Help! What is a Travel Drive?

Staples has a big sale on a Memorex 512mb Travel Drive Portable Storage Device. It's marked down from about $75 to $29.00.

Is this the same as a portable hard drive. It's very tiny - about 3 1/2 " by 1" - it's USB 2.0 - 512mb.

It states "store, carry and share files, icnluding data, photos, musci and video?

Can I use this with my laptop to store photos?

Thanks for any help/information

Liz

Liz, it's a flash drive - basically the same as a compact flash card. I haven't used them but I haven't heard anything about them that would make me want to trust them for storage. Might be good for carrying files to the lab for printing (if you can download directly from USB2, which on the Fuji Frontier I've used you can't), or carrying files from home to the office, etc. Basically for temporary storage; not long term.

Thanks Steve,

I just checked it out - and when I read the "512mb" on the package it occurred to me that it wouldn't hold more than a 512 CF card does for photos. Forget it!

Thanks - I've heard of "flash cards" but didn't realize this is what it is. I might as well take a 512 CF with me for storage. Duh!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Liz

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Originally Posted by another view

Liz, it's a flash drive - basically the same as a compact flash card. I haven't used them but I haven't heard anything about them that would make me want to trust them for storage. Might be good for carrying files to the lab for printing (if you can download directly from USB2, which on the Fuji Frontier I've used you can't), or carrying files from home to the office, etc. Basically for temporary storage; not long term.

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Hi guys!!

512 mb isn't very much storage space.

My hubby's 2 gig flash card crased just the other day, so I wouldn't depend on them for permanent storage. Like Steve said, not for long term.

I have two myself, that I have been using for about a year and so far no problems. But I don't have anything on them that I don't have backed up elsewhere. :D

Oh, and the travel storage one's I've seen seem to have a flimsy casing. They didn't look as though they would hold up to a lot of knocking around. There could be better ones, I just haven't seen them.

Lara,

Thanks for chiming in here! It's so great to see you around. :cool:

I agree with your assessment - and thanks for sharing your husband's experience. I won't get this one.

Liz

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Originally Posted by Lara

Hi guys!!

512 mb isn't very much storage space.

My hubby's 2 gig flash card crased just the other day, so I wouldn't depend on them for permanent storage. Like Steve said, not for long term.

I have two myself, that I have been using for about a year and so far no problems. But I don't have anything on them that I don't have backed up elsewhere. :D

Oh, and the travel storage one's I've seen seem to have a flimsy casing. They didn't look as though they would hold up to a lot of knocking around. There could be better ones, I just haven't seen them.

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Here's what I use. It is a mini drive as opposed to that flash memory thing. You can have multiple partitions, etc. It has been very reliable, had it about 3 years now, and it has taken a beating.

Although, I do agree to backup everything.

MPIO 1.5 GB HDD Data Storage Drive

PS.. it isn't $199 anymore. I got mine at bestbuy for around $100

As you found out, 512MB isn't much !

I use a Phototainer (80GB) for my portable storage, it has a CF slot built in and will copy, verify, and erase the card contents. It also has a screen to show the images, but I don't waste battery on that :)
Phototainer uses external batteries which means I can get about 32GB of data onto it with the two batteries I have.

I also have a XSDriveII VP2160 (80GB) as backup, bought while the Phototainer was in for repair :(
It will copy the CF card, and also has slots for SD and XD. But it does not have a function to verify the copy worked, and it can't be used ot erase the card.
The 2160 does not have external batteries, you have to dismantle it to swap batteries (screwdriver included in the box!) and it uses a standard Fuji battery.

Thanks everyone......just to clarify

Presently I use a 80GB Iomega external hd to back up my photos. It has been acting weird for a while - meaning it only starts up if I physically give it a "shake." :confused:

I purchased a 120 Western Digital external HD to back up my pc and will start moving my images over there.

However, both of these are too big to travel around with my laptop. A couple of months ago I posted here asking for advice about external hd vs CD's. I got a lot of good advice and decided on the CD option. However, I would still like some type of small external hd that won't crash that I can carry around. I guess they don't build them not to crash, or die......... yet. :p

Thanks again.

