DonationCoder.com Forum
Main Area and Open Discussion => Living Room => Topic started by: superboyac on April 19, 2009, 03:11 AM
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I'm finally going to try to make a portable system to carry around with me. Can anyone recommend to me the absolute best USB stick to buy? I don't really care about looks or price, more for reliability, speed, quality.
usually, I'll just whatever USB stick is around, i don't care. But I was kind of wondering if there actually are differences in quality among sticks, and not just aesthetic.
Looking forward to the responses!
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Ooo, this one looks good:
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ] (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220252)
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Don't know if this helps but...........
At my local PC shop, a customer told the proprietor that she put her Husbands' Sahara Flash Drive (by mistake) through the washer and dryer - AND IT STILL WORKS! ;D
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I looked into this about a year ago or so for just the same reason. The key here is speed. Looks, durability, quality (to some extent), etc. just doesn't matter for a portable application stick. Just about any very high speed stick will be top quality. When I looked, my top choice was OCZ or Corsair. OCZ ATV Turbo tended to eek out most of the competition for me, but either of these would be great. That Patriot XT was a top performer as well. Generally the smaller size sticks tended to be faster as well, so that may play a part. I found my Portable toolbox fits in about 512MB, so I got a 4GB so I could keep a large data file and still have good speed, though the 2GB sticks would have probably been better in retrospect.
This link to Tom's Hardware suggests the Corsair Voyager GT 16GB if money is no object - interesting....
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/corsair-creates-high-capacity-high-speed-usb-stick,4894.html (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/corsair-creates-high-capacity-high-speed-usb-stick,4894.html)
Personally, I ended up with a PNY XLR8 4GB stick. It wasn't in the top 5 speeds at the time, but it was in the top 10. It is certainly acceptable and was quite a bit cheaper than the alternatives. The Voyager GT was top speed demon at the time, but I liked the OCZ because it went through torture tests that included getting run over by trucks, freezing in water, boiling in water, being dropped from a two story house, and a few others I don't remember without performance being affected in the slightest. In fact the only complaint was that it was slightly larger (due mainly to the ruggedization) and the material used to make it grip easier. That material tended to collect a lot of lint. For me, big deal. In the end, if you want the best and are reasonably careful with your stick, the Voyager GT is the way to go. If you have other requirements, there are several alternatives to choose from with nearly equal speeds.
BTW: Here is an article either similar to, or the same one I saw (can't remember where I saw it, so it may very well be the same one) http://www.dvhardware.net/review125_3_ocz_atv_turbo.html (http://www.dvhardware.net/review125_3_ocz_atv_turbo.html) Another thing to consider is do you want to buy it now with the USB 3.0 standard due out so soon? It might take a while for the tech to propagate, sure, but it will be faster (that you can pretty much guarantee) and it should be backward compatible as well IIRC. Just a thought...
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Corsair makes some pretty rugged drives.
Corsair Flash Voyager GT – Fastest USB pen drive in the world? (http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1097/corsair_flash_voyager_gt_fastest_usb_pen_drive_in_the_world/index.html)
Tip: Try and get one whose cap isn't easy to lose.
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Have a 8Gbyte Kingston Datatraveler...very happy with that one. Still works after a trip through the washing machine and a physical "beating" from a playing kid who managed to move my PC case with connected stick some 10 cm further than physical room allowed.
But even as it is bent like an old soldier, it still works without hiccups.
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Corsair makes some pretty rugged drives.
Corsair Flash Voyager GT – Fastest USB pen drive in the world? (http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1097/corsair_flash_voyager_gt_fastest_usb_pen_drive_in_the_world/index.html)
Tip: Try and get one whose cap isn't easy to lose.
-nosh
Find me a USB Stick with a cap that isn't integrated into the design that is? They all last about 2-3 months before they end up missing/lost/falling off/etc. The best I found for this so far is SanDisk, and they are still easy to loose. If that is the biggest issue, get one that swings out like my PNY XLR8.
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(Actually that was one of my requirements when I was looking. I hated the caps)
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Interesting info...
Yes, I definitely want the speed. But I also would like to avoid the cap. If I keep it in my pocket, I can see the cap coming off. Hmm...maybe the cap is the dealbreaker.
OK, so what's the fastest attached-cap drive? Is it steeladept's PNy above?
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Find me a USB Stick with a cap that isn't integrated into the design that is? They all last about 2-3 months before they end up missing/lost/falling off/etc. The best I found for this so far is SanDisk, and they are still easy to loose. If that is the biggest issue, get one that swings out like my PNY XLR8.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=17962.msg160504#msg160504))
(Actually that was one of my requirements when I was looking. I hated the caps)
-steeladept
I like it...the only problem is that it's at least twice the price of other sticks of the same capacity!
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How about a 4GB Kingston Datatraveler HyperX? Only about $25 (vs. $45 for the PNY). Capless design. Supposed to be pretty fast.
See here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134615
See review (roundup) here:
http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/16gb-usb-drive-comparison-17-drives-compared/
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OK, I've decided to buy the 4GB Kingston Datatraveler HyperX...I'll give you guys one last chance for a rebuttal.
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I've been using the Sandisk Cruzer U3 drives for a few years and I have had no issues with them, and they don't have a cap. They slide in and out of the case. I like the U3 application as well. I have 3 4 gig Cruzers now and I am adding an 8 gig Cruzer to my arsenal real soon.
Rob
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i'm using Sandisk Cruzer (4GB) too but i had to remove the U3 thingy since it was getting in the way. before that i was using Imation Swivel which was my 1st preference because it had a lock switch like floppy disks in those days but newer Imation models don't have that anymore..
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For all that PAP, and Fast operating Linux Distro too!?!!
OCZ Diesel 16GB.....................Enough said!
Found here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227333 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227333)
:up: :up: :up: :up: :Thmbsup:
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For all that PAP, and Fast operating Linux Distro too!?!!
-sgtevmckay
I didn't understand anything you said...
