portable storage - pendrive alternative

Spacedog

If you buy one of these...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?action=info&p=29693&t=1710&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=13&GrpID=11&s=pl

and one of these...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?action=info&p=31631&t=440&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=9&GrpID=2&s=pl

is it not a hell of a lot cheaper than a 1GB pendrive (about €200), it may be a little bigger and not fit on a keychain (unless you are a giant) but it's small enough to carry around, shows as a removable drive like a pendrive, is 40 times faster if you have usb2 (would work with 1.1) and would have 40 times capacity.

Lucutus

Sweet.

Luc

Quigs Snr

As an alternative, I recently happened across the great idea of using my digital camera as a 'pen drive' whilst looking for a way to a couple of MP3 albums home from work. 256MB CF card in the camera, I just stuck it on the machine here and sure enough I was able to copy whatever I liked onto it.

Handy. Although they must be wondering what the camera is about !

sci0x

Another form of prtable storage is the Flip2disk by Amacom which can store upto 80Gbytes. They are shock-resistent, pocket-sized hard drives and are used for day-to-day back up and portable storage.

It is ideally suited to users of data-intensive digital multimedia such as film, music, and digital photography. They have transfer rates as fast as an internal HD and are compatible with PC and MAC and laptops.

They also come software called 'Flipback', disaster recovery software. This performs a complete backup of the internal HD, system files and bood sector on a Windows PC.

Flip2Disks can also be used with Amacom Diskstation which is an internal IDE docking station that offers full disaster recovery and the ability to boot different OS on the same computer.

PC's can also operate the Flip2Disk as a primary drive, allowing them to remove the device when not in use and store in a safe place. With no mains power required, connectivity is through one of Amacom's Intelligent Interface cables including USB2, PCMIA, Parallel and IDE.

Boston

why not buy them together liek this set up

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?action=info&p=35929&t=&l=&AvdID=1&CatID=9&GrpID=2&s=sr

these things are great, and at a push of a boottum you can auto back up all your files to it.

sci0x

Or you could try a LAKS Memory Watch . It can store upto 256Mbytes of storage space and the watch is water-resistent too. It connectes to your PC through USB which can be hidden in the watch when you are not using it.

Clinical Waste

now thats proper portability.

daveg

Originally posted by denis_o_leary
Or you could try a LAKS Memory Watch . It can store upto 256Mbytes of storage space and the watch is water-resistent too. It connectes to your PC through USB which can be hidden in the watch when you are not using it.

Now that is a cool toy.

sci0x

Yah, extremely handy and they are $48, whatever that is in Euros.

BigEejit

I have a USB2 case that I bought on ebay for less than €25 and a 40GB HD that I bought here for €60 .... works a treat, VERY handy for shifting stuff between PC's at work / home / friends house etc ....

But that watch looks excellent ...

El_MUERkO

I want to get one of the 512 meg storage / mp3 player usb sticks, havent seen one for a good price yet though.

Clinical Waste

Originally posted by denis_o_leary
Yah, extremely handy and they are $48, whatever that is in Euros.

says €149 on that link of yours...
but show me where they are $48 cause I like it.

sci0x

Originally posted by Clinical Waste
says €149 on that link of yours...
but show me where they are $48 cause I like it.

I read about it on the PC World site and there they say its $48. The 32Mbyte watches are $48 and the 256Mbyte are $149 probably.

Clinical Waste

No matter, still see myself ordering one before the weekends out.

Mad Mike

Make sure it doesn't need an external power supply. Many of these so called portable drives have power supplies that are big , heavy and very awkawrd to carry around.

I swear by my old fashioned 256MB USB powered Iomega zip drive. Its about the size of a paberback book it comes with a dinky little case which has storage for a disk and the cable. The whole lot fits very easily into a pocket of my briefcase.

Advantages of the zip drive over a key-ring type drive:
1. Removable disks - Very important for proper archiving and storage - I keep several volumes of backups.
2. Size - The key chain drives are just too small - I wouldn't trust my valuable data not to get sat on - eaten by the dog etc.

The downer is that it is only USB1.1 and only 250MB per disk. Iomega do make a newer 750MB USB 2 version but this needs an external power supply - kinda defeating the whole point.

Clinical Waste

.....and driver installation required for every machine.
.....and a briefcase pocket and therefore briefcase to carry around

Besides, only a fool would keep his valuable data on any portable device.

Its not a permanent storage medium, just a transfer one.

Mad Mike

Originally posted by Clinical Waste
.....and driver installation required for every machine.
.....and a briefcase pocket and therefore briefcase to carry around

Besides, only a fool would keep his valuable data on any portable device.

Its not a permanent storage medium, just a transfer one.

Don't get too upset there - I'm only pointing out that the old fashioned zip drive works great for me. In my work I travel around a bit and have to use different computer systems. I used to use a laptop but I got sick and tired of trying to get the laptop to talk to a new computer network every day. No drivers are required - leastways not on any operating system created within the last 5 years. I guess the briefcase is a given becasue it's a work situation but I find the zip is just perfect for this - the laptop was way too heavy and anything with a power supply and trailing cable is a chore. A keychain drive would get lost or broken in the bottom of my briefcase or even in my pocket.

Granted I wouldn't rely on any portable medium for my only backup storage but in my experience (and I would guess in many others too) simple transfer media become a lot more than that - you end up working on a files while on the road and you need a reliable method of ensuring you get them back to base.

By the way you also need some very clever synchronising software which is another hobbyhorse of mine but that is a story for another day.

sci0x

There are plenty of portable storage options available at the moment such as: The Disgo's DiskOnKey (€79 for 128Mbyte) and SanDisk's pocket-size Cruzer ($109.99 for 256Mbyte).

Mad Mike

You don' t have to go top the USA to get a bargain pen-drive.

256MB: €84 for USB1.1
256MB €100 for USB2

http://www.pc-memory-upgrade.co.uk/memory/usb-flash-drive.html

Despite the name they are based in Kildare and sell in Euros.