U3 Drives

USB flash drives with portable applications

USB flash drives with integrated U3 software are apparently a short-lived fad, soon to be replaced. The technology is promoted by SanDisk, but SanDisk and Microsoft are developing a new technology, dubbed StartKey, that is designed to allow USB flash drives to act as a "Windows companion," transferring Windows settings to whatever computer the drive is plugged into. An agreement was confirmed by Microsoft in March 2008, with vague promises of a beta product by the end of the year. As of this writing, StartKey has not yet been released to the public. Until then, U3 is the closest thing we have to an ultra-portable desktop solution.

U3 technology lets you run applications from the flash drive itself. Theoretically, you can use your U3-enabled USB drive on any computer to check e-mail, work or surf the web. However, drawbacks to U3 cut significantly into its advantages.

You can't load just any application on a U3 drive -- the software must be specially optimized. The Firefox web browser is available for U3 drives, but Internet Explorer is not. Mozilla Thunderbird mail is available, but Outlook is not. One of the most useful applications is Skype, which lets you chat or have voice conversations without loading it on the host computer. Some U3 USB drives have preloaded programs, while others prompt you to download U3 software. Some U3 software is free, but a lot of it isn't. USB drives with U3 are Windows-only.

When you connect the drive to a computer, the U3 software manager automatically loads on the computer. Many users are frustrated with this aspect, especially when using other people's computers. Many say it's an annoying step to decline loading before you can get to the information on the drive. We've seen reports that U3 software conflicts can crash systems and the U3 software itself can be difficult to remove from a computer. Other sources say U3 doesn't work on all Windows-based computers.

If you're a student or traveler, and you often need to work on computers other than your own, a U3 USB drive should let you run your own applications on any Internet-connected Windows computer. Of U3-enabled models, SanDisk's Ultra Titanium (*Est. $30 for 8 GB) is the clear favorite among reviewers. SanDisk recently rereleased the Cruzer Titanium, in the same casing and with a new name: the Ultra Cruzer Titanium. Aside from that, the features and specifications for the Ultra Cruzer Titanium are identical to the original Cruzer Titanium, and reviews of each can be reliably attributed to the other.

TrustedReviews.com selects the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium as an Editor's Choice, and it's the best according to an older roundup review conducted by Tom's Hardware. Benny Har-Even of TrustedReviews.com says, "The U3 enabled SanDisk Cruzer Titanium, is compact, rugged, fast and very affordable." EverythingUSB.com's Scott Clark ran over the Titanium with a car to no ill effect. The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium comes preloaded with avast! antivirus software and Skype instant-messaging/Internet-calling software.

Owner reviews for the Titanium are generally good, but we read some comments about the Titanium's retractable USB connector. When retracted, there's no cover or cap for the device, so the business end of the USB drive is still exposed -- perhaps not the best design if you plan to carry your USB drive in a purse, pocket or briefcase. You can disable the U3 software, but this involves reconfiguring the drive. If you don't plan to run programs off your USB drive, you're probably better off getting a drive without U3 capabilities. This isn't necessarily a fault with the Titanium drive itself, but many users found themselves wishing they'd passed on getting a U3 drive in the first place. The Ultra Titanium is available in 4 GB (*Est. $20), 8 GB (*Est. $30) and 16 GB (*Est. $60).

The SanDisk Extreme Contour and Micro series (1 GB to 16 GB, *est. $10 to $80) are similar to the Titanium. The Contour is a newer, higher-end line, while the Micro USB flash drives are smaller and not crush-resistant. The Extreme Contour (an updated release of the Cruzer Contour, with identical specifications) has a lifetime limited warranty. EverythingUSB.com's Scott Clark is annoyed that the Contour blocks an adjacent USB port and calls it "so-so." It tops reviews at PC Magazine, however, with an Editors' Choice designation and a top spot in The Best USB Keys head-to-head. It's summed up by reviewer Eric Griffith as having "all the speed, good looks and extras you could want in a USB flash drive."