Firm pitches $2,800 64GB USB Flash disk

[brotherS]

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/07/kanguru_pricey_64gb_flash_disk/



Yes, that's 64 GIBABYTE! Nice!

[allen]

That's is awesome.  I couldn't possibly get my money's worth out of it, but cool nonetheless

[f0dder]

Hrm, sounds insane for that small size :O

[brotherS]

Hrm, sounds insane for that small size :O

"It's not the size that matters, it's about what you are able to do with it." 

[Hirudin]

Good lord!

I'd be afraid to leave my house with it!

Luckly it looks like it would be the perfect size: just small enough to fit in my tightly clenched fist, what better way to NEVER loose it....

[brotherS]

Good lord!

I'd be afraid to leave my house with it!

Luckly it looks like it would be the perfect size: just small enough to fit in my tightly clenched fist, what better way to NEVER loose it....

In case you fear a giant devil rabbit may attack you a clenched fist might not be enough... maybe a tight, stainless steel chain around your neck is better? But make sure it's no Kensington lock!

[Carol Haynes]

Good lord!

I'd be afraid to leave my house with it!

Luckly it looks like it would be the perfect size: just small enough to fit in my tightly clenched fist, what better way to NEVER loose it....

Maybe it comes with a lifetime warranty and free insurance

[mrainey]

The following is from WikiPedia.  Would the "wear factor" likely translate to a big negative for a potential user of this 64GB version?  What would you use it for?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory#Limitations


"One limitation of flash memory is that although it can be read or programmed a byte or a word at a time in a random access fashion, it must be erased a "block" at a time. Starting with a freshly erased block, any byte within that block can be programmed. However, once a byte has been programmed, it cannot be changed again until the entire block is erased. In other words, flash memory (specifically NOR flash) offers random-access read and programming operations, but cannot offer random-access rewrite or erase operations. When compared to a hard disk drive, a further limitation is the fact that flash memory has a finite number of erase-write cycles (most commercially available EEPROM products are guaranteed to withstand 10^6 programming cycles,) so that care has to be taken when moving hard-drive based applications, such as operating systems, to flash-memory based devices such as CompactFlash. This effect is partially offset by some chip firmware or filesystem drivers by counting the writes and dynamically remapping the blocks in order to spread the write operations between the sectors, or by write verification and remapping to spare sectors in case of write failure."

[noth(a)nk.you]

I'm not sure what the average cosumer would use something like this for--I'd be afraid of it failing.

It could, however, find stunning applications for smuggling information in--*ahem*--dark places.

[Carol Haynes]

a further limitation is the fact that flash memory has a finite number of erase-write cycles (most commercially available EEPROM products are guaranteed to withstand 10^6 programming cycles,)

How can companies (eg. Lexar) offer no quibble lifetime warranties on their Pro products if the item has a limited lifespan?

[nudone]

i've seen a few usb memory sticks just die for no apparent reason - a couple were less than a month old and one was a corsair, so it all looks a bit dodgy to me.

[brotherS]

a further limitation is the fact that flash memory has a finite number of erase-write cycles (most commercially available EEPROM products are guaranteed to withstand 10^6 programming cycles,)

How can companies (eg. Lexar) offer no quibble lifetime warranties on their Pro products if the item has a limited lifespan?

That's easy: by the time the product dies (average lifespan, average customer), it will cost the company virtually nothing to replace it for you - and most will have moved to better and bigger products anyway.

If you now buy a 512 MB USB stick, you'll probably laugh about its size in 3 years - long before it stopps working.

[jgpaiva]

If you now buy a 512 MB USB stick, you'll probably laugh about its size in 3 years - long before it stopps working.

Good point. Although.. If you still use it, you'd think "statistics are a bi..."

[Carol Haynes]

True but there must be a physical limit on what can be crammed into a Flash disk - and I don't think 64Gb is going to be topped for a while!

[allen]

According to this, BitMicro has a 155 gig in the works.

I'd read an article somewhere on the lifespan of a USB drive -- and basically what it came down to was with normal usage, there's a very good chance it will outlive your harddrive -- and potentially  you.

[brotherS]

True but there must be a physical limit on what can be crammed into a Flash disk - and I don't think 64Gb is going to be topped for a while!

That's why I said "by the time the product dies (average lifespan, average customer), it will cost the company virtually nothing to replace it for you" Should it die 3 years from now, they just send you $50 to get a new one.