight and slim
Download from CompactFlash, SD and MMC memory cards
Connects directly to PC or TV for larger screen viewing
Prints directly to compatible USB printers

Epson P-2000 Key Specifications

Street price	• US: $499 • UK: £330
Body Material	Metal and plastic
Screen	• Screen Technology: PhotoFine™ • Low Temperature Poly-Silicon TFT • VGA 640 x 480 x 3(RGB) = 921,600 pixels • Screen Size: 3.8" (95mm) • 212ppi
Hard Disk Drive	• 40GB 2.5” (3.5GB reserved for system functions)
Supported File Formats (stills)	• JPEG 4 • RAW 5 • RAW Supports Nikon NEF, Canon EOS CRW and CR2, Epson R-D1. Future models may be supported via firmware upgrade.
Supported File Formats (movies)	• AVI (MPEG4 1, M-JPEG 2) • MOV (MPEG4 1, M-JPEG 2) • MP4 (MEPG4/AAC) • ASF (MPEG4/ADPCM) • up to 30fps @ VGA
Supported File Formats (audio)	• MP3 3 • AAC (M4A, MPEG4) 3
Card Slots	• CompactFlash I/II (supports MicroDrive) • SD/MMC • Other card types compatible via optional adaptors
Audio/Video out	• Mono dynamic speaker • Stereo 3.5mm headphone jack • Audio/Video out jack • PAL and NTSC supported
Interface	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed for PC and Mac connection
Direct Print	• USB DIRECT-PRINT compatible
System Requirements	• Windows 98/Me/2000/XP • Mac OS 9.1 or later • Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
Power	• Rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 3.7V, 2300mAh • DC Input 5V 2.3A (charger/AC adaptor included)
In the box*	• Epson P-2000 • Stand • Carrying Case • USB data cable • Wrist strap • Lithium Ion battery • AC adaptor • Power Cable • Software CD-ROM, • User guide
Weight (excl batt)	415 g (0.9 lb)
Dimensions	147 x 84 x 31.4mm (5.8 x 3.3 x 1.2in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

*1	Supported audio codecs: AAC/MP3
*2	Supported audio codecs: A-Law/μLaw/PCM
*3	Max Bit Rate: 320kbps (48kHz, 16 bit stereo)
*4	Supports NEF, CRW, CR2, ERF files. JPEG data in the raw header is used for display (images cannot be zoomed)
*5	Minimum size 160x120 pixels, maximum size 8,9 megapixels

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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