In today's multimedia world, the tried and true floppy disk is just too small and too slow; however most of us still use floppy disks simply because they are a computing standard and just about every computer has a floppy drive.
But what do you do when your PowerPoint presentation won't fit on a floppy? And how do you keep a vast number of documents together when you have to juggle them on several separate disks? We'll look at a couple of products that just might hold the answers.
CHOICES, CHOICES
Transporting large and multiple files has always required some degree of technical dexterity. Many people have gone through the hassle of chopping down multiple megabyte (MB) files down into floppy disk-sized chunks. Others today simply try to e-mail big files or send them to another computer over a network.
These file-transferring issues have created quite an interesting array of solutions. I still have one of the very first Zip Drives made by Iomega. Each Zip Disk holds 100 MB and it connects to my computer via the parallel port which is usually used to hook up a printer. One hundred megabytes of space is fantastic considering that each floppy disk only holds 1.4 MB (and I'm referring to the hard plastic-shelled 3.5 inch disks, not the older bendable 5.25 inchers).
Today, "burning" files onto compact discs has become the fad and many computers even have built-in compact disk-recordable drives so you can burn while you work.
There's one major problem with these transportable storage mediums: You must have special drives and hardware to use them wherever you go. For example, when I want to use a Zip Disk on another computer, I have to make sure that the other computer has a Zip Drive.
Which brings me to the two products I'm looking at today.
M-SYSTEM'S DISKONKEY
The M-Systems company has been a pioneer in the realm of "flash" memory storage devices. Flash memory is a solid state technology used in many memory cards for digital cameras and other devices. In contrast, floppy disks and similar storage media are prone to degradation because of their moving parts. Just like you can't record too many times onto the same VHS tape, using a floppy disk too much can render it useless.
The M-System's DiskOnKey is a small, lightweight alternative to floppy disks and other cumbersome methods of file transportation. It is literally a computer storage disk that can be put on a key chain. You can choose between models that can hold from 8 to 128 MBs and they soon expect to offer up to 512 MB capacities.
The greatest part is that the DiskOnKey doesn't need a special drive or additional hardware. The largest part of the DiskOnKey is the Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, which is compatible with any computer that has a USB plug. USB was developed several years ago to support compatibility among various computing systems. Not only that, USB interfaces allow you to add all kinds of hardware to your computer without having to open up the case and add special adapter cards. Just about any computer running Windows, Linux, or the Macintosh operating system will be able to recognize a device plugged into a USB socket.
Using the DiskOnKey could not be easier. If your computer is running Windows Me, 2000, or higher, you won't even need to install a software driver to use it. (If you're running Windows 98 or lower, you will have to download and install a driver from the DiskOnKey Web site.) I run Windows 2000 Professional and as soon as I plugged in the DiskOnKey, my computer auto-recognized it and I had an extra drive show up in "My Computer." Just like you have the "A" drive for your floppy, and the "C" drive for your hard disk, the DiskOnKey will show up as an "E" drive or another letter depending upon your particular hardware configuration. And from there, moving files to and from the DiskOnKey is as easy as moving them onto a floppy (just MUCH faster).
Once plugged into a USB slot, the DiskOnKey emits a very soothing glow from it's on-board LED. If the LED is blinking very slowly, that means the DiskOnKey is currently inactive and it can be removed. When files are being moved to or from the DiskOnKey, the LED will be flashing quickly and it is unsafe to unplug during that time.
As mentioned before, the DiskOnKey is small and light enough to fit on a key chain (which is supplied, by the way). A pocket clip is even molded onto the side so you can slip it into your pocket -- the DiskOnKey is about the size of some of those short, fat, squat highlighters. You literally have the freedom to copy a HUGE file onto your key chain and take it with you wherever you go. No batteries, no drives, no extra software, and a large storage capacity -- it's truly a marvel.
While M-Systems manufactures the DiskOnKey, they are sold by several prominent computer dealers in the U.S. Dell and Compaq both offer the DiskOnKey as storage options, and IBM actually offers the 8 MB capacity DiskOnKey with their own logo and support.
Product: DiskOnKey (www.diskonkey.com)
Manufacturer: M-Systems (www.m-sys.com)
Price: Varies with capacity: 8MB - $49.99, 32MB - $99.99
Pros:
Lightweight and extremely handy;
No software drivers needed if running Windows 2000 or above;
Fast and efficient file transfer speed
Cons:
No "write-protection" on the actual product
TREK'S THUMBDRIVE
Trek 2000 International Ltd. is a company based in Singapore that took a great idea and improved upon it. The ThumbDrive is the same product as the DiskOnKey but Trek provides the consumer with a few extra choices.
The Trek ThumbDrive is just a little smaller than a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum. A USB interface is on one end covered by a small cap. A very small LED is on the other end which seemed a little small to me -- the light was hard to see but it functioned the same way as the light on the DiskOnKey. The major improvement by the ThumbDrive is the tiny write-protect switch housed on the square end of the product. Switching this to the "lock" position will prohibit any accidental erasure of your files. If you've ever had to flip the little write-protect tab on a floppy disk, then you'll recognize how to use the switch on the ThumbDrive.
The specific model that I reviewed was the ThumbDrive Secure. Based upon the "regular" ThumbDrive model, the Secure model requires you to supply a password before granting access to your files. And if that isn't enough protection for you and your data, Trek will be offering the ThumbDrive Touch model, which incorporates an actual biometric fingerprint scanner in the body of the product. You'll be able to purchase the Touch models in early 2002.
Unfortunately, the basic and Secure ThumbDrives require you to install a software driver before you can use them, regardless of what operating system you're running. The drivers, however, are very small and you won't even need to reboot after their installation. However, not to be outdone by the competition, Trek will also soon be offering a ThumbDrive Smart model which will not require drivers if you're using Windows Me, 2000, or higher, or Mac OS 8.6 and above.
The Thumbdrives are available in all different sizes from 8 MB up to 512 MB, although the maximum capacity may vary by model.
Product: ThumbDrive (www.thumbdrive.com)
Manufacturer: Trek 2000 International Ltd. (www.trek2000.com.sg)
Price: Varies with capacity: 8 MB: $29, 128 MB: $149
Pros:
Very small and compact;
Write-protect switch in the bottom
Cons:
Still need drivers if using any model but the ThumbDrive Smart
USB IS THE KEY
While these USB memory devices may seem like a techie's toy, they become invaluable when you need to move larges files from one computer to another, or just need to keep important documents with you all the time. Some folks I found on the Net reported that they use their DiskOnKey to keep their digital signature with them all the time. Others used it at work to store their private banking files and information that they didn't want to leave on their work computer.
Both of these products act like just another storage "drive" when they are connected to your computer. If you use the ThumbDrive or DiskOnKey to store MP3 files or PowerPoint presentations, you can plug it into a computer and run the file straight from the product -- there's no need to move the file onto the computer's hard drive before running. Transferring files is fast and takes much less time than using a floppy disk.
If "smaller is better" for you, then go with the ThumbDrive -- it's smaller than the DiskOnKey. If compatibility among several computers is the key for you, then choose the DiskOnKey -- just make sure your computers are running current versions of their operating systems so you won't have any need for software drivers.
Brett Burney lives and works near Akron, Ohio. He can be reached at bburney@bburney.net.
This article orginally appeared on November 12, 2001.
