USB Flash Drives

Rhino

I'm looking for a USB Drive:

Something Fast
Something Robust - in case I drop it or if someone hits it with their car.
About 2-4 gigs.

Suggestions?

oh! it should also look really cool.

Tiemler

Try a Kingston datatraveler. Should be able to find them on sale for about $30 for 2 gigs, $60 for 4 gigs. The keychain loop is built right into the drive, not the cap or some wire ring. Dunno how indestructible it is, but just don't leave your shit laying around in the driveway and you should be fine.

Rhino

Tiemler wrote: »

Try a Kingston datatraveler. Should be able to find them on sale for about $30 for 2 gigs, $60 for 4 gigs. The keychain loop is built right into the drive, not the cap or some wire ring. Dunno how indestructible it is, but just don't leave your shit laying around in the driveway and you should be fine.

I take it that you have one? Can you try stomping on it a few times as hard as you can and let me know if it breaks or not?


Also, on this site:
http://www.kingston.com/flash/datatraveler.asp

It says "Not enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost on Vista based systems".... typically it means it's even too slow for Microsoft.

Have anything a bit faster?

MengerSponge

These are supposedly indestructible, but I have no personal experience with them. Also the 4GB one is a bit pricey, although I probably spent almost that much for my 1GB drive a couple years ago. Speed-wise, they're probably all going to be USB 2.0, so I would think that that's the limiting factor for data transfer speeds.

Rhino

MengerSponge wrote: »

These are supposedly indestructible, but I have no personal experience with them. Also the 4GB one is a bit pricey, although I probably spent almost that much for my 1GB drive a couple years ago. Speed-wise, they're probably all going to be USB 2.0, so I would think that that's the limiting factor for data transfer speeds.

wow. Nice.

I bet those things are tough.

Rhino

Rhino wrote: »

MengerSponge wrote: »

These are supposedly indestructible, but I have no personal experience with them. Also the 4GB one is a bit pricey, although I probably spent almost that much for my 1GB drive a couple years ago. Speed-wise, they're probably all going to be USB 2.0, so I would think that that's the limiting factor for data transfer speeds.

wow. Nice.

I bet those things are tough.

It's water proof AND fire proof. You know.. in case I get into a fight with a Black Mage.

Deusfaux

i like OCZ's offerings, they have .... 3 different product lines i believe

Zifnab

Personally, I won't use anything that's not a SanDisk any more, after having a number of other brands fail on me or friends. I have two of the older Cruzer Minis (these ones), which have survived a number of washer/dryer cycles, being mangled by the USPS, and yes, I did back over one with a car (on grass, but who's counting, right?). That said, I've heard good things about the durability of their Titanium line, and I really like the idea of a retractable USB plug so it doesn't get snapped off. You can see their product page here, and it looks like Amazon has both a 2gb and a 4gb model.

Dammit, I sound like a shill....

Faricazy

Rhino wrote: »

Tiemler wrote: »

Try a Kingston datatraveler. Should be able to find them on sale for about $30 for 2 gigs, $60 for 4 gigs. The keychain loop is built right into the drive, not the cap or some wire ring. Dunno how indestructible it is, but just don't leave your shit laying around in the driveway and you should be fine.

I take it that you have one? Can you try stomping on it a few times as hard as you can and let me know if it breaks or not?


Also, on this site:
http://www.kingston.com/flash/datatraveler.asp

It says "Not enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost on Vista based systems".... typically it means it's even too slow for Microsoft.

Have anything a bit faster?

ReadyBoost is the stuff that allows Vista to use flash storage devices like flash drives as cache. It has nothing to do with speed.

ecchi

ReadyBoost is the stuff that allows Vista to use flash storage devices like flash drives as cache. It has nothing to do with speed.

It absolutely has to do with speed. If Readyboost can't use it that most likely means it's not fast enough to give a benefit -- part of the RB setup process involves running the drive through a bunch of speed tests. My iPod Shuffle can be used for RB but my other flash drive can't.

Rhino

Faricazy wrote: »

ReadyBoost is the stuff that allows Vista to use flash storage devices like flash drives as cache. It has nothing to do with speed.

uh, um... you should read the vista specs again...To be compatible windows vista ready boost it does a benchmark on it... if it's to slow it says "this drive is not enhanced for windows vista"... it basically says "this flash is slower then your HDD, so don't use it as cache cause that would be stupid and stuff"

Faricazy

well then

abloobloobloo

Rhino

Zifnab wrote: »

Personally, I won't use anything that's not a SanDisk any more, after having a number of other brands fail on me or friends. I have two of the older Cruzer Minis (these ones), which have survived a number of washer/dryer cycles, being mangled by the USPS, and yes, I did back over one with a car (on grass, but who's counting, right?). That said, I've heard good things about the durability of their Titanium line, and I really like the idea of a retractable USB plug so it doesn't get snapped off. You can see their product page here, and it looks like Amazon has both a 2gb and a 4gb model.

Dammit, I sound like a shill....

Nice. Those look pretty nice. Can you stomp on one of them... just give it a good stomping with some boots and the heel of your foot and see if it breaks or not.

Are they fast? How fast are they?