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PAP= Portable Applicatios, Linux distro (ie, Ubuntu, red hat, SUSE, etc)
Trust me, once you own own one of these, you will understand when I say, I couldn't say it any plainer :P
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Ok, thanks for clearing that up! So...if i understand you correctly, you're saying the 4 GB is too small, I might as well get 16 GB?
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How about a 4GB Kingston Datatraveler HyperX? Only about $25 (vs. $45 for the PNY). Capless design.
-superboyac
I actually found that my PNY device was MUCH cheaper elsewhere. Specifically I believe I found it cheapest at Amazon, IIRC. TigerDirect is a good place to look at as well.
Just found this (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/usb-flash-memory/usb-flash-drive-comparison-21-tested-and-compared/) article that suggests the OCZ Rally2 Turbo or the Super Talent 200x. I know the Super Talent one was shortlisted for me last time I was looking too, so that may be an even cheaper alternative. Additionally, Super Talent has several different form factors, many at the 200x speed. I sort of like the Pico line myself now that I see that (it wasn't available when I was looking before).
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Ok, thanks for clearing that up! So...if i understand you correctly, you're saying the 4 GB is too small, I might as well get 16 GB?
-superboyac
If the speeds are equivalent, I would agree, but it looks like the speed sweet-spot right now is at the 4GB (except for one bizarre option for a 64GB according to that last link I provided)
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here's the usb drive i would get, purely for its size, so it can be put on a keychain:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001AMI91E
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mouser I see a little face on there as well, is that an intentional design element?> :)
You might try this one as well
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-130870-iamakey-Flash-Drive/dp/B001V7XPSA/ref=sr_1_1/180-0502478-2218239?ie=UTF8&qid=1240205207&sr=1-1
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WOW. The more I look at it, the more I REALLY like the PICO line of ST USB sticks!
You can get all the details from this PDF on their site.
http://www.supertalent.com/datasheets/18_75.pdf (http://www.supertalent.com/datasheets/18_75.pdf)
30MB/sec (200x) speeds, no caps, water & shock resistant, small & light, but still stylish with many different style options, choice of capacities (1-16GB) in each style.
I actually got 3 of the SM Series 4GB drives from a LINUX user's group I attended. They loaded Ubuntu on them in a particular configuration then talked about how they did it. It is a decent drive by all accounts, though it isn't the 200x speeds. Physically it looks a lot like the Pico A, but larger. They were used by the speaker's company as a marketing tool, given out to prospective customers and as a thank you to existing customers. They were branded with the company logo, so I didn't even know the were ST drives until I checked out the site. Perhaps that can be another prize option Mouser, if you are interested in expanding beyond the mugs and hoodies. Just a thought. I would love a Pico with Cody gracing the outside :Thmbsup:
here's the usb drive i would get, purely for its size, so it can be put on a keychain:
-mouser
Oh, and yes, the Pico's are small enough for this. Look at the comparison to the US Quarter - almost the same (for Europeans who never had a Quarter to compare, the stick is about as long as a one Euro piece is across. Sorry, don't know other denominations ;))
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nice find kartal. :up:
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and just for fun..... :D
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00179
http://www.itechnews.net/2008/12/14/solid-alliance-cat-paw-usb-flash-drive/
http://www.techfresh.net/cat-tail-usb-flash-drive/
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Yeah, that testfreaks website is where I'm getting all my information. Good site.
Ok, seems like I've narrowed it down to the Kingston HyperX and Super Talent Pico. both are capless, but the Pico is very very small. I like that, wouldn't notice it on my keychain. Come to think of it, newegg has a 2-for-1 special on them right now. I think I'm getting the Pico-C gold:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609315
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Nice choice. :Thmbsup:
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Thanks for the post :D Ordered 2-for-1 Super Talent Pico from newegg.
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and just for fun..... :D
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00179
http://www.itechnews.net/2008/12/14/solid-alliance-cat-paw-usb-flash-drive/
http://www.techfresh.net/cat-tail-usb-flash-drive/
-CleverCat
Funky (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19117), Useful (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10379), Fashionable (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18607) and just plain old Hard to Lose (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1642).
DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/) have got you covered :Thmbsup:
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and just for fun..... :D
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00179
http://www.itechnews.net/2008/12/14/solid-alliance-cat-paw-usb-flash-drive/
http://www.techfresh.net/cat-tail-usb-flash-drive/
-CleverCat
Funky (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19117), Useful (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10379), Fashionable (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18607) and just plain old Hard to Lose (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1642).
DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/) have got you covered :Thmbsup:
-4wd
Silly!
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Looks like you've already ordered, but I need to report my negative experience with the supertalent pico. Mine is too big for most USB sockets. It requires lots of force to push it in, and sometimes pliers to pull it back out. I broke the chain trying to remove it from a computer at church. After using it in a port for a while, the port bends to fit it more easily, but then other devices experience intermittent connections on that port. I wound up buying a 2" USB M - USB F adapter that I keep it in, removing the size advantage completely.
Eric
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Looks like you've already ordered, but I need to report my negative experience with the supertalent pico. Mine is too big for most USB sockets. It requires lots of force to push it in, and sometimes pliers to pull it back out. I broke the chain trying to remove it from a computer at church. After using it in a port for a while, the port bends to fit it more easily, but then other devices experience intermittent connections on that port. I wound up buying a 2" USB M - USB F adapter that I keep it in, removing the size advantage completely.
Eric
-ayryq
Interesting...I did read that it was a tight fit.
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I've been using a Sandisk Cruzer Titanium 4Gb (http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2729)-SDCZ7-016G-A11-Cruzer_Titanium_USB_Drive_16GB.aspx) for a couple of years now and it never let me down . The hull is all metal, so no problem having it in your pocket: you can't bend it and can't crush it. Still its shape is smooth so it does not hurt.
Read/write speeds are not the best on the market, but it is still ok for a regular use.
