Enter the USB flash drive.
Like a miniature hard drive, the USB flash drive writes data to a small flash memory module. Like a floppy, the USB flash drive stores data without the need for any power. But unlike a floppy, it is smaller, holds more data and is less prone to data loss. Most drives of this type can store data for 10 years!
If you're using Windows XP or Linux, this flash drive is recognized without any further configuration on your part. Just plug it in and you have 32MB of storage that can easily be shared with others in your workgroup or transported safely to a remote location.
The only caveat, in my opinion, with this model or any model is that the lanyard that allows you to carry the device on a string around your neck or whatever should not be used. The plastic housing that is used to hold the drive is not strong enough to support a lot of wear and tear and you may lose or drop the drive. Better to just carry it.
Other than this, this little unit is God-send. Just think, in a small form factor, you have the equivalent of 32 floppy disks at your disposal...without the flimsiness of a floppy.
So drop your floppy and get a USB flash drive instead. You'll wish you had sooner!
The package is one of those vacuum-sealed impossible-to-open packages that so many electronics products are using these days. Be careful opening it! There's a little CD in there that I didn't know about, and I almost scratched it with the knife I used to open the container.
Inside the container, you'll find the USB drive, a lanyard, a USB extension cable, a fold-out manual in several languages, and a miniCD.
I haven't measured it, but the extension cable is perhaps three feet long. It's plenty long enough to reach from the back of a tower on the floor to your desktop, if you're missing a front USB jack. I can't imagine wanting to wear the lanyard, but it's serviceable. The manual is enough to get the job done, including instructions for Win98*, Windows XP/2000, and even Linux instructions.
The form factor for this device is wonderful. It's about three inches long, shaped somewhat like a giant pill. There is a loop on the lid for attaching to the lanyard or a keychain. I wouldn't recommend putting it on a keychain, though, since I would hate to lose the main part of the device if the lid came detatched. The small size of the device and the rounded corners make it perfect of a pocket, however. The lid fits snugly, with the slightest of a 'snap' into place. The body of the device has three little 'grip' dots for your thumb to help get a good hold while taking the lid off. The mechanics of the connector are very sound. The connector is partially held by the plastic, and nothing feels loose or disconnected.
Usage is very easy. On Windows XP/2000 or Linux (assuming a standard install), no drivers are necessary. Windows 98 drivers are on the mini-CD. I've yet to use it on Linux, but I may later just for fun. Just plug the device into a computer, and it will be detected and intalled as a new drive letter. After that, it works like any other drive.
I've tested it on two machines. One is a USB 1.1 machine, and the other is USB 2.0. It works equally well on both. The device doesn't seem to care at all whether you use the extension cable, a hub, or plug directly into one of the computer's USB jacks. I've only been transferring relatively small files, but the device seems to be very fast. There is a red LED under the translucent case that blinks to let you know when USB communication has been established, and blinks faster to indicate that data is being transfered.
In addition to the Win98 drivers, the miniCD has utilities for setting up secure areas of the flash that cannot be accessed without a password. I haven't had need for this yet, but it's nice to know it's there.
All in all, it's a great value. 32 MB is a respectable size - much more than floppies, and faster access, but too small to want to burn CDs for. Even rewritable CDs don't last long, and are hard to transport. And if you need more storage, larger sizes are available! This USB drive is a dream.
