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M-Systems Disk On Key USB Storage Device
Manufacturer:
M-Systems By Dean Barker (3/20/2002)
Introduction When most people want to transfer files from machine to machine that are not on a shared network, they can expect to be toting around some CD-R media and/or floppy disks. You can use a removable hard drive but a HDD is not all that compact. The old ten pound cellular bag phones have evolved into miniature pocket sized communication devices. Why can’t computer storage devices mimic the evolution of cellular phones? Well right under our noses, they have. With the advent of digital cameras came much more widespread use of flash memory. At some point, someone came up with the idea of combining flash memory and USB to provide an on the fly storage device. That alone is noteworthy. But what if you had different operating systems i.e. Windows 98, Windows XP, or a Mac? How cool would it be to be able to have a hot swappable mass storage device that was functional with multiple operating systems including the IBM PC / MAC line? Enter M-Systems with their Disk on Key device line.
At first hearing of this type of device, I was a bit skeptical. Many of you still remember the voice recognition programs of five years ago that were advertised as having the technology honed to a fine edge. Well, voice recognition then as it is now, is far from that. So when I received a sample of the Disk on Key device I had to wonder how well could flash memory, USB, universal operating system applicability, and compact size really be blended and be functional as advertised. Well it seems they do so very well. So well in fact that when I find myself bumping into friends and coworkers I’m whipping out the Disk on Key unit and saying “You have got to see this!” Before we delve into the specifics of the unit I wish to extend our thanks to the M-Systems for providing us a sample of this nifty new product. It’s a what? The Disk on Key unit is a removable drive that functions via a USB interface. Being plug and play, it is recognized with no software support by Windows ME, Win2k, Windows XP, MacOS 9.0 & higher (that’s right I said MAC!), as well as Linux. Windows 98 and 98 SE can utilize the device but they do require a driver. The cross operating system abilities of the Disk On Key are accomplished by an onboard CPU that allows the unit to interface with multiple operating systems. At present, the Disk on Key are available in 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 mb sizes with the anticipation of 256 and 512meg units being available at some point this year. The files we carry from place to place now are text files and documents, digital pictures, MP3s, Quake levels etc. In one stroke, I have burned my last CD so I can take files elsewhere. It is quicker, easier, requires no blank disks, and is compact and easy to carry. Pricing is as follows: 8mb = $29.99, 16mb = $49.99, 32mb = $79.99, 64mb = $99.99, 128mb = $149.99.
What you get. In opening up the package we found the Disk on Key unit of course, a getting started sheet, and four labels to stick on the unit if you like, to tell you what is stored there. The unit is not much bigger than a grown man’s forefinger. There is a key ring that is held in place by a clip on one end so you can have the device double as a keychain. You can also remove the ring and clip it on a shirt pocket if you like. The unit is uncapped much like a magic marker exposing a USB port. From about the midsection to the port is translucent plastic. Marked on the plastic is the USB marking as well as the storage size of that specific unit. You can see above that our test unit is a 64mb one. Specifications Here is a copy/paste of the specs as listed on the Disk on Key website.
(1) Driver required for Windows 98 WIN98 (1st/ SE) Driver can be downloaded from Disk on Key site or may be included with product (2) Larger capacities expected in 2002
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