First thing I did on my cruzer was to remove U3 and reformat to FAT. Strangely, I noticed that the read/write speed was faster in FAT than FAT32, so I use it. :)
I renamed the drive in Windows with my name and international cell-phone number. My visit card is also stored at the root of the drive as a vcf file. Should I lose the drive, it's easy to contact me and return it.
I use a portable version of Truecrypt onboard. Most of the 4Gb are occupied by an encrypted file. Mounting this file as a drive is easy. I wrote and compiled the following AHK program that starts with an autorun file:
-*-*-*- Start of code -*-*-*-
#SingleInstance,Force
#Persistent
SetBatchLines,-1
Loop, read, MEP.ini
{ if a_index = 1
{
PreferredDrive = %A_LoopReadLine%
}
if a_index = 2
{
PathToTrueCrypt = %A_LoopReadLine%
}
if a_index = 3
{
PathToVolume = %A_LoopReadLine%
}
}
Drives = D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z
IfNotExist, %PreferredDrive%:\
{
Drives = %PreferredDrive%
}
Loop, parse, Drives, `,
{
IfNotExist, %A_LoopField%:\
{
Run, %PathToTrueCrypt% /q background /l%A_LoopField% /m rm /v "%PathToVolume%"
TrayTip,, Mounting drive "%A_LoopField%:",10
sleep,10000
exitapp
}
}
-*-*-*- End of code -*-*-*-
MEP.ahk should be used together with the file mep.ini that contains:
line 1: the letter of your preferred drive letter to mount the encrypted container file (for example F)
line 2: the absolute path to truecrypt.exe
line 3: the absolute path to the encrypted container file
Running MEP ensures that the encrypted container file is always mounted as drive F. If it is not available, a free drive letter is automatically found as mounting point. That is very convenient when you have many network drives mounted on your system.
That's it for my five cents! :Thmbsup:
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Ok, thanks for clearing that up! So...if i understand you correctly, you're saying the 4 GB is too small, I might as well get 16 GB?
-superboyac
Purely a personal choice, I keep approximately 5.2 GB of software, and 6.7 GB (currently) of general graphics and documents, on mine at any time, and I deal with a lot of graphics, as I reate and deliver presentations.
As software gets larger, and the files we take with us do the same, we should always be looking forward.
I have used this OCZ drive for some time, it is shorter than some and a little thicker than others, there is always the possibility of losing the lid, but that is true of most.
I consider it a plus, and some do not, but from a safety stand point, you can not miss the obnoxious blinking LED when information is being transferred.
I find the transfer to be incredibly fast (transfer of 12GB in 15 minutes), but this may be reduced by scanning/Anti-Virus software.
4GB may be adequate for you, but I would not pay the local store prices at any rate.
Would I recommend a larger drive; Yes
Most of the IT pro's I communicate with advise the same.
At least 8GB.
It will greatly depend on how much you transfer, and how much you keep on the drive.
I have found, personally, that 4GB is always adequate until you need more.
If you are going for 4GB, get a DVD rewritable, and there is your 4GB, albeit slower, but price justified.
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Another thing to consider is do you want to buy it now with the USB 3.0 standard due out so soon? It might take a while for the tech to propagate, sure, but it will be faster (that you can pretty much guarantee) and it should be backward compatible as well IIRC. Just a thought...-steeladept
Is that really going to be much of an issue? USB2 is 480mbit, and enve though it's hard reaching the full 60mbyte/s sustained through USB, isn't that plenty bandwidth for pendrives? How fast are the fastest now, anyway?
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Another thing to consider is do you want to buy it now with the USB 3.0 standard due out so soon? It might take a while for the tech to propagate, sure, but it will be faster (that you can pretty much guarantee) and it should be backward compatible as well IIRC. Just a thought...-steeladept
Is that really going to be much of an issue? USB2 is 480mbit, and enve though it's hard reaching the full 60mbyte/s sustained through USB, isn't that plenty bandwidth for pendrives? How fast are the fastest now, anyway?
-f0dder
About 30MB/s IIRC - it's the write speed that's the killer ATM, usually about half, (if you're lucky), that.
Actually, considering I've seen external USB2 HDD's hit a sustained 25MB/s reading and around 20MB/s writing, Flash Drives are pretty crap.
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(Talking about USB3...)
Is that really going to be much of an issue? USB2 is 480mbit, and enve though it's hard reaching the full 60mbyte/s sustained through USB, isn't that plenty bandwidth for pendrives? How fast are the fastest now, anyway?
-f0dder
It depends on the ultimate published spec. If it is purely a faster interface and that is all, then you are right. However, if there are other technical advances, these MAY make a difference. I do know either way it will be designed for backward compatibility, so if the advances are worth it, waiting for the USB3 spec designs may allow you to have that capability where available and the USB2 or USB 1.1 specs where it isn't. Just like with a USB2 device now.
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At the very least we know this much to be true; when the USB 3 is fully released to the public, it will be backwards compatible, so anything you buy now will work later.
No great loss in my opinion, and not worth the wait currently. I mean how fast do you need, currently the average system will not give you the complete I/O capability of your flash as it is, maybe when the new standard comes out these drives today, will be a bit more impressive tomorrow!?!!
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No great loss in my opinion, and not worth the wait currently. I mean how fast do you need, currently the average system will not give you the complete I/O capability of your flash as it is, maybe when the new standard comes out these drives today, will be a bit more impressive tomorrow!?!!
-sgtevmckay
Yeah, that's how I feel. i'm talking $25 right now. Who cares?! I'll spend another $25 when USB 3.0 comes out. big deal.
