Storage devices nowadays come in a variety of shapes, designs and sizes, but all with one purpose - to store the ever-increasing volumes of data. Spoilt for choice, it would be quite difficult to draw the line between this plethora of devices.
SanDisk has been involved in the manufacturing of data storage solutions since 1988. Among the solutions the company offers are the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive and the Ultra microSDHC card.
The Cruzer Glide USB flash drive is SanDisk's thinnest and is available worldwide in 4GB to 32GB capacities, while the Ultra microSDHC card comes in four different varieties - 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.
Secure sharing
The Cruzer Glide USB flash drive offers an easy and secure way to share, move and back-up one's most important files. To open the drive, a user simply slides it out and back in when it's not in use. I prefer this design because there is no cap, which I find hard to keep on similar devices.
Regarding its appearance, SanDisk went for the ordinary thumb drive look. Most offerings on the market look exactly the same and the only difference is the name brand. A lot of vendors are producing out-of-the-ordinary designs these days and I am sure that as the competition gets stiffer, it will be these minute details that will count.
The Cruzer Glide USB flash drive features a black and red colour scheme and it's quite portable in that it can easily slip into any pocket or purse.
Transferring files to the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive is quite easy. A user just plugs the flash drive into a computer's USB port and drags the desired files into the drive's folder. Most importantly, no additional software or drivers are required in the process.
Selling points
In all fairness, the above features are the standard that everyone would look for in a USB flash drive. So the question would be "how does the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive differ from X and Y flash drives?"
Well, I think SanDisk's SecureAccess Software is the best answer to that question as it protects files with a password and encryption. It's no secret that, nowadays, USB flash drives, because of the increase in mobility, are storing sensitive and critical information.
With SanDisk SecureAccess, a user creates a password-protected folder for sensitive files. According to SanDisk, the password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption, so users will be able to share their drives without sharing private documents.
For example, I can give the drive to someone to use, but they cannot access the sensitive information that would be stored in the vault. This makes the drive useful both for business and personal purposes. However, when files are put in this vault, make sure you don't forget your password; otherwise you will never access them again.
Online storage
Another nifty feature on the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive is the 2GB of free online storage space provided by YuuWaa. This cloud storage service has a drag-and-drop interface, so users can easily transfer their files to a YuuWaa server.
SanDisk also claims that the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive can function in a variety of climates, adding that it can operate in temperatures ranging from 13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, which means users will be able to transfer files no matter where they are.
The company has also backed the flash drive with a two-year limited warranty.
Versatile memory card
SanDisk's Ultra microSDHC card with adapter is a versatile chip that can be used on different devices, including digital cameras, mobile phones and tablet PCs.
It offers up to 30MBps read speeds for faster photo, video and application performance when using a mobile phone or tablet device. With the included SD adapter, users can also speedily transfer files from a PC to a mobile phone or tablet.
Another plus is that users can record full HD video on the Ultra microSDHC card and they are also able to organise and transfer photos, videos and music via the bundled SanDisk Media Manager software, which has to be downloaded and installed first.
SanDisk mainly designed the memory card with a heavy smartphone user in mind, I am sure. Upon installing it in a mobile phone, users can create more room for music, games, pictures, videos and text messages.
In a nutshell
In this information age we are living in, both the Cruzer Glide USB flash drive and the Ultra microSDHC card are devices that could be handy for the gadget-mad generation. Both devices, at 4GB, also cost less than R100, which I believe is a real bargain.
In short, I would recommend these devices to users who have a considerable volume of information that they need access to on the go.
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