even today when on-line applications are available to work real-time on-the-fly, there are 2 reasons why you would opt.to carry around data stored in you ultra-portable USB Memory Dongle :
- to use in an instant where NO internet connection is available,
- to carry sensitive information in a password-secured USB Memory Dongle,
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then, it would surely seem daunting to choose ONE out of the myriad of USB Memory Dongles currently out in the market ! but then as usual, I kindly offer you easy explanation combined with simple clear-cut choices of a few winners .
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[ Which Size Capacity Should I Choose ] currently out in the market as of Spring 2010 are 2G, 4G, 8G, 16G and 32GB capacity USB Memory Dongles .
if you are using a computer system that is old, say pre-Millennium, then smaller memory the better even 256~512MB, but they aren’t available unless used ones, so you would have to go for 2GB . remember : although neglectable, there IS a limit to the number of reads AND writes on a memory so buying used memory is NOT a good idea .
then on the other /higher/ end of 32GB may NOT be compatible with all systems because it is newer technology, especially if you are contemplating CD-Boot feature . so it is best to choose from mid-range depending upon your intended usage .
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[ Which Manufacturer OR Maker to Choose ] you will notice the maker OR models available back home is NOT found anywhere here or where you intend to travel to . this is because USB Memories are rather cheap, able to be manufactured locally OR imported cheaper from surrounding countries, thus more local or locally imported makers AND models abound .
also, although there is NO moving parts inside a USB Memory many things can go wrong while plugging in AND out of the computer because they do have electrical current . thus it is recommended you plug out ONLY after you use appropriate icon clicking depending upon the OS (Operating System) in use on your computer . mostly this would be “safely unplug your hardware” icon on the lower-right end of you Windows XP desktop OR dedicated software from the USB Memory Maker running in the background .
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[ MLC or SLC ] most general USB Memory Dongles are lower cost Multi-Level Cell, but you will come across the more expensive Single-Level Cell which access data much faster . howeve the newer MLC is gaining onto the speed of older SLC so you can the difference is fading as far as you are deciding on the price-to-performance ratio . most USB Memory Dongles would be MLC unless otherwise noted as SLC .
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[ The Fastest AND Most Durable ] time AND again the question pops up AND the cool answer is still the same after 3 years of introduction, which is a beaucoup long time in the computing World . SanDisk Cruzer Contour rules as the FASTEST AND most durable USB Memory Dongle to-date April 2010 .
- undeniably so, for it is twice or even quadruple huge compared to today’s newer tiny, even miniscule USB Memory Dongles,
- AND the lower side is pure metal,
- AND safely tucks the connecting plug deep inside like a turtle,
- plus expensive costing 50% more for 8GB at 38,000/ 16GB at 60,000/ 32GB at W115,000 in on-line discount outlets,
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[ WoW ! I Can Boot from my USB Memory Dongle just like a CD or DVD ! ] Asus dominated the ultra-portable NetBook market in the Summer of 2008 and we all saw ONE big drawback . there was NO CD nor DVD Drive on the side of the laptop . sure, you could carry along a portable slim CD/DVD Drive which can link to your computer via USB port but that boggles down the portability of NetBooks . besides, CD and DVD’s are on the way to becoming extinct in the way of dinosaurs .
so everyone was frantically trying to put the OS such as Windwos into the USB Memory Dongle, to “trick” the computer into thinking this was a CD/DVD Drive instead . this is called CD-Boot feature and back-then in 2008, consisted a time-consuming, painful process of finding a chipset number of the manufacturer from mostly China and finding a software capable of making THAT specific USB Memory Dongle into a CD-Bootable USB !
then as other makers joined in producing NetBooks, by Summer of 2009 last year saw USB Memory Dongles WITH CD-Boot feature intact . so it was a simple matter of clicking a few menus to transfer your Windows OS image INTO your USB Memory Dongle . still, all softwares are different, making some makers’ USB’s easier than the other for beginners to try out . we saw several model change in which makers’ was the easiest so far . and as of early 2010 Korean forums centering on this feature agree on Melrose model line manufactured by MLTech . not to worry for menus are in English for they produce these for exports .
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even among their Melrose models, the higher-end Melrose U70 Dual in Gold Color is deemed our favourite CD-Boot .
currently aproximately 4G at W18,000/ 8G at W32,000/ 16G at 52,000/ 32GB at 116,000 at on-line discount outlets .
with company logo OR name card imprint for 200~300 pieces costing aproximately W30,000~W40,000
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and lastly, if you don’t care about speed and do NOT need CD-Booting feature, then you should have the pleasure of choosing the most cute design out of the many, many choice of smaller, cheap USB Memory Dongles available today 😉
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– Korea Tech BLog, April 2010 –