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Well, obviously you can buy one based on several important features, GB's, looks, durability, and convenience being the most important. I'm a computer tech, and I carry around the tools of my trade, plus extra stuff like movies, and the 8 GB Voyager :Thmbsup: has sufficient GB's, looks fine, is pretty darn durable, but as far as convenience, I had to tie a string to the cap so I wouldn't lose it (although it would never just fall off due to the rubber grip it has), and it is rather bulky to plug in around tight areas with lots of cables. I didn't include speed because I don't see many people needing top speed any more than I do, and it varies depending on file size and port speed (some people still have 1.1 USB). I've tried others that were a combination of plastic and metal (the majority), and some fell apart eventually, lost their spring or tension where it counted, and some are inconvenient to plug in alongside other cords. I guess the thing to remember is that you're not guaranteed that any particular feature won't disappoint you after some use or under some circumstance, and you better be ready to swallow your dignity when it begins to fail you or you have to find a 'work around'.
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(Talking about USB3...)
Is that really going to be much of an issue? USB2 is 480mbit, and enve though it's hard reaching the full 60mbyte/s sustained through USB, isn't that plenty bandwidth for pendrives? How fast are the fastest now, anyway?
-f0dder
It depends on the ultimate published spec. If it is purely a faster interface and that is all, then you are right. However, if there are other technical advances, these MAY make a difference. I do know either way it will be designed for backward compatibility, so if the advances are worth it, waiting for the USB3 spec designs may allow you to have that capability where available and the USB2 or USB 1.1 specs where it isn't. Just like with a USB2 device now.
-steeladept
I fail to see which advances USB flashdrives would benefit from (the next several years, anyway), considering they're limited by slow flash memory speeds rather than anything that has to do with the interface?
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How do I like this site! Just started to consider launching a USB work environment project, and here's a discussion on a main subj.
My list of requirements in order of importance is the following:
1. Performance
2. Durability
3. Size
4. Usability (to my vision, it is a small USB key-chain that is easily detachable for the use-time and "always with me" in my pocket for the rest of time)
5. Compatibility (this is last because I didn't experience any significant problems so far despite my extensive experience with computers)
This form-factor would be the best:
http://www.transcend-uk.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?LangNo=0&ModNo=181 (http://www.transcend-uk.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?LangNo=0&ModNo=181)
But performance...
Here's the other one:
http://www.kingston.com/flash/dtms.asp?id=2 (http://www.kingston.com/flash/dtms.asp?id=2)
I'm still not sure of a performance, but as for durability and interoperability... Well, last depends on PC's hardware too
And here:
http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product-detail.do?prodId=SEL-M-122709&catId=SEL-yf-dnser-35483 (http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product-detail.do?prodId=SEL-M-122709&catId=SEL-yf-dnser-35483)
Doesn't look durable though...
This one looks durable:
http://www.pretec.com/epages/Store.storefront/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store.Pretec/Products/B2UXXX (http://www.pretec.com/epages/Store.storefront/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store.Pretec/Products/B2UXXX)
Still... First, I may lose it (not only near a computer table - I lost my laser pointer key-chain jut because it unscrewed). Second, it may not fit to USB slots of some monitors.
Here's another option:
http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/CMFUSBMINI-8GB.pdf (http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/CMFUSBMINI-8GB.pdf)
It would be nice to see some performance tests.
Those key/coin looking like USB sticks from LaCie:
http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10052 (http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10052)
are huge to my opinion.
So, the best option is not found so far...
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Funky (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19117), Useful (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10379), Fashionable (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18607) and just plain old Hard to Lose (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1642).
DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/) have got you covered :Thmbsup:
-4wd
Ooh, I like the Steel Bracelet!
Funky (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19117), Useful (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10379), Fashionable (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18607) and just plain old Hard to Lose (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1642).
DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/) have got you covered :Thmbsup:
-superboyac
Silly!
[/quote]
Sometimes we need to be 'silly'.... ;)
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Sandisk cruzer micro. Havent had 1 fail yet.
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I fail to see which advances USB flashdrives would benefit from (the next several years, anyway), considering they're limited by slow flash memory speeds rather than anything that has to do with the interface?
-f0dder
I am not saying there is one. But if there was, for example, some sort of a compression algorithm that was introduced so it would essentially pass more data in the same amount of time built into the specification...maybe that is a bad example, but I hope you get what I was getting at.
Anyway, it was primarily to ensure all options were covered. Besides, I thought the interface was the primary bottleneck, not the memory - otherwise wouldn't it be faster than disk? The memory inside the PC certainly is and IIRC they are both typical DRAM chips. Even if it was old SDRAM that is still significantly faster than even SCSI drives, and the drives have more throughput as well.
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steeladept: a thing like compression could (and would) be implemented in the USB device rather than be part of the interface specification, imho - it would be a too specific feature to pull into the interface, USB is very generic.
If it was the bandwidth that was the bottleneck [for usb pendrives], you'd see them running close to the theoretical max of ~60MByte/s, rather than the... what.. 20-30MB/s? you see now. SDRAM is a lot faster than flash - even old PC133 has more than 1GB/s bandwidth, DDR2-800 (which isn't fast today) has 6.4GB/s. The fastest consumer SSDs (flash based) are around 200MB/s (and will cost you an arm and a leg), and that speed is achieved by striping multiple channels of slow flash memory.
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I was just citing and example - and a bad one at that (which I pointed out).
As for the memory, I did not realize there was that much difference between flash dram and other dram memory modules.
To SB - For today only at Newegg -
- Patriot Logo
- Patriot Xporter XT 16GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PEF16GUSB
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- Your Price: $38.99
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- $23.99 After $15.00 MIR
This is the same one you originally was looking at except in a 16GB size. Don't know if you are still interested in it, but I thought I would tell you...
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I've been using the Sandisk Cruzer U3 drives for a few years and I have had no issues with them, and they don't have a cap. They slide in and out of the case. I like the U3 application as well. I have 3 4 gig Cruzers now and I am adding an 8 gig Cruzer to my arsenal real soon.
