USB thumb drives - best?

[BCinSC]

Are there 1.1 and 2.0 versions? Do 2.0 versions take advantage of speed? Which is fastest? Which is best for $$$?

 

[Brian48]

Do 2.0 versions take advantage of speed?

Yes.

Dunno which is best, but I'm very happy with my 128mb PNY Attache and 256mb Apacer Steno (both USB 2.0).

 

[sellmen]

Definately go for USB 2.0, there is a significant difference. I have heard that the Verbatim drives are the fastest.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Huge difference in speeds with USB 1.1 vs 2.0, definately get 2.0.

I have heard the Lexar Jumpdrives are the best.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

I own a PQI intelligent stick,suppose to be the smallest in the world. i honestly think its TOO small. It uses Samsung chips,which says something about the quality.
link

i also own a Scandisk mini cruser,my personal fav. a bit bigger, but its better for jamming in your pocket without worring of breaking it. i've put A LOT of use on it. all Sandisk products usually come with a lifetime warranty.

 

[watkins]

Definately the USB 2.0 version. I'm liking the Memorex 256mb drive. Just a handy gadget, only problem is I keep misplacing it!!!.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Sandisk drives, I have seen, are considerably cheaper than other manufacturer's, and yes, quite small too.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Huge difference in speeds with USB 1.1 vs 2.0, definately get 2.0. I have heard the Lexar Jumpdrives are the best.

I have Sony, PNY, and Lexar Jump Drives. The latter are the fastest.

 

[Eug]

The Lexar Jumpdrive Sport has a very secure rubberized cap. Works great.

 

[mobobuff]

Memorex is definitely good. Got a 256MB model at BB for near $70 something.

 

[Eug]

Benchies of Lexar JumpDrive Sport, with 51650 KB (50.4 MB) file:

USB write: 59 s (0.85 MB/s)
USB read: 48 s (1.1 MB/s)

USB 2.0 write: 8 s (6.3 MB/s)
USB 2.0 read: 6 s (8.4 MB/s)

I am sooooo glad I didn't buy a USB 1.1 thumb drive. I deal with 50 MB size transfers all the time, and having to wait an entire minute seems like an eternity nowadays.

 

[JimRaynor]

i think the sandisk cruzer titanium is supposed to be the best.

 

[JBT]

Go for 2.0 I have a 128MB Mushkin Flash drive it is pretty nice. It is a little bigger but it fits in all the places I have to used it so it hasn't been a problem yet.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I've got a Lexar JumpDrive. Love it to death.

Definitely get USB 2.0 Hi-Speed though.

 

[grrl]

Just bought a Kingston 64mb USB 1.1 for $10 shipped and find it plenty fast. It takes less than a minute for all the memory to load, so I can't complain.

Then again, I was using floppies before that.

 

[eno]

I have been using my PNY 128mb for the last 9months with everyday use, the finish is worn off now. I am about ready to buy a new one but only because of storage space. For sure get 2.0 and get one that has a little more room than you are expecting to use, once you use them you will find more and more good uses for them and space will get very cramped. Its a pain to always cut and paste to the desktop to make room for a large file then delete then copy paste back.

 

[robisc]

I've got a Lexar JumpDrive. Love it to death.

I second that, I have one too, it is great and fast (when plugged into a USB 2 port).

 

[sharkeeper]

Sandisks will survive a trip through a Maytag at least 3x with no change in specification or loss of data. ***CONFIRMED***

Cheers!

 

[zixxer]

I would get a sandisk for sure. I've had a couple, and here's why I like the cruzer:
1) its thin. That means if you have to use it in a pc with other usb stuff plugged in next to it, it's no big deal.
2) it's not *too* small.
3) the keychain thing is attached to the actual drive itself; not the cap. That way you don't have to worry about pulling your keys out of your pocket and having the drive fall off.

I've used the pny ones (they are HUGE)
some other brand at bbuy that was really thick
and lexar

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
3) the keychain thing is attached to the actual drive itself; not the cap. That way you don't have to worry about pulling your keys out of your pocket and having the drive fall off.

One of the reasons I got the JumpDrive Sport was specifically because it's NOT attached to the keys. The keys would really get in the way sometimes. However the JumpDrive sport has a VERY secure rubber cap and band that go all the way around the thumb drive, in a groove, so it's basically impossible for it just to fall off.

 

[eno]

Cruzer Mini 512mb 2.0

I just ordered one. Cheaper than Ebay. Free Shipping. 86.99$ SHIPPED !!!!!

 

[BCinSC]

Well, I decided to see for myself. Picked up a SanDisk Cruzer Mini and a FujiFilm USB Drive 2.0, both 512MB and a Lexar Jumpdrive Sport 128MB. All were USB2.0 Hi-Speed and were optimized in the driver for speed (versus quick removal). Ran Sandra SiSoft 2004 Flash Benchmark and came up with these results:
Fuji was the fastest with 7602 ops/min
Sandisk was next with 1628 ops/min
Lexar was last with 578 ops/min

The trick is that Fuji handles small files significantly better. At 2MB file, they were all about equal.

The Fuji is the largest of the three, but not big by any means. Also includes Win98 driver, whereas other two require downloading.

At BestBuy, the 512MB units were $149. A noted by Eno, the SanDisk can be had from Buy.Com for only $87, while the Fuji is $193. The Lexar 128MB is only $20 after MIR at Circuit City.

 

[pukemon]

I use the Sandisk Cruzer Mini 256MB. they're cheaper now than they were 6 months ago. USB2.0. works fine for me.

 

[0roo0roo]

the ones with finger print scanners

 

[sharkeeper]

Ran Sandra SiSoft 2004 Flash Benchmark and came up with these results:
Fuji was the fastest with 7602 ops/min
Sandisk was next with 1628 ops/min
Lexar was last with 578 ops/min

That's a great way to kill the device quickly! Flash memory has a very finite lifetime. This is a test you don't want to run often. It's like using an x-ray machine to look at your nipples.

Cheers!