Edit: I like this one:
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2321)-SDCZ7-4096-Cruzer_Titanium_4GB.aspx

They are nice, right?

Zifnab

I've never had any complaints about the speed, and though I don't feel comfortable stomping on one right now (too much very, very vital data on them), I did stand on it, with all my weight on it, and it has come out unscathed. This is just one of the Minis, though, the Titanium ones are supposed to be nigh-uncrushable, from what I've heard.

MengerSponge

Rhino wrote: »

Edit: I like this one:
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2321)-SDCZ7-4096-Cruzer_Titanium_4GB.aspx

They are nice, right?

My friend has one of those; not sure if it's that exact model, but it's definitely one of the Cruzer Titaniums. He says it's great, he actually wanted to get it specifically because they're supposed to be ultra-durable. I don't know if he's driven over it or anything, but no problems so far.

Akilae729

I can vouch for the cuiser micros Ive had a 256mb cruizer mini for about 2 years now and i have REALLY beat the shit out of it, and it is still going strong.

arcath

I need something i can play WoW on.....

8gb are expensive though.....

LondonBridge

Swiss Army USB FTW

http://www.swissarmy.com/multitools/Category.htm?category=swissmemory&

MichaelLC

I'll be a second shill for SanDisk if that helps...

I've got a regular-sized Titanium, and it sems pretty fuckin tough to me. I've tried to snap it with my hands, and couldn't. Not a seam or anything.

embrik

MichaelLC wrote: »

I'll be a second shill for SanDisk if that helps...

I've got a regular-sized Titanium, and it sems pretty fuckin tough to me. I've tried to snap it with my hands, and couldn't. Not a seam or anything.

I will always buy SanDisk. That said, the Titanium and the new Micros seem tough, but my worry is not with the case, but with the retractable plug. It has moving parts --> points of failure. A coworker has a Titanium, and the plug part is already looking a bit crooked after repeated use. I don't know if the actual solid-state chips are attached to the plug or the inside of the case, but if it's the case, and the plug snaps, forget about getting your data.

Who knows, I'm probably worrying too much. The packaging/site says that the Titanium models with withstand crush forces of 1 ton, so you'd probably be ok running it over.

jclast

Throw another vote in for the SanDisk Cruzer line of jump drives. I've had mine (128 MB) for over three years, and it's still running like a champ.

Even after a trip through the washing machine.

Rhino

MichaelLC wrote: »

I've got a regular-sized Titanium, and it sems pretty fuckin tough to me. I've tried to snap it with my hands, and couldn't. Not a seam or anything.

Try hitting it a few times with a sledge hammer or using a diamond tipped drill ?? Maybe take it to the range and unload a few clips from a .45 onto it.

stigweard

There is a pretty good review on performance of usb flash drives here. Buffalo RUF2-S4GWH comes out on top but it looks like the most fragile of the bunch. Out of what they have the ATP and Corsair drives are the most robust. I had a corsair 1gb flash voyager for almost two years. IT was left in the snow, stepped on, dropped repeatedly and never had a problem. It outperformed every other flash drive I've had too. It did die from being shorted out on a machine with a bad usb port. A 10 year warranty helps with that though and I expect to have a replacement soon. All flash drives are susceptible to random failures and if you aren't backing up what is on it, you are asking for trouble. I have a 4GB Kensington data traveler right now for a temporary replacement and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. They are cheap plastic and horribly slow to transfer files.

Alistair Hutton

Something I'm currently trying, but haven't fully explored is using a micro memory card reader (specifically this no-name brand similar to this or this and then buying a stack of cheap SD cards to carrying around in a robust carrying case/wallet. It seems a fractionally more economical way of getting portable solid state stuff as when I want bigger memory I just have to buy the capapcity not also but the read/write electronics. Hmm, that's interating, it seems for 1Gig SD cards American sites offer better value but for 2 Gig cards British sites are almost $5 cheaper per card for brand name stuff.

Rhino

MengerSponge wrote: »

These are supposedly indestructible, but I have no personal experience with them. Also the 4GB one is a bit pricey, although I probably spent almost that much for my 1GB drive a couple years ago. Speed-wise, they're probably all going to be USB 2.0, so I would think that that's the limiting factor for data transfer speeds.

thanks.

I just ordered one of the bullet proof drives. 4 gigs I think. I did some research and it says it can with stand impact, massive amounts of gun fire, water and fire. also it looks pretty so might be able to wear it as a neck lace.

MengerSponge

Rhino wrote: »

MengerSponge wrote: »

These are supposedly indestructible, but I have no personal experience with them. Also the 4GB one is a bit pricey, although I probably spent almost that much for my 1GB drive a couple years ago. Speed-wise, they're probably all going to be USB 2.0, so I would think that that's the limiting factor for data transfer speeds.

thanks.

I just ordered one of the bullet proof drives. 4 gigs I think. I did some research and it says it can with stand impact, massive amounts of gun fire, water and fire. also it looks pretty so might be able to wear it as a neck lace.

Let me know how that one works out for you. I've been really interested in them since I first saw them, but I don't really need a new USB drive at the moment. But if this works out I might just break down and get one though. It would make a perfect keychain.