USB Flash Drives : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentPCMag.com produces clear, concise reviews of flash drives including a handy highlight box that quickly lists the pros and cons of each product and the conclusions of the reviewer. Editors test each product and the results are summarized within the review. Each drive is given a rating which is clearly displayed at the beginning of each review.

Our AssessmentTesting at I4UNews.com is conducted by Shane McGlaun, who reviews computer products for several technology websites. It is a little hard to find flash drive reviews at I4UNews.com because their reviews are all lumped together. However, it is worth the effort as the reviews are comparative and balanced. Testing is documented, and products are rated on a scale of 1 to 10.

Our AssessmentAs in other categories, EverythingUSB.com's reviews are thorough and exceptionally well-balanced. Testing is superb and documented in detail. Test results and charted data form the basis for comparison, but there are no ratings. EverythingUSB.com thoroughly tests the ability of flash drives to withstand physical abuse. Illustrations are helpful; for example, they show the relative size of a number of USB drives. Reviews are somewhat difficult to access, though (not all link from the main page). In addition, not all flash drives represented on the main page are actually reviewed; some link to user feedback or basic feature summaries.

Our AssessmentIn this recent review of the newest in the Corsair Flash Survivor line, the product is thoroughly tested and results presented graphically. Although there is no actual rating, the author does give the Flash Survivor GTR the Approved seal and notes that there are some significant increases in read and write rates over the GT model.

Our AssessmentThis site offers an extremely thorough review of the Corsair Flash Voyager GTR flash drive, presenting specifications and large photos as accompaniment. Even accessories are discussed; the author notes, too, that Corsair provides an extension cable so that the brawny flash drive doesn't block other USB ports on your computer. Every test performed on this drive is explained completely and illustrated with easy-to-read charts. While no rating is given, the Corsair Flash Voyager GTR is given both the Hardware Canucks' Dam Good and Dam Innovative awards.

Our AssessmentThe most impressive thing about TopTenReviews.com's USB flash drive reviews is the landing page, which features a comprehensive comparison chart. The 18 reviewed models are charted with reference to editors' ratings, product features, bundled software, product support and a per-mega/gigabyte cost analysis. Products are rated on four criteria, then assigned an overall rating. Unfortunately, the reviews themselves fall short. There is no indication that the models have actually been tested or used by the experts at TopTenReviews.com; rather, each review consists of a very brief, condensed summary of manufacturer data. This is a great site to compare features and software of various flash drives, but does not provide reliable, expert analysis of drive performance.

Our AssessmentAustralia's GoodGearGuide.com.au and its sister publication, PC World (Australia), sporadically review USB drives. Review quality varies greatly, but none qualify as thorough or comprehensive. Testing is often superficial, without the depth seen in other review sites. Reviews are minimally comparative and products are rated, although the reasons for the given ratings aren't always clear. Kingston and Corsair models receive the highest ratings, overall.

Our AssessmentThis 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 those found on other user-review sites. The Kingston Data Traveler 150 garners mostly positive reviews from more than 70 users.