Remus
11-24-2003, 02:58 PM
First off, I want to say that flashdrives are very cool.
There's no moving parts so they're very fast.
If you have Win2K or XP there's really nothing to do to install it, just plug it in and go.
If you have Win98SE then you need a driver to make it work, no big deal.
If at this point you're thinking that there must be a "Big O BUT" coming up, well, you'd be absolutely right.
They are indead very cool, BUT, if in the description of the flashdrive you are interested in say's that it comes with a 3 foot USB cable, there is a reason for it that you are not told about.
It is not an optional or an added convienience.
It is there because the flashdrive DOES NOT FIT DIRECTLY INTO THE COMPUTER!
The reason is simple, the physical dimension is too big.
There are a lot on the market and not all are this way.
I'm only refering to one's that come with a cable.
I recently bought 10 for the company that I work for.
They are made by Crucial.
They had the only ones in 256MB capacity under 70 dollars.
An excellent company and an excellent price.
I got the GIZMO drive and the dimension that is most critical is the width and that is 1 inch.
The problem is that usb ports are too close together, to themselves and to other ports as well, like the PS2 mouse port.
I can't fit it into the port on my laptop docking station because it hangs over the mouse port.
I have a Desktop system with usb ports in the front and it doesn't fit there either because the ports are vertically arranged with a little ledge below that the flashdrive bumps into.
I did find a port that it would plug into and that was on the back of the computer.
Do you have easy access to the back of your computer? probably not.
What really sucks is that most flashdrives come with a lanyard.
That's a neck strap.
Which allows you to carry it around with you where ever you go.
But don't forget the cable.
Maybe if they made it in designer colors I could wear it as a belt. NOT!
I did find a solution that worked for me.
I very carefully filed one edge of flashdrive to about 45 degress to the metal conector that plugs into the port.
Making sure not to file into the cavity that holds the circuit board.
I am very happy now, eventhough the warranty is no good anymore.
I certainly don't recommend that to anyone, it's just what worked for me.
And for that reason I write these words.
Remember, when reading descriptions of anything you plan to purchase, it's what's not there that you have to worry about.
Cauveat Emtor or let the buyer beware. (I'm sure I misspelled that)but you get the idea.
Remus
There's no moving parts so they're very fast.
If you have Win2K or XP there's really nothing to do to install it, just plug it in and go.
If you have Win98SE then you need a driver to make it work, no big deal.
If at this point you're thinking that there must be a "Big O BUT" coming up, well, you'd be absolutely right.
They are indead very cool, BUT, if in the description of the flashdrive you are interested in say's that it comes with a 3 foot USB cable, there is a reason for it that you are not told about.
It is not an optional or an added convienience.
It is there because the flashdrive DOES NOT FIT DIRECTLY INTO THE COMPUTER!
The reason is simple, the physical dimension is too big.
There are a lot on the market and not all are this way.
I'm only refering to one's that come with a cable.
I recently bought 10 for the company that I work for.
They are made by Crucial.
They had the only ones in 256MB capacity under 70 dollars.
An excellent company and an excellent price.
I got the GIZMO drive and the dimension that is most critical is the width and that is 1 inch.
The problem is that usb ports are too close together, to themselves and to other ports as well, like the PS2 mouse port.
I can't fit it into the port on my laptop docking station because it hangs over the mouse port.
I have a Desktop system with usb ports in the front and it doesn't fit there either because the ports are vertically arranged with a little ledge below that the flashdrive bumps into.
I did find a port that it would plug into and that was on the back of the computer.
Do you have easy access to the back of your computer? probably not.
What really sucks is that most flashdrives come with a lanyard.
That's a neck strap.
Which allows you to carry it around with you where ever you go.
But don't forget the cable.
Maybe if they made it in designer colors I could wear it as a belt. NOT!
I did find a solution that worked for me.
I very carefully filed one edge of flashdrive to about 45 degress to the metal conector that plugs into the port.
Making sure not to file into the cavity that holds the circuit board.
I am very happy now, eventhough the warranty is no good anymore.
I certainly don't recommend that to anyone, it's just what worked for me.
And for that reason I write these words.
Remember, when reading descriptions of anything you plan to purchase, it's what's not there that you have to worry about.
Cauveat Emtor or let the buyer beware. (I'm sure I misspelled that)but you get the idea.
Remus