I'm afraid you're right about going uncompressed. I've been looking at a 7200rpm, 30 gig Maxtor with 2meg cache for under $200. (as an aside I just got epson 1200x2400 scanner - an 8.5 by 11 scan at 9600 interpolated resolution will take a full 25.7 gigabits for one pic!!! Guess I won't be making any of those. And I'm sad to say I'm not bongosarong.