Rob
-OkRob
I got one of those after reading a big review in one of the PC magazines. Worked about 3 times before the electrical connection became intermittent. I was just able to get my data off before it died. I got one of those AData 4 GB with the rubberized body. Don't know how sturdy it is yet. I do know it's bootable. I just put WinPE 2.0 with RAID drivers so I could boot my image restore program off of it. I just ordered the 8 GB model. I got another model AData 2 GB because it was cheap but it does feel like it came in a box of Crackerjacks. Wicked flimsy. It's bootable too. For how long I don't know but it feels too cheesy to last. :)
Like most things, if you have a good experience, it's great. If you get burned, it sucks. :)
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I was just citing and example - and a bad one at that (which I pointed out).
As for the memory, I did not realize there was that much difference between flash dram and other dram memory modules.
To SB - For today only at Newegg -
- Patriot Logo
- Patriot Xporter XT 16GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PEF16GUSB
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- Your Price: $38.99
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- $23.99 After $15.00 MIR
This is the same one you originally was looking at except in a 16GB size. Don't know if you are still interested in it, but I thought I would tell you...
-steeladept
Thanks, but I already bought the Pico. It's ok, though, 16 GB is overkill for me right now. I'm just trying this out for now. If it becomes serious, I'll get a larger one later.
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I recommend SanDisk Ultra® Titanium. It´s strong and durable according to my experience. However, not the cheapest one! (http://sandisk.com/Products/Item(2729)-SDCZ7-016G-A11-Cruzer_Titanium_USB_Drive_16GB.aspx).
Have a look - and good luck!
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I recommend SanDisk Ultra® Titanium. It´s strong and durable according to my experience. However, not the cheapest one! (http://sandisk.com/Products/Item(2729)-SDCZ7-016G-A11-Cruzer_Titanium_USB_Drive_16GB.aspx).
Have a look - and good luck!
-ShihanWushu
Sandisk Titanium is the one I referred to above. The outer shell looks solid but I don't think the whole mechanism sliding back and forth does any good. Then again, the AData one I have now may be flimsy plastic inside the rubber body!! No way to tell how long this stuff will last until it dies.
I got the Sandisk right after they came out. Hopefully they fixed the slide design. Or maybe I just got a lemmon. :(
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I've had my Sandisk Titanium for quite a while and I use it several times every day. So far no problems. Earlier I had Sandisk with plastic cover. That one didn't last long.
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I've had my Sandisk Titanium for quite a while and I use it several times every day. So far no problems. Earlier I had Sandisk with plastic cover. That one didn't last long.
-ShihanWushu
Yeah, it's tough to judge. I hate to do trial and error when they start getting to be > $20. The AData 2 GB I mentioned seems like the flimsiest thing imaginable but maybe I got a good one. The little snap on cap actually snaps and doesn't fall off. Maybe that's how you tell on that model. :) Guess I'm doomed to buy some since all the PCs have 0 floppy disk these days, so it's the only way you can do those little emergency utility gizmos.
I ordered another of those ADatas with the rubberized bodies. 8 GB this time. Bought it on NewEgg for $19 shipped. Hope it's as good as the 4 GB I bought earlier.
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Maximum PC just did a write up on an extremely small USB stick that measures 19x15x6mm (that's tiny!) with 15mbs read and 6mbs write speeds. The 8GB version retails for $33 USD and the 4GB version goes for $22 USD.
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At those prices they seem almost too good to pass up. I just ordered a half-dozen.
Maximum PC article here: http://usb.brando.com.hk/eagletec-usb-nano-flash-drive_p00892c041d15.html
Order at this link: http://usb.brando.com.hk/eagletec-usb-nano-flash-drive_p00892c041d15.html
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Flash memory kit at Newegg for $23:
here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=17962.0;attach=40248;image)
The actual memory component is very small, about as small as possible, and ported in the larger part you see with the lanyard attached. The lanyard is actually attached to the memory holder itself by a small ring of plastic which broke off of mine along with another small piece of plastic. What's left is in the picture below. That is essentially the memory adapter which you plug the 8GB micro-flash into. So on the up-side, it's very small and you can plug any size micro-memory chip into it. On the downside, this specific design failed after a short while due to lots of use. I now have to figure out how to make it able to attach to my keyring again and I'm good to go. By the way, this is very fast, with speeds of over 10 MB/s typical; faster than my 8GB Corsair Voyager at around 8 MB/s. That thing will last forever though.
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I just wish they'd make these things as rugged as a ballpoint pen. Can't cost that much to go 1 mil thicker on the plastic can it? Jeez!! :)
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I'm with sgtevmckay on this one. I've had the OCZ DIESEL 16GB for about 3 months now. It's small, has a no slip exterior, and the cap shows no signs of becoming worn to the point of coming off on its own. It's fast too. This is the drive I use for work so its been tested pretty hard.
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While trawling the net looking at SSDs I happened across this flash drive: OCZ Throttle eSATA Flash Drive (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_throttle_esata_flash_drive)
For eSATA:
90MB/s - Read
30MB/s - Write
And a USB interface if the host PC doesn't have an eSATA port.
The 16GB version is available at Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227391&ref=dynamitedata.com) for $52.
Now we're getting to some realistic speeds :D
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4wd: cute - are there any reliable & thorough reviews of it, though? I'm a bit skeptical wrt. the relatively high speeds and affordable price.
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While trawling the net looking at SSDs I happened across this flash drive: OCZ Throttle eSATA Flash Drive (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_throttle_esata_flash_drive)
For eSATA:
90MB/s - Read
30MB/s - Write
And a USB interface if the host PC doesn't have an eSATA port.
The 16GB version is available at Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227391&ref=dynamitedata.com) for $52.
Now we're getting to some realistic speeds :D
-4wd
The actual OCZ Throttle speed review was done here (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/usb-flash-memory/usb-flash-drive-comparison-21-tested-and-compared/), but I think they only tested it with the USB connection. Either way, i doubt even esata actually achieves those speeds.
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Perhaps I'm dull, but I can't find the Throttle in the tested drives on that link? Anyway, USB2 would impose a max limit of "somewhat less than 60MB/s" because of the protocol. If the drive claims to 90MB/s but doesn't come close to 60MB/s with USB2, I sincerely doubt that eSATA helps.
