One thing though on the pancake and other low end compressors, that are all oil free which means they will generate more heat and noise. I bought a $120 Porter Cable pancake and its loud. I sit it outside the garage around the side of the house and close the garage door down on the cord and air hose and the thig still hurts my ears. If you can swing $300 you can get a small oil type which runs very quiet, if I hadn't bought mine in the middle of winter and then never got to use it until spring I would have taken it back and spend the extra.
I've had the 12v ones you buy in stores like sears and such. They will last a couple years before they burn up. They are oilless and very small and get too hot just trying to put a little bit of air in a tire and eventually burn themselves up after a few uses.