Crucial Gizmo 2.0 512MB USB Hard Drive Review
There is
nothing quite as satisfying as knowing that the CD-RW has finally been replaced
as the most convenient way to store and transfer ~500MB worth of data and files. Okay,
a CD-RW holds a little more than that, 650MB to be specific,
but that isn't the point. Nowadays, we have solid state, nearly indestructible
USB flash memory devices that fit neatly on your key chain between the home and car
keys.
Rather remarkable if you
think about it, and to get back at your data requires only a PC
with USB port. Since USB ports are included on all modern computers,
that makes the USB flashdrive about as universal as the floppy disk it long ago
replaced.
With the
proliferation of WindowsXP, plugging a device like the 512MB Crucial Gizmo 2.0 into a system doesn't
even require drivers - everything is automatic, and after a few seconds up
pops a new hard drive. So long as your PC is running Windows2000
or higher, drivers aren't required to configure USB devices.
If your computer is running Win98/98SE, there
are drivers at Crucial.com (they are not included in the package) you can
download to get the Gizmo 2.0 up and operational.
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Crucial Gizmo 2.0 512MB |
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Includes: |
Key ring, lanyard and
instructions. |
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The Crucial
Gizmo 2.0 flash disk we will be looking at in this quick review is
512MB in size, and communicates at USB2.0 speeds. There are also
64MB, 128MB and 256MB versions available, but
at $89USD the 512MB version (equivalent to 350 floppy disks) is a pretty good
deal. It measures a scant 16 x 67.5 x 8mm, and has
a tiny little
green LED to indicate activity. The Gizmo 2.0 flash drive is small enough that two
can be installed into adjacent USB ports without encountering any space
issues.
A big problem with a lot of first generation USB flash drives was
their size - many were too large to plug directly into a USB
slot if there was a USB mouse, or USB cable connected to the
adjacent port.
Since manufacturers almost always install USB ports in pairs,
this effectively limited where you could plug a small USB flash drive
in.
On
laptops, this problem could be extremely aggravating. This is why many USB flash
drives were, and continue to be shipped with USB extension
cables. Now, who really wants to carry around an extension cable so they can use
the USB flash drive dangling off their key ring? No one I'd wager, which is why
we're quite pleased with the size reduction the Gizmo 2.0 takes over the
first Gizmo model released by Crucial (shown above in
white).