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| Tech Update Enterprise Hardware |
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Portable USB storage--floppy's final days?
Transfer speeds, cost
By Ray Geroski
TechRepublic
September 25, 2002
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Performance
The essential performance factor to consider with the devices is their transfer speed. This becomes important when you're using the larger devices, which can store up to 2.1 GB of data, as on the ThumbDrive Pro. Figure 1 shows how the devices stack up in terms of speed.
The ThumbDrive Smart is the slowest of the devices; its transfer speed is noticeably slower than that of the other devices. The JetFlash and DiskOnKey proved to be the speediest, but the EasyDisk wasn't far behind. You would likely not notice the performance difference between the JetFlash, DiskOnKey, and EasyDisk. The ThumbDrive Pro and other models can perform better than the ThumbDrive Smart we tested, but all were still slower than the other devices tested in this review.
Floppy substitute?
The most attractive feature of these devices is their portability. They give users an easy way to transport large amounts of data from one computer to another without having to deal with the limitations and hassle of floppy disks or CDs. You can carry them in your pocket, on a key chain, or around your neck.
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They are far from perfect substitutes for floppy disks, however, because the boot features are rather limited. For technical support personnel, USB storage devices offer a convenient way to carry large amounts of data, but the lack of true bootability limits their appeal. For home users, however, these are great devices. After having used them for several weeks, I don't think I'll ever use another floppy disk, and my CD burner will be relegated to serving as a backup device.
But which one is the best? That's a tough question. The ThumbDrive is impressively tiny, which makes it the most portable, especially since it is also equipped with a ring for hanging on a key chain. The JetFlash is only a hair bigger, though, and it's speedy. Although it doesn't have a key ring, it does fit easily in your pocket. The DiskOnKey is the largest of the devices, but it does have a ring for easy portability and performs better than most.
It really just depends on what you want to get out of them. The ThumbDrive line offers a wide array of features, including biometrics, while the other devices tend not to specialize as much. If price is your biggest concern, then the best bang for your buck may be the ThumbDrive Smart, which you can purchase in the 16MB size for around $20. You can find most of the 16MB devices for $25-$30 depending on where you make your purchase. Prices for the larger devices, such as the 512MB DiskOnKey we tested, can be as high as $500. That's an expensive key chain accessory, especially if you lose it.
Portable USB storage devices will no doubt continue to evolve and mature, and as they do, prices will come down to make them a much more attractive storage option. Though the boot features are currently limited, USB drives may finally put floppy drives to rest.
Would you retire floppy and/or CD-RW drives in favor of portable USB storage? TalkBack below or e-mail us with your thoughts.
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