Liz

These are pretty tough - I read a review on Moose Peterson's website a while back when they came out. Very expensive though...

My wife has a 40GB version of this drive. Not so heavy duty, but made for carrying with a laptop. I linked the 100GB because it lists the dimensions and weight. Very small and light, btw. Also nice because it doesn't require a separate power source; just plug it in to USB2 and you're all set.

Thanks Steve.....the first one is expensive.....

The one your wife has looks great - I'll check to see if they still have the 40GB one.

Thanks

Liz

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Originally Posted by another view

These are pretty tough - I read a review on Moose Peterson's website a while back when they came out. Very expensive though...

My wife has a 40GB version of this drive. Not so heavy duty, but made for carrying with a laptop. I linked the 100GB because it lists the dimensions and weight. Very small and light, btw. Also nice because it doesn't require a separate power source; just plug it in to USB2 and you're all set.

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A friend gave me a tiny Sony Vaio branded drive enclosure.
It takes a 2.5" laptop drive and is powered off the USB bus.
It is only 1cm longer then the drive itself, and barely 1mm thicker.
So there is little protection, but it is simple and cheap !

Thanks Paul.

I'll put that on my list to check out too! I'm glad there is more than one option!

Liz

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Originally Posted by Liz

However, both of these are too big to travel around with my laptop. A couple of months ago I posted here asking for advice about external hd vs CD's. I got a lot of good advice and decided on the CD option. However, I would still like some type of small external hd that won't crash that I can carry around. I guess they don't build them not to crash, or die......... yet. :p

Thanks again.

Liz

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Does the laptop have space on the hd for your files? What model is it? On some laptops you can remove the cd or dvd and install a second hd. That would give you a bunch of extra space for images that you can move to the external drive when you return home. That should be at least as durable as the laptop.

Check above Paul's last reply. Somehow a reply I just posted is showing up before replies posted before it. :confused:

why not just carry a usb 2.0 reader and some spare 1 GB cards? CostCo, $59.95 for Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB in both CF and SD flavors.

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Originally Posted by Lionheart

why not just carry a usb 2.0 reader and some spare 1 GB cards? CostCo, $59.95 for Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB in both CF and SD flavors.

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Thanks! Actually the same thought occurred to me today. I have 3 512mb and a bunch of 256. I already sort some of my images out by leaving them on the smaller CF cards since I have quite a few - that is until I transfer them to my external h.d. on my pc.

Liz

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Originally Posted by dmm96452

Does the laptop have space on the hd for your files? What model is it? On some laptops you can remove the cd or dvd and install a second hd. That would give you a bunch of extra space for images that you can move to the external drive when you return home. That should be at least as durable as the laptop.

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That's something I haven't thought about. I'd have to get someone to do this, though. I think I want to keep the CD/DVD on it. Actually it's a Gateway - about 2-1/2 years old. What does that make it in human age? About 65? :D

Liz

Liz, off the top of my head, I'd say some place like Pacific Coast Highway would qualify... ;)

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Originally Posted by Asylum Steve

Liz, off the top of my head, I'd say some place like Pacific Coast Highway would qualify... ;)

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I'm trying to hide my stupidity..... :o

Steve, what is Pacific Coast Highway? :confused:

Liz

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Originally Posted by Liz

I'm trying to hide my stupidity..... :o

Steve, what is Pacific Coast Highway? :confused:

Liz

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No problem, Liz. I was just being a wise guy. PCH is a very scenic road running along the coast of Washington, Oregon, and Cali.

Travel Drive? Get it? :D

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Originally Posted by Asylum Steve

No problem, Liz. I was just being a wise guy. PCH is a very scenic road running along the coast of Washington, Oregon, and Cali.

Travel Drive? Get it? :D

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Got it Steve! :cool:

I kind of thought that is what you meant. But thought it was too obvious. :rolleyes:

Liz

Check this link out to see if it fits your needs.

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Originally Posted by dmm96452

Check this link out to see if it fits your needs.

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This looks great - it's a big pricey - but rugged. Thanks for the link. I'll put it on my list of hd's to check out.

Liz