It's no secret I'm a pretty big fan of Flash Drives. I'm a webmaster and a computer guy and I carry no less than 1-3 of them on me at any given time. I maintain three large websites, all of which are contained on these drives. So trust me when I say, I know flash drives.
This review is about Lexar's 1GB Jump Drive.
Here's the specs as per a retailer:
<img src="http://www.pronetworks.org/main/images/blurb/lexarjump.jpg" align="right">Rugged and durable, the Lexar 1GB JumpDrive Secure USB Flash Drive offers something else: peace of mind. The JumpDrive Secure comes loaded with software that lets you password-protect your data. If lost or stolen, you can rest assured that what you've saved there remains there with 256-bit AES encryption.
Your data is protected - a light on the device blinks to let you know that your transfer is complete - so you never have to worry that something will be lost in translation.
With storage capacities of 1GB, Lexar JumpDrive Secure has enough storage flexibility to hold plenty of data. Just attach to any computer with a USB 2.0 port for a speedy download, no drivers required.
With its lightweight size and high durability, JumpDrive Secure is a simple and easy way to take your data with you. No cables or adapters are necessary.
JumpDrive Secure is a software application that comes pre-loaded on the JumpDrive Secure allowing you to password protect files that are stored on the Lexar JumpDrive itself. It enables you to divide your JumpDrive into two different areas, or zones. The public zone has no password protection and is accessible by anyone using your JumpDrive. The private zone is password-protected so no one can open, copy or write files to it without entering the correct password. We go one step further than just password protecting your data, we also encrypt your data with 256-AES encryption.
Specifications and System Requirements:
For use with both PCs and Macs
Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP
Mac OS X, Mac OS 8.6 or above
One available USB port
Windows 98 users: Internet connection
Features of Lexar JumpDrive 1 GB Secure USB Flash Drive:
Save digital pictures, music, presentations, or any other data you have
Data protection light blinks until data is stored
Utilizes the USB 2.0 port, backwards compatible to USB 1.1
No drivers required*
Portable, rugged and durable
Great for keeping your data with you at home or on the road
Back to Reality:
Ok, Ok, I admit it's got some cool features, a really nice amount of data storage, and a name you can trust. But... forgive me for saying it, I'm still not sold on this product.
I originally purchased this flash drive in the middle of February 2005. It worked great for about two weeks before starting to make the most god awful noise you ever heard; seriously, I don't think I've heard finger nails on a chalk board sound this bad. I was hesitant to try and return it because of the fact it had come with a rebate, but I did, and the store was gracious enough to give me a brand new one.
For about 5 days, it also worked like a charm... but then, again, the high pitched squeals started occurring, and continue to until this very day each time I plug the drive into ANY USB port on ANY computer.
The drive's functionality isn't hindered by the noise and the performance is great... but the noise is unbearable. It will literally hurt your ear drums and likely drive any pets around you into some mad frenzy.
I like the quite USB drives that work... not the ones that scream at me. So until Lexar can't create a flash drive that doesn't have so much to "say," I think I'll stick with the ones that work... quietly.
Final Score: 6/10
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