Customer Reviews
Works Great 
2008-07-30
This is my first experience with this sort of device. It does everything it says it will do, does it fast, and the resulting images are bright, sharp and clear. The navigation system is easy to figure out and very user friendly. The device comes with built-in slots for Compact Flash and SD memory cards. The instruction book says you can buy a 3rd party Compact Flash Card adapter which can then be plugged into the CF card slot so that other memory card types can be used. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT!!! If you already have a multi-card reader and a USB cord, just plug your reader in to the USB port, then scroll in the menu to "Read USB Device", and bingo, it happily looks at whatever card you have. So far, a very satisfactory purchase. I wish the 80 Gb model wasn't so expensive (I bought the 40). No where in advertising or instructions is any mention made of recharging the battery. It happens automatically whenever you plug in the AC adapter. Be aware, spare batteries are VERY PRICEY! So is this device, but it is worth it.
terrific piece of mind 2008-07-19
This is a replacement for my P-2000 which is still working but I'm mostly shooting in RAW now and the firmware update on the 2000 makes it run very slow; it was almost full anyway so now it is backup. The P-5000 is everything promised. While travelling (or just out shooting on a long day hike) it is so easy to download the card, review and keep only the ones you really want so you don't go home with hundreds of the same shot, blurry shots, or mistakes. I started using the Epson because I didn't want to lug a computer and didn't trust a transfer to DVD that I couldn't see. This is small, lightweight, easy to use and it has a fantastic screen I can see even without my glasses.
This device is fantastic! 2008-07-18
This device is absolutely wonderful. Not only does it work as a digital photo viewer but it also enables the user to listen to music files, watch older quicktime videos and can serve as an external hard drive.
With respect to the digital photo viewer options, the well lit 4" screen has superb resolution and reads most RAW files. The device permits user to not only review pictures but also delete those considered undesirable (unlike machines such as Sans Digital and Digi-Photo). That way one can delete pictures while returning from the field and upload only good ones to PC for printing. With respect to uploading pictures, it can upload from all major cards (i.e., SD, compact flash, etc.) at a reasonable rate (i.e., at about same rate as most other similar devices). This device, however, has big advantage over many of its competitors in that it can also upload pictures from other hard drives (via USB), flash cards and many other memory devices. It should be noted that these devices need to be FAT32 formatted. In addition, unlike many competing products, it can also download contents of its hard disk to another stand alone hard disk. The stand alone hard disk must be formatted as a FAT 32 however. For hard disks larger than about 30 gigs this can only be down using software such as Norton Utilities. By doing this you increase your ability to download more pictures. Carry a small portable hard disk with you and download as you fill the Epson p-3000 up and you will effectively have an Epson p-3000 with a much larger hard disk.
As a music player you can listen to mp3 amd wav files. The interface is intuitive and the software that comes with the machine makes this easy. You can also watch older quicktime videos (quicktime 4 and before). Quality of music and videos is quite good.
Last but not least the machine can be used as a portable hard disk (via USB cable).
Hence with the purchase of this product you not only get an extraordinary digital photo viewer/editor but also a music and video viewer and portable hard disk. All this for about 25% more than the price of an upper-end Ipod.
Olaf's 2008-07-10
As an amature photographer, I have limited funds for equipment. I try to buy the best that I can afford. I wanted an Epson P5000, but settled on the P3000 which was more affordable. This has been one of my best purchases, it is versitle, easy to use and provides on the spot, in the field review that can't be equaled. As I was reviewing some photos at White Sands National Monument, several people stopped by to see them and all were impressed with the P3000. I'm sure you will get many more orders even if half of people buy it. Excellent product and I would like to add that Amazon is a user friendly place to shop.
Bob
Great tool, but.... 2008-06-16
I have a couple three various of these Epson P series digital media storage units. I have had sporadic software issues that allows me to create files that I can't manipulate or delete. It takes up almost no space and is but a minor annoyance, but... if you were thinking for even a moment that Epson on-line customer assistance is going to help you- fuggedaboutit- they don't seem to issue replies on problems with these units. I tried several time in different ways. Not happening. If you want real frustration, call the California customer service number. IF you do get through, IF the call is answered after a very length automatic "hold", IF the delightfully courteous Philippino who struggles with English has an inking of what the P- units are (they don't), you'll have spent an hour+ on the phone. I love these things, I wouldn't leave home without them, but with Apple biting close at their heels, I wouldn't be planning a coming out party for the next generation model. Buy one knowing that is is disposable technology in one of the most quickly evolving arenas of computer technology.
Beware of vendor 
2008-05-15
Experience the benefits of digital photography with the Epson P-3000. This powerful, compact device brings new flexibility and performance to digital photography. Watch movies in various formats, store and view photos through the crystal clear 4" Photo Fine Ultra LCD. There's a 40GB internal memory for image storage and back-up, long battery life for true portability and built-in CF and SD memory card slots. You can even listen to music on its built-in audio player.
deciding factor 2008-05-01
I bought the Epson P-3000 for my husband. We both like to travel and are into photography. I researched similar products and wavered for a few hours before reading a blog that explained how the product could be backed up to a portable hard-drive, flash drive, etc. I looked up the owners manual and discovered it to be true. I knew this product to have a reputation for being reliable and the best screen around, but the cost vs. memory was what was causing me to consider other brands. Once I discovered that it could exchange data with a portable hard-drive the lower amount of memory became a non-issue. Although I haven't actually tested out this capability yet, I feel this really is a selling point they should advertise. I bought the P-3000 on sale during a time that a couple of rebates were offered on it. I got a good deal and my husband loves his birthday gift.
Epson P-3000 compatibility with UDMA compact flash cards 2008-04-27
I just wanted to take a minute to address a question that I had about the Epsons P-3000's ability to recognize the newer, faster UDMA compact flash cards that many of us use with new digital SLR cameras. So, I bought the Epson P-3000 prior to getting my Nikon D-300 or the 3 Lexar Professional UDMA (300x speed) compact flash cards for it. I noticed that the Epson website said nothing about the P-3000's compatibility with these newer UDMA cards. So, I decided to call Epson. I was initially disappointed to hear from Epson's "experts" in their technical service department that my new UDMA compact flash cards that were already ordered and in the mail, would not be compatible with the recently purchased Epson P-3000. Well luckily the "experts", actually the ones over Epson's Media storage devices, were wrong! I personally have had no problems with the Epson P-3000 recognizing and backing up pictures from all 3 of my Lexar Professional UDMA (300x speed) compact flash cards. It works fine!! So overall, I am extremely happy with the Epson P-3000. It has an outstanding LCD screen to view pictures and movies, plus it also acts as an mp3 player. It also gives you great information about the photos you take including histograms and overexposure areas. Really a great device!
Love it! 2008-03-27
I tried it for the first time the other day as a back up. I used a CF card from my Canon 20D - it downloaded 2GB of RAW files in less than 15 minutes and you can view the RAW files very quickly (it's quicker than Adobe Bridge loading!!). The transfer to my computer was very quick -- I had about a total of 4 GB of RAW and JPG and it took about 5 mn to download using the Epson program. I also backed up a SD card from my little point and shoot and it was very quick (2GB of JPG and video) - about 5 mn. I am very excited to use it in the future!!
Epson P-3000 2008-02-29
This thing is AWESOME! I can watch TV shows that I record on my computer & upload to the Epson. I can upload & review all my photos on site and without the use of a computer. I just love this and love using it.
