Portable device for capturing image and sound data including compact memory and board arrangement

In combination, a portable device for encoding and saving image and sound data and a base station including a processor and a removable hard disk drive on which data saved by said device is downloaded and saved, said device comprising:

• a housing including operator controls;
• a lens on said housing;
• at least one microphone on said housing;
• a hard disk drive within the housing on which encoded motion and sound data is saved;
• an image processor mounted on a first board within said housing, said image processor capturing image and sound data;
• a main processor mounted on a second board within said housing, said main processor receiving captured image and sound data from said image processor and saving said image and sound data to said memory, wherein said memory is sandwiched between said first board and said second board in a compact arrangement;
• and
• at least one output port for coupling to said base station to allow encoded and sound data saved on said hard disk drive to be downloaded to said base station.