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Perhaps I'm dull, but I can't find the Throttle in the tested drives on that link? Anyway, USB2 would impose a max limit of "somewhat less than 60MB/s" because of the protocol. If the drive claims to 90MB/s but doesn't come close to 60MB/s with USB2, I sincerely doubt that eSATA helps.
-f0dder
Whoops! Sorry! I meant this link (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/16gb-usb-drive-comparison-17-drives-compared/).
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The actual OCZ Throttle speed review was done here (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/usb-flash-memory/usb-flash-drive-comparison-21-tested-and-compared/), but I think they only tested it with the USB connection. Either way, i doubt even esata actually achieves those speeds.
-superboyac
If they're going to test a Flash Drive then they should test all it's interfaces, especially since eSATA is getting to be rather common these days.
BTW, USB performance as I recently discovered upon a visit to a friends place, seems to be mainly a function of the chipset used.
For my external 2.5" HDD I can consistently get 20MB/s writing and around 25-30MB/s reading on my current ATI based board and my previous ULi based board.
One of my friends PCs consistently produced 50-60MB/s reading and 40MB/s writing, pretty much double what I could previously get, and it's motherboard was an old nForce3-250 based SKT939.
Just goes to show I should never have got rid of my old nForce3-250 board. I'll have to try it with one of my Flash drives next time.
Anyway, the point is unless you know what manufacturers' use to get their "figures" and what the reviewers use to get their "figures" then who's to say the manufacturers' figures are incorrect?
And yes, I know in the link you reference they specify the motherboard but quite a lot don't.
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I got my gold Pico-C drive. Check it out, it is tiny!!
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It is very well built. All metal. I'm putting it on my keychain, and I doubt it will get damaged. I can't comment on the speed, I guess it's fast. USB always seems slow to me anyway, but I'm used to transferring things between Sata drives. It's supposed to be fast relative to other USB flash drives.
Anyway, I'm happy with it. Now, on to setting up all my portable apps. The backbone to my portable workstation will be FindandRunRobot, and LaunchbarCommander. Of course.
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Hmmmmmmmm got my Adata 8 GB I was waiting for. Only thing I noticed so far is the rubber cap is a lot tighter fit. Must've been user feedback about the previous ones sliding off too easily. Just hope it doesn't stress the electricals every time I pull the cap off.
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Regarding the Pico-C tight fit. Yes, it is a pretty tight fit into the USB slots, but it's a good thing. I've now used it on 5 different computers and the fit is really good. It's so small, that the tight fit is important so it doesn't wobble in there. But it's not so big where it's stretching the slot, as mentioned earlier.
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Maybe I need to grind mine down or something. It's good to know it's not all of them.
Eric
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Special on Buy-
http://www.buy.com/prod/sandisk-16gb-ultra-cruzer-titanium-usb-flash-drive-silver/q/loc/101/210267028.html?adid=18007&dcaid=18007
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$39.99. I had my 4GB forever, then wanted a larger one and have looked around at all of the 16GB, and tried a couple. Now that I've found this for a reasonable price, I'll be getting it. It's a bit large, but it's worth it IMO.
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Interesting...my post from a couple days ago didn't show up...
I lost my gold pico-c usb drive Thursday night. That's what I posted to say. It didn't take long.
But just now, I found it! I dropped it on the driveway of my parents' house. The thing is so darn small, and it apparently got loose off my keychain clasp, which is hard to do. Anyway, good news. Time to back up and get a new keychain.
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Quick update:
I bought myself the kingmax tiny usb (that i mentioned here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=17962.msg160618#msg160618)) to put on my keyring. After a couple of weeks the part that attaches to the keyring is breaking and threatening to fall off. This is my 2nd attempt to find a tiny keyring usb, so it's back to the drawing board. Just wanted to warn others looking for same thing as me. I think next i'll try the Pico-C gold that superboy mentioned here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=17962.msg160631#msg160631).
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Quick update:
I bought myself the kingmax tiny usb (that i mentioned here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=17962.msg160618#msg160618)) to put on my keyring. After a couple of weeks the part that attaches to the keyring is breaking and threatening to fall off. This is my 2nd attempt to find a tiny keyring usb, so it's back to the drawing board. Just wanted to warn others looking for same thing as me. I think next i'll try the Pico-C gold that superboy mentioned here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=17962.msg160631#msg160631).
-mouser
Good choice. This Pico-C is awesome. It's all metal and very rugged for something that is an electronic device. Like I said, it was in my parents' driveway for 2 days. Cars may have even driven over it, who knows (probably not). It's very rugged. Unless you somehow hammer the actual little contacts, this should last a long time.
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Well, my 8Gb Pico-C (the one I mentioned above, that doesn't fit in most slots) just failed. I've got an RMA and will be sending it back to SuperTalent. I've replaced it with a PNY Mini Attaché. Physically it seems fine, but Windows now asks to format it, and then can't. Reminds me of when floppy disks used to fail, back in the day.
Maybe they'll send me a new one that fits, since most people seem to be very happy with them.
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Seems to be a crap shoot. Trouble is it's impossible to tell from the outside how well connected the stuff is on the inside. If we're at the floppy disk stage, it must be those 5 1/4" paper floppies!! :)
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It's been several months since getting my pico-C USB drive. I have to make a special mention of how happy I am with it. This thing is very indestructible. It's capless design, no moving parts to remove/attach, and it's ultra-small size makes it just the perfect thing I could have hoped for. I love this thing. If I find the time, i will make a special post for it on my website.
I'm also close to filling it up. I may have to upgrade to the 16GB version soon. I highly recommend this drive to anyone looking for a USB drive. The only people who shouldn't consider it are those who think that it is TOO small, and I know some of you are like that. However, for me, the smaller the better. I don't need extra bulk in my pocket. You may find smaller drives out there, but they will not be as well made as this one, as mouser discovered with the plastic one he got.
