USB Flash drives are becoming very popular, and it's no surprise when you consider that they combine ease of use, diminutive size and a relatively large capacity. It's not quite fair to say that they're 'ten a penny' these days, but there are a lot of them about. Belkin has found a couple of ways to make its drive stand out from the crowd, making it worthy of consideration.

Pros: Easy to use; small; read/write protection
Cons: No biometric security


Belkin is a well-known manufacturer of all kinds of computer peripherals, and its recent foray into the USB storage area has produced a series of USB Flash drives with capacities ranging from a humble 16MB to a rather impressive 512MB.

Many USB Flash drives are supplied with keyring fittings which, frankly, seems bizarre, because nowhere seems less appropriate for safely keeping precious data than on a keyring. They also add bulk to a set of keys, for example. Belkin offers two alternative approaches. Firstly, a pen-like clip on the outer edge of the drive allows it to be carried in a top pocket or hooked onto a pocket in a bag. The other option is to use the provided lanyard which, when fitted to the drive, allows it to be worn around your neck. We're not sure about that method either, but it's nice to see a range of options over and above letting the drive find its own level in a pocket or bag.

The shiny black plastic outer casing is an advantage in terms of design compared to other less attractive USB Flash drives, but it's functionality that matters, and here Belkin scores highly. The USB Flash Drive really is plug and play, and simply popping it into a USB port causes it to be recognised as a storage device ready for transferring data.

Belkin also provides a software utility that lets you password protect the contents of the drive. You can password protect parts of the drive, leaving the rest unsecured. There is also a write-protect switch on the drive itself which helps prevent the accidental erasure of data, although you'll need a paper clip or something similar to move it between the on and off positions. Drivers are supplied for Windows 98 on a CD-ROM, and you also get a USB extension cable for desktop PCs whose USB connectors are inconveniently out of reach.

Links:
Belkin USB Flash Drive Web site

BIOS, Oct 09, 03 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Backup