Posted: 5/16/2006 12:25:59 PM EDT
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I know that "best" and "low-budget" are usually mutually exclusive, but I'm not backing up sensitive data here. I have had a cheap 64mb WalMart drive (I believe that it is a Lexar) that crapped out after 2 years of use. I'm happy with the service I got based on price. I'm looking to replace it. It needs to be rugged (lives on my keychain) and small (I keep my keys in my back pocket). My guess is capacity should be at least 512MB, but more likely 1GB. Suggestions? |
good for you. these drives should not be used as a backup source. they are too problematic. newegg has a good selection. and their cheap |
I hit The Egg and saw a wide variety at insanely low prices. Are all drives created equal or are there some to stay away from? I saw one that looked really thin, but left the connector unprotected. ps. I had $5 bet that cruse5 would be the first to chime in! |
we use alot of generic ones at work. a friend has a filemate drive. mine was free from microsoft (it doesn't have a brand name on it) it was made in china though  their so cheap i wouldn't worry about it. if it breaks just buy another one edit they go from 1 year to 10 year warranty. thats what i would look at |
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I've carried a Lexar JumpDrive Secure (128 mb version) since...I think I bought it in mid-2003. Zero errors, zero problems, works fine on everything from my 300 mhz Win98 machine to my newest AMD workstation. It's a little 'clunky', with a large body and big rubber grips on the side, but it's also survived about a year as a keychain, and the remainder of the time either seperate in a pocket or on a lanyard around my neck. It's proven very durable. Jim ETA: Would help to add the price--it was something like $29 at Walmart back in '03. Capacities have gone up, prices have come down. You can get a basic 128 meg name-brand drive for $10 or so, and 512 meg for $20 if you watch the ads. I'm watching and waiting to find a gig drive at about $30. |
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good review here....prices have dropped significantly since it was written. www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2549&p=28 |
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I've got a Lexar 1gig and a Scandisk 256mb they both work great 4 me going to school and work. the Lexar 1gig was 75$$ about a year ago from best buy but i believe its dropped to like 40$$ now. I use it to store and carry my CAD drawings to and from collage and i've yet to have any problems with it. h.gif |
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Newegg has recently had some well-respected brand 2 gig drive for about $50 and 4 gigs for $100. Flash, not mini-hard-drive. Between Tigerdirect.com, Newegg.com, and Zipzoomfly.com, I'm seeing 1 gig drives by some brands as low as $20. Well-respected (PNY, Lexar) 512 meg drives from $15-$20. Jim |