It's also a great conversation piece. One of my coworkers was fascinated by it. He got one himself, and says people always ask him about it. I love it when companies get things SO right.
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superboyac: how fast is the pico-c, though? speed is quite an important thing for me wrt. flash memory devices - throughput as well as random access time.
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If anyone is still looking, I have two OCZ Rally2 8GB Flash drives (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_rally2_usb_2_0_dual_channel_flash_memory_drive). I cannot recommend these enough. They are quick and very durable. They are not totally ruggedized like the corsair shock resistant models, but they are tougher than most low cost USB Memory sticks. 5 out of 5 cody's recommend this product ;-)
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superboyac: how fast is the pico-c, though? speed is quite an important thing for me wrt. flash memory devices - throughput as well as random access time.
-f0dder
You know, I'm not sure exactly how fast it is. You can find many benchmarks for it on various website reviews. I've never really understood what kind of speed issues people have with USB drives. All USB drives seem slow to me because I'm comparing them to hard drive speeds. Tell you what, instead of going by benchmarks, why don't you give me a specific task you are looking for and I'll try it on my drive and tell you the result? Do you want me to transfer a 100 MB file and tell you how long it takes? Let me know.
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No threads about the usb stick. However, it's so useful for members, thanks!
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OCZ DIESEL 16GB
-bcpaladin
I'm looking at this since I need to buy one at least 16 GB. Can you tell me what type of write speed you get with it? My largest so far is A-Data 8 GB but it writes at less than 5 MB/sec. Kinda' slow for copying movies on. Fortunately it reads well enough to play them. :)
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While trawling the net looking at SSDs I happened across this flash drive: OCZ Throttle eSATA Flash Drive (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_throttle_esata_flash_drive)
For eSATA:
90MB/s - Read
30MB/s - Write
And a USB interface if the host PC doesn't have an eSATA port.
The 16GB version is available at Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227391&ref=dynamitedata.com) for $52.
Now we're getting to some realistic speeds :D
-4wd
But what are the speeds if you have to plug into USB? I'm just asking because I got a WD HD player.
The usb key is convenient but the largest I have is A-Data 8GB and @4.x MB/sec. write speed it's slow slogging copying a movie on.
I don't want to spend top dollar but something reliable and a bit faster would be cool. :)
I have an external USB 250 GB drive that writes at about 24 MB/sec but moving the drive from the computer room to the TV room and hooking the wires will get old fast. It's too much hassle to set up a network at this point.
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many of the recommendations here are capless - has anyone had problems with that ? (visions of fluff or grit getting jammed in there if you dont check/clean it thoroughly before use...)
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many of the recommendations here are capless - has anyone had problems with that ? (visions of fluff or grit getting jammed in there if you dont check/clean it thoroughly before use...)
-tomos
Let me repeat: I have had ZERO problems with the Super Talent Pico-C. It's tiny, capless, and indestructible. I love this thing so much. I keep it on my keychain in my pocket all day long, nothing happens. I've never cleaned it, I've never had any issues at all. In fact, I dropped it in my parents' driveway and it was there for three days before I found it. Not a thing wrong with it. It's a brilliantly designed USB drive.
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many of the recommendations here are capless - has anyone had problems with that ? (visions of fluff or grit getting jammed in there if you dont check/clean it thoroughly before use...)
-tomos
Let me repeat: I have had ZERO problems with the Super Talent Pico-C. It's tiny, capless, and indestructible. I love this thing so much. I keep it on my keychain in my pocket all day long, nothing happens. I've never cleaned it, I've never had any issues at all. In fact, I dropped it in my parents' driveway and it was there for three days before I found it. Not a thing wrong with it. It's a brilliantly designed USB drive.
-superboyac
Can you post a link? I've been looking at a number of these, esp. the ones that scored high on large file write tests, but I keep seeing conflicting stuff in user reviews about not being able to plug the Pico-C into some ports.
Also I would be interested if you could give a ballpark benchmark writing a 100 MB or larger file onto it.
It's tough to know who to believe on these. I read a benchmark test on a site claiming the Patriot Exporter XT was one of the high scorers on write tests. But then on the store site a user review claimed it only wrote at about 9 MB/sec. when copying on large files. Not all that fast when paying a speed premium.
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Can you post a link? I've been looking at a number of these, esp. the ones that scored high on large file write tests, but I keep seeing conflicting stuff in user reviews about not being able to plug the Pico-C into some ports.
Also I would be interested if you could give a ballpark benchmark writing a 100 MB or larger file onto it.
It's tough to know who to believe on these. I read a benchmark test on a site claiming the Patriot Exporter XT was one of the high scorers on write tests. But then on the store site a user review claimed it only wrote at about 9 MB/sec. when copying on large files. Not all that fast when paying a speed premium.
-MilesAhead
Regarding the speed, I can't help you there. I don't know enough of that stuff to make heads or tails out of those benchmarks that I always see. I just look at those graphs and usually gloss over it or say, "hmm...interesting" and move on. Personally, I don't care too much about the speed of USB drives. That is, unless it's annoyingly slow for some reason, but I've never run into that situation. I've never noticed speed differences among usb drives. Frankly, I don't know what you guys are looking for. It's just a usb drive. If I need performance, I look elsewhere. All I care about is capacity and the physical features. Anyway, sorry, I have no idea about that stuff.
As for the Pico-c, even though I don't know what they are talking about, most of the reviews said that the pico-c was among the faster ones. Whatever.
I just transferred a 100 MB file to my pico-c. It took 1:06. But I had a bunch of other things going on in my computer. So I don't know what that means.
