USB Flash Drives

This extensive head-to-head review surveys 19 flash drives in three categories: normal, mini and tough drives. Each product is accompanied by a two-paragraph summary and several photographs. Following the… summaries is the testing data; the models are compared to one another in a series of bar graphs representing performance in each test. Testing is described, and durability tests are demonstrated with video. There are multiple winners in each category, as well as an overall favorite named best in class.

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Scot Finnie, editor of the IT trade journal Computerworld, runs this newsletter and blog as a side project. In 2007, he spent months searching for the best cross-platform flash drive and tested several… models for weeks to reach a conclusion. After using the Lexar JumpDrive Lightning USB drive for six weeks, Finnie concludes it is better than the Corsair 2 GB Flash Padlock. A comparison chart shows the speeds achieved in tests. In the same series of tests, he reported on the dismal speed performance of the IronKey Secure Flash Drive. In a 2008 follow-up, Finnie revisits the IronKey and clarifies that in spite of its shortcomings, the IronKey is the most secure drive available, but the Lexar JumpDrive Lightning is still the best overall.

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TrustedReviews.com is one of the most prolific reviewers of flash drives. Among these, one, the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium U3, earns an Editor's Choice award and four earn Recommended designations. Comparisons… are excellent and augmented by overall and subcategory ratings. The verdicts include reasons for buying the reviewed drives or considering others. Reviews of USB drives have recently been improved with publication of graphs that show relative performance. Although the website is British, most reviewed products are sold in the U.S. as well.

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I4U News has reviewed six USB flash drives in the last 18 months. Testing is conducted by Shane McGlaun, who reviews computer products for several technology websites. It is a little hard to find flash… drive reviews at I4U News because the few that they have are lumped together with other peripheral devices. However, it is worth the effort as the reviews are comparative and balanced. Testing is described and well-documented, and products are rated on a one to 10 scale. One top performer, the OCZ Rally2, is designated an Editor's Choice flash drive.

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BigBruin.com's reviews are quite comprehensive. All aspects of performance and use are evaluated. Performance test results are published, with some showing benchmark comparisons. Other comparisons are… general, but also helpful. The weakness here is that there are fewer reviews than the sites we rate higher; in fact, the most recent review of a USB flash drive is well over a year old. In addition, the authors don't do a good job explaining how ratings are assigned. The ATP Petito and ToughDrive Mini are reviewed together and are Highly Recommended, but reading through the review makes it clear that the ToughDrive Mini is the unchallenged favorite.

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Geek.com occasionally reviews USB flash drives. The reviews are good but uneven, due to the use of multiple reviewers. Some reviews are comparative and some have ratings, but the mishmash doesn't adequately… guide readers to the best USB flash drives. Balance, depth and product positioning are all very good. The SanDisk Cruzer Enterprise, BioSlimDisk Signature and Corsair Flash Padlock have been reviewed in the last year; all three are niche products, with the latter two featuring innovative external security features. The IronKey Secure USB Flash Drive seems to fare the best among the site's reviews.

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This retail site allows users to rate their gear. Since the site targets PC builders and other advanced users, the reviews are somewhat more technical and knowledgeable than on some other user-review sites.… The most impressive ratings go to the Patriot Xporter XT 4 GB. Of the more than 360 owners who have contributed reviews of their Xporter XT, approximately 80 percent award it a perfect rating. Corsair's Flash Voyager does fairly well with a solid rating for both 16 GB and 8 GB sizes. The 64 GB Flash Voyager, on the other hand, fares poorly in the 13 reviews it's received thus far -- owners complain that it's too slow to make it worth buying.

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Britain's IT Reviews periodically reviews USB flash drives. The reviews are short, unsigned and focused on features. Performance is not measured, drives are not rated or ranked and the tone of the reviews… is eternally optimistic, with each "verdict" finding reason to praise the product. Considering the performance and usage variables covered by the best reviewers, this website's reviews generally come up short.

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In its 2008 holiday gift guide, ExtremeTech recommends the Patriot Xporter Magnum 64 GB. In a one-paragraph performance summary, the Xporter Magnum is said to boast good read and write speeds, a durable… casing and, most notably, enormous storage capacity. However, the basis for these findings is unclear. Testing and review of the Xporter Magnum cannot be found in ExtremeTech's review archives. The only USB flash drive reviewed by the site in the last three years is the Corsair Flash Voyager, which receives a middling score.

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British site EliteBastards.com covers USB flash drives only sporadically, with four reviewed in the last 15 months. Notably, the only flash drives evaluated by the site are from manufacturers OCZ and ATP;… other leading flash drive brands are not represented. Anonymous reviewer Hanners does not rate or rank products, and tends to find something positive to say about each model he tests. However, the reviews themselves are arguably the most detailed and comprehensive of any flash drive reviews. Each is lavishly illustrated with photographs and bar graph demonstrations of test performance. Testing is described in excruciating detail. Though it's difficult to pinpoint a top performer, the OCZ ATV seems to earn the most ardent praise.

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