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(More customer reviews)Need a new USB flash drive, and primarily use a Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP system (i.e., don't use Macintosh or Linux)? The Verbatim U3 Smart Drive combines data storage and a portable applications platform into one device, and provides two features that make it immediately worthy of consideration: slick password-protected access to the U3 drive, and auto-run anti-virus.
On Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, and above systems, the Verbatim U3 Smart Drive shows up as two drives: a 4-megabyte CD-ROM drive containing the U3 software platform, and a USB data storage device with 927-megabytes of available storage space. When the U3 Smart Drive is inserted into a computer, the CD-ROM portion starts the U3 Launchpad first. When password protection is enabled, the password must be correctly entered to activate the data storage portion of the drive. Otherwise, the computer reports that the data storage portion of the drive is unavailable. Verbatim's U3 Smart Drive comes with McAfee Anti-Virus, which automatically scans active processes then the Smart Drive itself when the drive is inserted into a computer.This ensures that one's data will be virus-free anywhere one chooses to use this USB flash drive.
The U3 portable applications platform enables compliant software to be installed on and run directly from the USB flash drive itself, eliminating the necessity to install them on a computer. People looking for flexibility to run utilities not provided in a controlled computing environment, such as in corporate or university settings or at a public access terminal, will appreciate this capability. For example, users whose corporate networks only support Internet Explorer can instead choose to run Mozilla's Firefox web browser from their U3 Smart Drive. The U3 website lists available U3 compliant applications, utilities, and games; some are free; most others must be purchased. Having U3-compliant versions of Firefox and McAfee Anti-Virus on my U3 flash drive has been quite convenient for me (though I am annoyed that Firefox U3's homepage is stuck at YourBrainz).
Overall, the U3 platform experience is not as seamless as it should be, in part because of its youth, but also because of inherent design issues in the Microsoft Windows operating system. If the drive is inserted before the computer is powered on, the U3 Launchpad software must be manually run to activate the data storage portion of the drive when password protection is enabled. Some U3 applications are dependent on the features that may be absent from the host operating system. For example, Anonymizer for U3 currently requires that Microsoft's .NET Framework 1.1, typically an optional download, be installed on the host computer. Other applications may require user expertise to either determine whether a host network allows (or blocks) program traffic, such as instant messaging and Skype; or to perform proxy configuration. U3's marketed ability to deliver a portable, private and protected computing environment is still very dependent on both the host computing environment and the user's technology expertise.
The Verbatim U3 Smart Drive's average sustained write speeds are somewhat slow. It took me over three-and-a-half minutes to transfer a 698.8 MB file for an average sustained write speed of approximately 3.2 MB/s. Consider a faster USB flash drive if you regularly use such large files or large numbers of files. I think Verbatim's U3 Smart Drive performs adequately for most people, who commonly transfer few or smaller files - here, transfer time is unnoticeable. Read speeds are acceptable; I've had no problems viewing movies from the U3 Smart Drive.
If you are able to find Verbatim's U3 Smart Drive for a few dollars more than a typical USB flash drive that offers data storage only, buy it. Verbatim's U3 Smart Drive's password protection, anti-virus, and ability to run sophisticated portable programs are worth a small premium.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Verbatim Store 'n' Go 1 GB U3 Smart Flash Drive 95229 (Silver)
Product Description:
Verbatim's Store ‘n' Go U3 Smart Drive lets you work and play smarter using U3 smart applications from www.u3.com.Rather than having to lug a laptop, busy professionals can simply carry their personal workspace with them on a tiny USB smart drive as they move to and from different locations.It includes an easy to use U3 launchpad which provides access to program and allows you to browse contents, change personal settings, obtain device status or install new U3 smart applications from the online library.Best of all, U3 smart applications leave no trace of your visit on a host PC, providing an unprecedented level of security and mobility.Even browser cookies stay on the flash drive, enabling recognized login access from any computer.
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