Also, about the tight fit of the pico-c...I have had no problems with it and I've plugged it into over 10 computers by now. yes, some were pretty tight. but nothing happened. You have to understand that some people just are obsessed with certain things and just harp on them forever when it's really not that big a deal. So what if it's tight? Big deal. Nothing gets damaged so whatever. And so what if benchmarks differ? It's a usb drive, there are a lot of factors that affect how fast it is on any given day. And in either case, it's way slower than other media like a hard drive. To me, 90% of my choice is about the physical characteristics of the usb drive, 9% is the capacity, and 1% on things like read/write speed.
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I was considering using the USB stick for playing videos but it turns out the WD player box I got supports USB docking stations. For the price of a 16GB USB stick I ordered a 2nd one identical to the model I have on one of my PCs. I already tried it and it plays the videos flawlessly. Should cut down on video conversions quite a bit.
Eventually I'll probably get a 16GB stick because 8GB really is kind of small these days. I'll wait a bit and see if the prices fall.
Thanks for the info.
(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/mittelgrosse/medium-smiley-064.gif)
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I got this Verbatim 16GB since it was reported to have good write speed and I saw it for $35.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41sUHo5cDFL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
I copied a 1.4GB file onto it. It wrote at a steady 10 MB/sec. Only thing is it's the type with the plastic slide and feels really flimsy. I'll just have to wait and see how well it holds up to plugging and unplugging. The A-Data rubber coated jobs feel very solid and seem to be rugged, but they only write at half the speed of this one.
edit: I formatted it to NTFS. Crystal Disk Mark shows about 11.14 MB/sec sequential write. More than twice as fast as my A-Data rubber coated ones. I just hope it holds up.
You can't tell. I read some customer reivews of the A-Data rubber coated ones that said they fell apart after a couple of uses. The rubber gives it weight, cushions shock, and gives it a solid feel. But, if the glue gives out, it gives out.
(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-computer005.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Edit: I notice good prices on this USB here and there. But, even though the write speed and cost are both reasonable, I don't really like it and wouldn't buy another one. Plugging and pulling from the USB connector is tight, which makes it a struggle. You have to jam your thumb against the little stop on top of the slide to plug in. Then when you pull it out, that stop is pulled by the slot in the plastic housing. I know this thing won't stand up. There's no way the innards can have that stress put on it and the thing last. They should have put the electronics in a unit with no moving parts. So far that's USBs with sliding bodies purchased, 2, USBs with sliding bodies that I liked after I got 'em, 0.
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PortableApps.com just released version 1.6 of their platform today and I am thinking about building a fresh new portable drive. I was wondering if anybody knows of a recent speed test out there. I am thinking about getting a super fast (R & W) 16GB thumb drive.
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Also, about the tight fit of the pico-c...I have had no problems with it and I've plugged it into over 10 computers by now. yes, some were pretty tight. but nothing happened. You have to understand that some people just are obsessed with certain things and just harp on them forever when it's really not that big a deal. So what if it's tight? Big deal. Nothing gets damaged so whatever.
-superboyac
It comes with a little chain for putting on your keyring. I broke the chain multiple times while removing it from USB ports. Further, I now have an intermittent USB port on my laptop which I blame on damage caused by the PICO-C bending the "tongue" inside the USB socket. I don't think this was a small problem, though it may be a rare problem. Other than that I loved the thing. However, I've moved on; I bought a mini-attaché and it's doing the job for now.
/obsessive harping
Eric
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Also, about the tight fit of the pico-c...I have had no problems with it and I've plugged it into over 10 computers by now. yes, some were pretty tight. but nothing happened. You have to understand that some people just are obsessed with certain things and just harp on them forever when it's really not that big a deal. So what if it's tight? Big deal. Nothing gets damaged so whatever.
-superboyac
It comes with a little chain for putting on your keyring. I broke the chain multiple times while removing it from USB ports. Further, I now have an intermittent USB port on my laptop which I blame on damage caused by the PICO-C bending the "tongue" inside the USB socket. I don't think this was a small problem, though it may be a rare problem. Other than that I loved the thing. However, I've moved on; I bought a mini-attaché and it's doing the job for now.
/obsessive harping
Eric
-ayryq
Sorry Eric, I didn't mean to criticize you. I was trying to keep all the pros and cons of the drive in context, and I didn't want people to be scared of the product because of that one issue. You know how it is with these online reviews, sometimes one particular feature gets talked about a lot, and people lose sight of the overall product. I've done the same...I totally get obsessed with certain little things here and there.
Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your experience, but I would also agree that it is rare. I didn't like the idea of yanking that chain to remove the drive also, especially since the fit is tight. So I make sure to grab the drive itself when i remove it, just to be safe. It's similar to what my dad used to get on my case about when I was a kid: he'd tell me to not yank cords out of the electrical socket, and always make sure to grab it by the head.
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Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your experience, but I would also agree that it is rare. I didn't like the idea of yanking that chain to remove the drive also, especially since the fit is tight. So I make sure to grab the drive itself when i remove it, just to be safe. It's similar to what my dad used to get on my case about when I was a kid: he'd tell me to not yank cords out of the electrical socket, and always make sure to grab it by the head.
-superboyac
That's the trouble. The thing is so ridiculously small, there's hardly anything to grip if it's in there tight. And I'd rather break the chain (again) than grab my leatherman and pull it out with pliers. If I get another one some day, first thing I'll do is buy one of these (http://www.countycomm.com/ring.htm) - though I'm not sure if the smaller end would fit through the hole!
Eric
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I have one of those! They are really nifty and cool.
Sounds like your usb jack is REALLy tight. I've never run into that tight of a situation. The tightest was on my mom's laptop (dell) where I had to make sure my fingers were completely dry before tugging the drive out. But that was the only one.
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USB port on my WD HDTV player is the same as well as 2 different PCs. Sounds like the common denominator is the USB stick. I just don't want to mess with moving parts. I've only purchased a few of these things but so far my ideal would be A-Data rubberized but slim and with fast write speed. My first was a Sandisk which I bought because I read all these reviews about how bullet proof the thing was. I think I used it a dozen times before it died. Same thing, slide inside a body. Moving parts. No go no mo' for me dude.