World's smallest USB Flash drive

[roma_turok]

Memory card specialist Pretec is to introduce what may be the world's smalled USB Flash drive.

The iDisk Diamond - successor to the company's iDisk II and iDisk Tiny product lines - is smaller than a standard USB connector. The 2.7cm x 1.2cm x 1.9mm sliver weighs a mere 1g, though its 128MB storage capacity isn't exactly much to write home about these days.



The card slots into the host computer's full-size USB 2.0 port beneath the prong that usually fits inside a USB connector's metal sheath.

That's the same principle announced by SanDisk back in Janauary this year when it announced a special SD card with a fold-out USB connector, the Ultra II SD Plus card. While the SanDisk part offers higher storage capacities than the iDisk Diamond - 512MB to 1GB - they're nonetheless physically larger, thanks to the need to support the SD slot format.

As yet, Pretec hasn't formally announced the iDisk Diamond, but one of its Japanese resellers, Solid Alliance, said this morning it had begun selling the part for $43.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/01/pretec_idisk_diamond/

[waheed]

Something that small can get lost or misplaced very easily and would be hard to find.

$43 for only 128MB, no thanks. You can get 1GB USB flash drives for the same price.

[Faustus]

I don't even want THAT small. I just want at least 1gig in a metal cylinder with a screw on top to make it water proof. So little to ask..

[ROF]

This is great. No more having to lug around those key sized USB drives. The laptop bag I recently purchased has strap holder for ready storage of these devices when not in use. At $40, these are rather cheap considering that 128MB USB Flash when it was first released were well over $100.

Keep miniaturizing.

[hiptune]

It's totally cool! Soon enough there will be the mini usb plug in our brains! You transfer files to your brain and back to computer with a tiny drive. :P

[MackemX]

surely they could make a smaller usb interface?

one annoying thing I have with USB is struggling in a tight space behind someone's PC trying to put the damn things in!

and yeah, I'd lose that tiny thing within a day

[SatStorm]

Modern spies can use those tiny things for sure...

James Bond did that 30 years before....

[MackemX]

there will be a day we plug ourselves in

[RottenFoxBreath]

cool one day,well all look just as twatty as johnny pneumonic.pmsl.

[Doramius]

Something that small can get lost or misplaced very easily and would be hard to find.

$43 for only 128MB, no thanks. You can get 1GB USB flash drives for the same price.

Where are you getting these 1GB flash drive for less? [pulls out pen & paper]

[ROF]

Something that small can get lost or misplaced very easily and would be hard to find.

$43 for only 128MB, no thanks. You can get 1GB USB flash drives for the same price.

Where are you getting these 1GB flash drive for less? [pulls out pen & paper]

1GB USB Drive for $59.99 - $20 Rebate

My personal 1GB Favorite: Memorex 1GB Travel Drive for $57

[Doramius]

Something that small can get lost or misplaced very easily and would be hard to find.

$43 for only 128MB, no thanks. You can get 1GB USB flash drives for the same price.

Where are you getting these 1GB flash drive for less? [pulls out pen & paper]

1GB USB Drive for $59.99 - $20 Rebate

My personal 1GB Favorite: Memorex 1GB Travel Drive for $57

You don't actually think I'm going to send in a MIR, nor expect to receive anything for it if I did, Do you? :P

[edDV]

My latest Motorola cell phone uses an even smaller* 256MB Transflash card that also plugs into a SD card adapter that then plugs into a card reader.
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(1201)-SDQCJP-256-SanDisk_TransFlash_Memory_Module_256MB.aspx
These things are too small to pick up. 512MB is also available.

*About half thumbnail size.

[ROF]

1GB USB Drive for $59.99 - $20 Rebate

My personal 1GB Favorite: Memorex 1GB Travel Drive for $57

You don't actually think I'm going to send in a MIR, nor expect to receive anything for it if I did, Do you? :P

To each their own. I frequently get and send in mail in rebates. As long as you fill them out correctly, include all materials required, and keep a copy for yourself, you should never have any problems with mail in rebates. Newegg will also get involved if you fail to receive your rebate from any companies products they sell. I bought a Mobo with a rebate last year from them for which I didn't receive a mail in rebate from the manufacturer. After 2 attempts at getting them to work with I contacted Newegg about my purchase and the rebate I didn't receive. Within 24 hours I received a confirmation email from the manufacturer that my rebate check would be sent out. 2-3 weeks later I cashed it. I had gotten rebates from this Mobo manufacturer in the past and have since gotten several from them as well. Mail in rebates are like free money. You never know when it's going to show up but it's usually when you've just finished a gallon of milk or lit up your last cigarette. Very handy to have you just need to be careful when filling it out and follow all directions making sure to keep a copy for your records and when it's late make sure to contact the rebate center or the company you purchased the product from.

[redwudz]

These may be the same as edDV mentioned. Mini SD cards. Used in some cameras and phones:



The 1Gb version is about $80US.

[edDV]

That is similar, here is the adapter as well.



BTW this phone records MPeg4 320x240 video of sorts. I'll be playing with it when I get time.

[Doramius]

Can it go through the laundry and still be okay? I'll have to find it, but there is a site that has a section devoted to listing everyday mishaps to these small & expensive devices, and seeing how they fare. The biggest test is the laundry test. Run them through a washload of closthes, air it out a bit, then try and run it in the PC.

Lexar USB Media usually stands up the best, but Compact Flash are really good across the board almost regardless of the manufacturer. There's a whole bunch of other good brands. I was more impressed at how much these things can stand up to. Haven't checked it in a long while though.

[redwudz]

I've given two of my USB flash drives the 'Laundry test'. Complete with a dry cycle and fabric softener.

On one of the them the case separated, but no damage. The other, no problems at all. And they are clean and smelled fresh.

I did have trouble with the first one a month later. The tiny data protection switch got stuck, so I can't write to it anymore. Get one that is well sealed and has a one piece case and no switch or a better switch and they should survive quite a few 'Laundry tests'.

The problem with those tiny flash cards are the equally tiny contacts. One speck of dirt in there and they are toast.