In-field backup units have gotten more and more sophisticated these days and the new ones from Epson are seriously top-of-the-line in features. The new units both sport 4″, 640×480 (VGA) screen resolution and can display over 16.7 million colors. The P-6000 comes with an 80GB hard-disk drive while the P-7000 comes with a 160GB drive. Both feature a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection that allows download speeds up to one third faster than the previous P-3000 and P-5000 models.

The new displays cover 94% of the Adobe RGB color space which is an improvement from only covering 88% before.  Either device supports JPEG photo formats and the RAW files from most popular Digital SLR cameras, with a zoom function that allows photographers to confirm focus and look closer at fine details. Supported video files include MPEG-4, Motion JPEG and H.264/AVC SVGA, while the compatible audio formats include MP3 and MPEG-4/AAC files. An A/V output in the form of a 3.5mm headphone jack allows the device to play sound through external speakers.

The devices feature built-in CF — including ones that support high-speed UDMA — and SD card slots, with other types compatible with the use of an adapter. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery is rated at three hours of life. A travel pack that includes a dual battery charger, car adapter and case comes with the P-7000 model only.

The P-6000 will be priced at nearly $600 with the P-7000 priced at nearly $800 when both go on sale this September.