TX50 USB Flash Storage Device

Manufacturer: Imaginative Design Operation Co.
Supplied by: TweakMonster 
Price: $69.99 (USD)

By Dean Barker (10/19/2002)

Introduction 

It has been a while since we last had a USB flash drive up on the bench.  Personally, I think portable USB flash storage devices are almost a necessity for individuals working with data.  In case you aren't too familiar with these devices, let me take a moment to explain what USB flash storage is.  The concept is very straightforward.  Compact Flash memory is typically seen in use with digital cameras.  It functions like any other storage except it is very small.  This small size lends itself to being easily portable.  At some point, someone realized that by combining flash memory with the ability to be hot swappable via a USB connection you could have yourself a personal, portable storage device.

As you now see, the applications of such a device is in the ball park of a PDA but more universally desirable, as many folks wanting portable storage may not need a PDA, but PDA users almost always want or need more or portable storage.  Before we get to far down the road, we wish to extend our thanks to the TweakMonster for sending us this product to play with.

Let’s take a look at the TX50.  It has somewhat of an oblong shape with a key loop on one end and a capped USB port at the other.

  

I’m going to start off with the key loop on the TX50, which is on the device itself.  The Disk on Key device we looked at had its key loop on the unit’s USB cap as opposed to the unit itself.  This is notable in that if you drop your keys, bump into something, or whatever, you may jar the device enough to knock the part not hooked on loose which may quickly become lost.  It is much better to lose a cap instead of the unit, not to mention any data you may have on it. 

  

The TX50 device gets immediate kudos for it small size.  Again, comparing it to the Disk on Key unit, the Disk on Key is about the size of a grown man’s thumb.  The TX50 is about the size of a car key.  While they both can be used as a keychain or be put on a keychain the TX50 is small enough to be done so without any annoyance. 

 

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