Newest drive storage not just flash in the pan

There has been a quiet revolution in the way we store and transport our critical data over the past couple of decades, and I would like to take a moment to review the timeline. We can flash back to those exciting days of the early ’80s when big-hair bands entertained us and WordStar processed our documents.
I frequently worked out of two locations, an arrangement that would require me to occasionally transport my work documents between two computers. It was a surprisingly easy task, as my favorite word-processing software, WordStar, and all of my documents fit conveniently onto one floppy disk.
This was called SneakerNet, and was the easiest way to transfer data between two locations. Later, things would become a bit more complicated. Applications software became too bloated to run from a floppy disk as WordStar gave way to Word Perfect and ultimately to Microsoft Word. Soon, the documents, now fat with formatting, photos and fonts, would become too big to fit onto floppy disks, and a new solution was necessary.
The innovators worked at it. Someone introduced a clunky solution called a Zip drive that could carry 128MB of information on a fat plastic slab with the same footprint as a floppy. It was hideously unreliable, suffering from a mysterious malady known as the “click of death” at the most inopportune moments.
We would try e-mailing ourselves important documents, but many mail servers would balk at the large transmissions. The advent of affordable optical disk technology simplified data transmission. In the early days of that innovation, users could spend a couple bucks for a disk and wait half an hour for their data to be written. Things improved over the years, but the CD/DVD solution was imperfect at best.

Along comes the flash drive

That brings us to this morning, when I reached into my pocket, pulled out a flash drive, and copied my work onto this hard drive in about 30 seconds. This handy appliance, no bigger than a pack of Juicy Fruit, brings a new level of convenience to data management.
For just a few bucks users can pick up a handy device that plugs into the USB ports with which most contemporary computers are equipped. Without regard to platform, they become a part of the computer’s storage system, enjoying the same read and write capabilities as your hard drive. When you finish working, you simply remove the device and slip it back into your pocket.

A bit of observation here in the universally revered Granese Institute of Technology revealed that virtually everyone with data to manage had embraced flash drive technology. People were happy to show off their favorite portable storage device and share the uses that they have found for them. For those of you who have not yet added this convenience to your virtual arsenal, the usual suspects around the institute have agreed to show off their favorite currently available flash drives for your perusal.

PowerUp SpeedDrive

We decided to start at the most affordable price point. A nearby neighbor carried a 4GB PowerUp SpeedDrive that he had picked up for $15 after rebate at last year’s Black Friday frenzy. Tiny and convenient, the drive features a handy blue light to tell you when activity is present.
It is not the fastest drive out there, and took 4½ minutes to transfer our standard 930MB test file. Still, the price was right and it did do the job when data needed to be easily moved. Freshly formatted, it holds nearly as much as a single layer DVD, plenty of room for most projects.

Memorex TravelDrive

We had just finished that test when the resident of another nearby office strolled in with a cup of coffee. He passed over his Memorex 2GB TravelDrive. He had picked it up at a local office supply superstore for under $25 and quickly came to depend on the sturdy device for his everyday data management tasks.
The TravelDrive took 3:15 to handle the test file transfer, which was not a bad time for an inexpensive drive. Still available locally and on the Internet, the Memorex TravelDrive annoyed some users by constantly losing its cap. Other than that, it seemed a useful product for an affordable price.

Verbatim Store ’n’ Go

Next we tried a Verbatim Store ’n’ Go 2GB drive in an attractive red case. This one managed to keep its top on without problem and equaled the performance marks set by the previous product. Like most of the name-brand drives, this model was equipped with a handy password protection program to help keep data private.
The Store ’n’ Go featured a sturdy design that utilized rubberized outer panels to shield the device from the constant attacks by loose change, combs, keys, and other pocket pals it will endure in everyday usage. After significant time in said hostile environment, the model we tested looked as good as new. At around $27, it seemed a reasonable choice for users with greater-than-average data transport needs.

Verbatim Corporate Secure

From this point forward, we moved into more expensive flash drives with more features and better performance. We got a chance to examine the Verbatim Corporate Secure drive and were extremely surprised by its performance. While a bit more expensive than the prior model – we found it selling online for just over $100 – this 1GB drive gobbled up the test file in 1:10, a significant improvement in speed. In CD burning terms, that equates to around 100X.
It packs a formidable suite of security features including mandatory user login and powerful password protection, 128 bit encryption, and a lockdown feature that eliminates all access to the contents after 10 failed login attempts. Do not forget your password. If you are carrying sensitive corporate data or family financial records, or if you want to keep nosy kids from finding your JPG collection from the Jell-O Wrestling finals last spring break, this could be the best flash drive for you.

SanDisk Cruzer Contour

As the flash drive becomes another part of everyday life in the Information Age, you can bet that styling will become an important consideration. Such is the case with the Cruzer Contour from SanDisk. Neatly fashioned in black and stainless, this drive eliminates the lost cap problem by sliding back into its case after use. We found 4GB models available online for around $75.
The Cruzer Contour grabbed the fastest time on our test file, hauling it down in about 55 seconds. The built-in U3 software feature can let you use the device to transport certain popular applications between computers along with your data. If I could change one thing I would add a lanyard ring to the streamlined case. Even without it, the Cruzer Contour is handsome, fast, and useful.
Once word got out that we were testing flash drives, everybody wanted to show off their choice. We got to see 16MB USB 1.1 models that were still in everyday use and heard tales of another drive designed after a famous racing motorcycle. Users with 128MB and 512MB drives were soon hitting the ’net looking for an upgrade, and a pleasant techie time was had by all as we burned an entire day tinkering.
I hope this extended story helps those of you in the market make a more informed choice. There are few things worse than waiting 10 minutes for data to transfer to your flash drive, so consider performance as well as price when picking out your new data appliance. You can let me know what you chose by e-mail to granese (at) juno.com .