Sorry if there’s a better place to post on this site, but are there any options to a laptop computer if I want to offload my SxS cards to a device in the field?

I doubt that there's many EX1/3 users that offload in the field any more, most of use are using the cheap sdhc cards, at £25 for a 16gb card it's easier to buy a handfull of them and offload at home without the pressure of offloading in the field, and without the need to lug a laptop around.

Paul.

I've used one of these for years for DSLR backup.
HyperDrive - The World's Fastest Memory Card Backup Device (http://www.hyperdrive.com/)
Woops, I see you said SXS cards.... Sorry.

This device is attractive. Records 4:2:2 via HD-SDI. http://www.convergent-design.com/CD_Products_FlashXDR.htm

This device is attractive. Records 4:2:2 via HD-SDI. Convergent Design, experts in HDMI, SD, HD, and HDV (http://www.convergent-design.com/CD_Products_FlashXDR.htm)


The device is attractive but the price isn't :-(

.......... using the cheap sdhc cards, at £25 for a 16gb card it's easier to buy a handfull of them and offload at home without the pressure of offloading in the field, and without the need to lug a laptop around.
You said it. And without the risk of the laptop getting stolen, or the risk of finding you omitted to transfer some clips before formatting the card. The material can even stay on the cards as backup until you're well into the edit.

Here's an alternative to a laptop: NextoDI (http://www.nextodi.com/en/)

Also, some of the $300 netbooks are now coming with Express Card slots: Netbooks get serious: three ExpressCard-packing portables for the road warrior (http://www.gizmag.com/netbooks-with-expresscard/10259/)

Even better yet, with a hack, you can install the latest Mac OS on them:
http://cultofmac.com/get-a-slick-mac-netbook-for-less-than-600-not-strictly-legal-of-course/2703

Although the NextoDI says it will back up an SxS card "without an interrupt of filming", the instructions are that data from the cards must be downloaded via the USB cable. Using media mode does interrupt filming. Different with SDHC cards.

Even better yet, with a hack, you can install the latest Mac OS on them:
Get a Slick Mac NetBook For Less Than $600 (Not Strictly Legal, Of Course) | Cult of Mac (http://cultofmac.com/get-a-slick-mac-netbook-for-less-than-600-not-strictly-legal-of-course/2703)

According to the article though, audio is disabled.

I attended a Sony EX awareness presentation a couple of weeks ago. Amongst the topics discussed was the downloading of cards. There was a strong hint from the Sony EX product manager that a download device maybe on the way.

At DV Expo last Dec, Sony had a hard-drive based device for SxS download sitting under glass. Price being thrown around was about $2K. I have not heard a thing about it since. I would shoot to SDHC cards and consider a NextoDI to offload the cards. I've reviewed it and have been using one for a few months. Very solid device.

Or, the SDHC cards themselves are so inexpensive that for the price of the Nexto you could buy a ton of SDHC cards, label them and just offload the cards to the computer at some later point.