Sticking With It

The Age

Thursday February 28, 2008

Adam Turner

Memory sticks are great for keeping files safe but you need to pick the right one, writes Adam Turner.

USB storage devices might seem the same but they come in all shapes and sizes, with a range of features and price tags to match. The point of these little slabs of solid-state "flash" memory is to always be there when you need it, so look for something that you'll always remember to take with you as part of your "leaving the house" ritual.

Consider the things you never leave the house without - keys, phone, wallet or purse - and think how you might attach a USB device to one.

Some USB storage devices are sticks to hang from your keys or around your neck. Others are cards to slip in your wallet or mobile phone case. A few are even cleverly hidden in devices such as pens, watches and jewellery.

Yet given that the main advantage of a memory stick is portability and convenience, it's ironic that some USB devices are surprisingly inconvenient. If you're looking for one to hang from your key ring, make sure that the stick itself attaches to your key ring, rather than the device's removable cap. Otherwise you could one day find the cap dangling from your keys, but the memory stick itself - along with your precious files - is nowhere to be seen. Even if a memory stick does attach directly to your key ring, don't necessarily trust it to be safe as they're often very flimsy. Pull it, drop it, kick it - really put it to the test before you rely on it to carry anything too valuable. Of course, if your testing breaks the cap don't expect to get a refund from the store, so don't go overboard. Just submit it to the normal knock-abouts that it would encounter in your day.

The first USB memory sticks (sometimes called "thumb drives") had only slightly more room than a handful of floppy drives, but today their capacity soars into the realm of a DVD disc. Each of the four drives we tested this week is available in a 4 GB version, although we stuck with testing the more affordable 1 GB versions.

It's rare that most people would need more than 1 GB in their pocket, as even a 1 GB flash memory drive has enough room for important documents, photos, music and even a movie.

If security is important, look for a memory stick with a hidden area for storing "secret" files - these won't be visible to anyone else who may borrow your memory key. Also consider something with password protection or even a built-in fingerprint reader.

Take care when choosing a memory stick with security features if you intend to use it on computers that you don't own (which is really the point of carrying a memory stick). Some of these drives require software to be installed on the computer before you can access the stick's contents. This could be a problem if you're using the memory stick on a public computer, such as in a library or internet cafe, on which you're not allowed to install software. You could also run into difficulties if the software is only written for Windows computers and you want to use the memory stick on an Apple Mac. You'll be able to find all your regular files, of course, but the security software that locks and unlocks the private section of the drive might not run on a Mac.

The more expensive memory sticks will often handle the password or fingerprint processing on board, which means they should work with any computer.

The contenders

Freecom USB CARD

$38 (1GB)

www.expansys.com.au

4/5.5

This credit card-sized piece of plastic will slip into your wallet or purse, although if you keep your wallet in your back pocket, be wary of sitting on it. The USB connector pops out from the middle of the card - a flexible strip of plastic keeps it firmly attached. Software lets you divide the storage into public and private areas and - if you're using Windows 2000 or XP - keep your files synchronised with a desktop PC.

Apacer Handy Steno AH421 USB Flash Drive

$45 (1 GB)

www.apacer.com

3/5.5

The unique L-shape of the Handy Steno lets it hug the side of your computer rather than sticking out, reducing the risk of it being snapped off. A 180-degree swivel design also stops it from blocking adjacent USB ports or card slots. It also works with Windows Vista's ReadyBoost function, which lets the USB drive act as extra memory to give your system a short-term performance boost.

Stealth MXP

$250 (1GB)

prosecman.com.au

4/5

The pricey Stealth MXP incorporates a fingerprint reader and password-protected encryption to safeguard your data. As the security processing is all done on the drive itself, users don't need to worry about which operating system they're using or even if they have the appropriate administrator rights to install software. The Stealth MXP supports up to five users.

Sandisk Ultra II SD Plus Card

$44 (1GB)

sandisk.com

4/5.5

Tiny memory cards are perfect for keeping in your pocket but you still need to lug around a card reader to access the files. SanDisk's Ultra II SD Plus card folds in half to reveal a USB connector, eliminating the need for a separate reader. Fast transfer rates of 10 MBps for reading data and 9 MBps for writing files makes it suited to advanced digital SLR cameras. A tiny write-protect tab prevents accidental deletion.

Verdict

This is all about horses for courses. The Freecom USB card suits the mobile digerati, although any notebook owner would appreciate the Apacer's L-shaped design. Digital photographers will enjoy the convenience and speed of the SanDisk cards. If security is a major concern, the Stealth MXP is a bullet-proof (but also budget-blowing) solution.

© 2008 The Age

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