Global Channel Solutions' EasyDisk. The EasyDisk removable USB electronic hard disk is available in 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB capacities. All models support an identical feature set except the 512MB model, which doesn't include password or bootable functionality. I tested the 16MB ED1016 model. I installed the Win98 driver by double-clicking setup.exe on the installation CD-ROM, then installed the EasyDisk device in the Win98 system; the system detected and provided a drive letter for the device within seconds. I experienced a sporadic error that required system reboots. EasyDisk's documentation states that the device is compatible with Win98 Second Edition (Win98SE) but doesn't mention support for the first edition. My subsequent testing of the device on Win98SE was trouble-free. My XP and Win2K test systems recognized and supported the EasyDisk device quickly without prompting for driver installation.

Transcend's JetFlash USB Flash Drive. The JetFlash is available in 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB capacities. I received the 1GB model in its retail box. The online product documentation in Adobe Acrobat Reader format was the most thorough of any of the products. The JetFlash has a somewhat elliptical shape that can interfere with cables in close proximity to the USB ports on your system. A USB extension cable is included with the product to solve this problem. After I installed the Win98 driver from the CD-ROM, the device functioned flawlessly on XP, Win2K, Win98, and Mac OS.

SOYO's Cigar Pro. The Cigar Pro is available in 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB capacities. A 1GB model is due in late 2002. All the Cigar Pro models share the same feature set except for the 16MB model, which offers basic storage with no password or security features. I received the 512MB model in its retail blister packaging. I double-clicked the Win98 driver installation executable, then inserted the Cigar Pro into the Win98 system, which immediately recognized the device. Both the XP and Win2K systems also recognized and immediately supported the device.

Cruzer. The Cruzer is a bit different from the other products I reviewed: The device is a USB interface that accommodates a Secure Digital (SD) memory card for storage, and thus is upgradable. Another advantage to the SD card is that it lets you use the Cruzer with more devices than the other products. The retail package for the 64MB Cruzer I tested also contained a 4" USB extension cable and a CD-ROM. You use the three-position slider on the Cruzer to extend the USB connector for typical operation and tuck it in for transportation and to eject the SD card. The extension cable will likely be required on most systems because of the Cruzer's width. Like the other products I tested, the Cruzer requires a Win98 driver, which I installed from the CD-ROM, and the device worked with the other supported OSs without my having to install a vendor-supplied driver.

Security Features
The Micro Vault storage devices ship with Security Zone software on the included CD-ROM. Security Zone works only on XP and Win2K systems. To install Security Zone on my XP system, I inserted the USM128 device into the computer's USB port according to the product's instructions, then double-clicked the installation program on the CD-ROM. All the installation program would do was issue a noninformative error message. After reading the instructions more closely, I copied the executable installation file to the desktop and the Micro Vault device, then double-clicked the icon on the desktop to successfully launch the Security Zone software. I was prompted to type a password and use a slide control to specify a capacity on the Micro Vault device for the Security Zone. The software reformatted the device with one Security Zone in the size I specified, and the device's remaining space was allocated to the Public Zone. The Security Zone software then copied to the Public Zone on the device. You can launch the Security Zone software on other systems from the Public Zone on the device. I removed the USM128 from the XP system and took it to the Win2K system and successfully accessed the Security Zone software from the device's Public Zone.

KeySafe security software comes preloaded on the DiskOnKey, but I downloaded the latest version for testing from the M-Systems Web site. The software installs similarly to Security Zone and has similar functionality. The main difference between KeySafe and Security Zone is that the icons in KeySafe are labeled more intuitively. The Go-Anywhere also includes the KeySafe security software.

The EasyDisk and JetFlash share the same security software and features. Both devices have a small write-protect switch that you can slide to keep from overwriting or deleting existing data. To password-protect the contents of either device, you use the Media Format utility to reformat the device with the Enable password feature. This feature protects the device's storage area. When you select Enable password, an executable file, passid.exe, is copied to the device. When you insert the device in your system, you must execute the passid program and enter a password before you can read from or write to the media. After you enter the correct password, a system tray icon appears that lets you lock and unlock access to the media.

Prev. page     1 [2] 3     next page



You must log on before posting a comment.

If you don't have a username & password, please register now.

Reader Comments

If you handle data, then the word "Floppy" should bring up bitter memories. I have personally saved the priceless due-in-reports and thesis of more than a dozen students whose 3½A had failed due to a myriad of reasons. Transcend’s JetFlashA is one of the latest in USB portable solutions that make CD-R or Zip drives blush. Plug and Play, the JetFlashA supports Mac OS 8.6 later, Linux Kernel 2.4. Windows 2000/Me/XP and comes with drivers for Windows 98/SE. It is USB 1.1 compliant and compatible with 2.0. Advertising a maximal transfer rate of 12 Mbits per second and powered by any USB port, with proper motherboard BIOS support, one can even boot to a JetFlashA device. All you need to do is plug it in, and you just got another hard drive. The 16 MB sample I reviewed actually looks good, which is a breeze of fresh air when compared with models that short-cut aesthetics. Less than 75 mm long and weighting only 15 grams, this storage device comes with a USB cable, Windows 98 drivers and a neck-tag.

JetFlash took 22.5 seconds to save a test folder of 14.096 Mb, which translates into a 626 Kb/s., on an AMD XP 1800+ system with 512 DDR memory and Windows XP Professional, and achieved a 900 KB/s rate on an Intel 2.2 system. Transcend’s performance is slightly faster than other brands, such as ClipDrive or Leading Driver, but the difference in just tenths of a second. Obviously, copying larger files multiplies the saving time, 128 MB needing more than 3.5 minutes of writing time, and time becomes a problem when handling larger files. But Transcend will undoubtedly unravel a USB 2.0 line, which should multiply the read/write speed by 5 times. The only concern with JetFlashA could be the device’s cap, which seems too thin and would have benefited from an inner metal support frame. But unless you are prone to step-testing your gadgets’ resistance, this should not be a problem. Backed by a 2 year warranty and expected to last at least 10 years (or 1,000,000 erase cycles), Transcend’s JetFlashA is a must-have for business, homework or media storage.

CRISTIAN ROSU- April 17, 2003

 
 

ADS BY GOOGLE