BIOS: Technology Means Business

LaCie's latest storage product is a credit-card sized USB key. Called the LaCie Carte Orange, the unusual device offers a massive storage capacity of either 4GB (4000MB) or 8GB (8000MB), making it ideal for exchanging or backing up large amounts of office files, and storing hours of music, videos, photos and slideshows.

The LaCie Carte Orange sports a sturdy metal design and plastic bumper, although its main selling point is its light and thin chassis which is far thinner than most traditional 1GB or 2GB USB keys. Measuring just 55x85x6mm and weighing less than 60g, the device should be small and convenient enough to fit into small pockets and wallets.

The LaCie Carte Orange is powered by an integrated USB connector, which can be plugged into any USB-equipped computer. The flexible connector allows you to plug the LaCie Carte Orange into a port wherever it may be located on the computer, and retracts for safe transportation. It's also plug-and-play compatible for newer operating systems - no software or drivers are needed - allowing for quick and easy data transfers from one computer to another.

'Mobility, reliability, ease of use, capacity and price are the five main keys to consider when buying storage. We meet them all with the Carte Orange,' says Olivier Mirloup, LaCie Senior Product Manager. 'With 4GB at $99 and 8GB at $149, LaCie Carte Orange is certainly the ideal USB key for a variety of uses.'

The LaCie Carte Orange can be used across multiple platforms (Mac OS 9.x/10.x and Windows 98SE through XP) by simply plugging the integrated Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connector into a laptop or desktop. Similar to all USB 2.0 devices, it offers an interface transfer rate of up to 480Mbit/s.

LaCie offers an optional USB extension cable, which is a convenient way to extend reach for computers that require a longer cable. LaCie Carte Orange can also be re-formatted to fit specific needs.

The USB key is available today at the LaCie Store online and will be widely available through LaCie's specialised dealer network for $99.99 (4GB version) and $149 (8GB version). LaCie Carte Orange ships with LaCie Silverlining and SilverKeeper drive management and backup utilities. Detailed product information can be found at http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10268.