FAST data rate, but ergonomically awkward | SanDisk SDCZ8-8192-A75 8 GB Cruzer Contour USB Drive

Good lookin quality drive - tricky to open/close | SanDisk SDCZ8-8192-A75 8 GB Cruzer Contour USB Drive

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	• SanDisk SDCZ8-8192-A75 8 GB Cruzer Contour USB Drive SanDisk SanDisk average customer review:based on 33 reviews view larger image
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Usefull and ultra fast USB Drive

This SanDisk is very fast and usefull. And have a lot space for your files.

FAST data rate, but ergonomically awkward

I just bought one of these to replace my older 2gb Sandisk Cruzer Mini.

THE GOOD:

* SPEED: I was extremely pleased with the much faster transfer rate, which is around 5x faster than the older 2gb model I had, from the same manufacturer. I'm seeing transfer rates of no less than 1-2 min per gb, which is pretty spiffy (vs 5-10 mins for my old one).

* CAPACITY: We are FINALLY starting to see the real potential of flash memory - enough speed and storage to elipse the need to burn DVDs to transport files. I cant wait until capacity rises into the 100gb range ... enough to transport one's entire collection of MP3's, and also be able to backup entire drives, rather than just select swaths.

* SOLID: This USB drive has a very solid feel.

SLIGHTLY ANNOYING:

* THUMB SLIDE: Although the unit feels solid and durable, I have to admit that new thumb slide design makes it heavier, slightly bulkier, and the operation of the slider is a little awkward and takes some getting used to. Also, the built-in end-cover sometimes doesn't consistently close properly, and you have to repeat the 4 step open & close motion. Last, the metallic 'shell' is very slippery - they could have textured it a bit to solve that.

* NO LANYARD: Instead of having a loop with an included lanyard, the newer unit now has a leather case with an eye-clip ... but no lanyard comes with it by default. Not only that, but the old lanyard is not compatible with the new cruzer, because it lacks a ring for the eyehook to connect to.

* DRIVE LIGHT: On the older unit, there was a green light in the end of the unit that lit when it was powered, flashed during data transfer, and then extinguished when it was safe to remove. It worked well, and was easily viewable from all angles. The newer unit has the word "cruzer" (on the top side of the drive) that glows blue when powered, and blanks when soft-ejected. The annoying thing is that because the light is on only 1 side, it can only be seen from one direction ... and it doesn't seem to flash during data transfers. So yes, the newer light is very pretty, but it's not nearly as useful as the light on the older unit.

* DRIVERS & PARTITION: When plugged in for the first time, this unit requires you to reboot your PC after the drivers are uploaded ... which can be inconvenient and annoying if you want to use it on a public PC (ex: local library), or be able to quickly port files to someone else's PC. Also, U3 software is maintained in a separate partition, causing the USB to appear as 2 drives instead of one - which can be confusing to light users who are used to a more simple plug and go interface. Yes, the software inferface that comes with this is slick, and it's fine if you're a saavy users, but it's probably overkill for most light users.

* PARTITION: This USB has a separate partition for it's

Bottom line: As of this writing, this is one of the fastest USB drives on the market, and on that basis alone, it gets 4 stars from me, and a good recommendation. It didn't get the full 5 because of the slightly clutzy thumbslide, poorly positioned light, and lack of a lanyard.

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Good lookin quality drive - tricky to open/close

I did not buy this from amazon but I am reviewing it here since this is where I look for product reviews. Most of the complaints I read about this drive is that the open/close mechanism is cumbersome. It is true that it takes a little practice. It opens by pulling the black part down then up, and closes by pushing it up then down. I have found the trick is pushing on the right area of the drive to move it. The black part has 3 raised groove things on the top area where the connector pops out that instinctively you want to use as a thumb grip to open and close the device. But you should only push down on this area to open drive. To close it, you should push up on the curved lower part because if you press on the other end where the grooves are, it is very hard to move. Everyone that initially tried it in my office ended up dropping it on the floor. If you still cant muster the dexterity to do it with one hand, then use two hands. The black plastic part is not as sturdy as I imagined it to be and does feel a little flimsy, which is why I docked one star. The U3 software had some nice features, but I ended up removing it and using TrueCrypt, a free encryption program, to protect my confidential data in the event that I lose the drive. The U3 software did have a password protection feature, but in order for the U3 software to work it has to have its own partition on the drive and took up a bunch of space. Removing the U3 was a simple process through the software settings menu. This thing is definitely a good looking drive, kind of like something out of the Matrix, especially if you can master the switchblade-like open/close mechanism. It is larger and heavier than a lot of drives with no lanyard, and may be difficult to use in USB ports that are stacked very close. I have not had any problems using it though and overall I am very pleased with this drive and glad that I got it.

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The flagship of SanDisk USB flash drives, Cruzer Contour features a sleek and stylish black glossy design. It also includes an innovative sliding USB connector that retracts into the body. The sliding USB connector eliminates the need for caps and protects the connector. Cruzer Contour is a high performance USB drive with minimum read speed of 25MB per second. Also includes U3 technology so you can carry your files and software on a secure USB drive. You can have your wallpaper, preferences, favorites, profiles and more. Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS X v10.1.2 or later

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