PNY Attaché 2GB Helps Keep My Files Handy Anywhere!!!!!
Written: Jan 16 '08 (Updated May 01 '08)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Great for taking anywhere with 2GB's of storage that suits most people's needs, very likely.
Cons: The removable cap begs to be lost. Better if it remained attached. Not a showstopper.
The Bottom Line: Based on price, functionality, looks and performance, not a bad deal at all. Research your needs as far as size and be realistic in terms of time of performance.
|
|
|
| mongomad1's Full Review: PNY Attaché (PFD02GU20RF-EA) |
This is the most useful gift my father-in-law has ever given me! Maybe because it is not some kind of useless tool designed to be worn on a belt. God love him, he tries.
You really do not know how helpful a thumb drive is until you own one, especially one like this that holds 2GB of information. Like most, if not all thumb drives these days, this one comes formatted in FAT32. If you have no idea what that is, you do not necessarily need to, but note that NTFS will enable it to be more efficient in storage and access. It is the only way I know of to take advantage of file compression.
I see no real advantage to leaving FAT32 unless you are still running Windows 98SE or plan to use it with a MAC O/S. If one of these is the case, then leave it as is for sure. If you do not fall into that category, my suggestion would be to format it NTFS as soon as you get it home.
Due to issues encountered in XP Pro’s Computer Management, I had to do it from a command prompt in order for NTFS to format as the file system of choice. Computer Management only gave me the options of FAT and FAT32. When using either, ENSURE you enter the correct letter for the drive under that parameter or bad things could happen.
Instead of giving the command prompt to use in this review, I will leave it up to you to research how or you can e-mail me if you like! I would rather not put a potentially devastating command line here so that someone who does not understand what they are doing formats the wrong drive, losing precious data.
Is 2GB big enough for you?
This will certainly vary by user, but this user needs nothing any larger for this device. It is the equivalent of 2048MB and a VERY BIG Excel Spreadsheet with tons of formulas/formatting may reach five or so MB’s. Typically, they are less than one as are Word Documents. A huge picture, should you set your digital camera on the highest resolution (mine is 2592 x 1798), in JPEG format, will likely be around 2MB or a smidge over. Sized at 800 x 600, we are talking less than half a MB. A 90 page Adobe Acrobat PDF file, with many graphics, that I have on my PC now, takes up 3MB’s, not compressed.
To give perspective behind those numbers, you could hold 850 or so VERY large pictures, 3400 pictures at 800 x 600, 410 gigantic Excel Spreadsheets or 683 PDF files of around 100 pages each. The memory hog would be DVD type files or other full size video. 2 hours of video takes up an entire DVD of 4.7GB. So do not count on saving movies on this device. None of this includes compression either, which substantially reduces text files like Word, Excel and Acrobat files, but compression does not do such a great job with Video.
Other than video and pictures, you may be looking at 60% or more space saved with the use of compression, if you choose NTFS AND compression for the drive. So, this is where you need to consider your use. For most, this is plenty, for others, they may consider the newer 8G -16GB PNY’s or up to 64GB’s, if you get Kanguru’s Flash Drive Max for a mere $2800 or so. I’d buy a laptop unless I was smuggling in secret documents obtained from some enemy of the state.
Looks/Functionality/Ease of Use
It is rather a pleasant enough looking device. Not too futuristic as to be annoying, but also not entirely basic that you won’t stare at it for a while. You can see the internal, tiny board and when you plug it in, a light flashes so that you know she is working. Most OS’s will recognize the device and pull up a window asking you how you want to view it. I normally go to the folder view from here, pull up a Windows Explorer window that shows your PC’s files and locate the file from the PC I want on the device or vice versa.
It comes set so that you can remove it from your computer's USB port without turning it off first by using the icon at the bottom right of your Start Bar, a disc looking thing with a green arrow above it simulating removing a device. It is quicker in performance if you turn off this capability under its properties, but not incredibly so. You lose this, I believe, if formatted NTFS. That is something else to consider before deciding to format it other than the FAT32 that is standard on it.
To me, its use could not be more simple. The hard part is getting it in the USB Port you can not quite see!
My Business Use
I have not really used it for anything personal, unless you consider moving files for someone from their 1986 Apple IIe to an updated IBM model 486 (I jest, it is not compatible with the Apple IIe or the 486). Business wise, it has been invaluable as I have a workstation that I use primarily. I have a wonderful chair, a great big monitor and a quiet place to use it… sometimes. Then I meet with vendors, clients, potential clients and my business partners with a laptop that I loathe. Even so, I use it out of necessity.
The laptop is networked so I COULD turn it on and transfer files from my PC to it, but if it is snugly packaged in my briefcase, it is SO much easier to stick all pertinent information on this thumb drive. Otherwise, you unpack the laptop, let it bluescreen a time or two and curse it as if it were the devil in disguise. You find that the anti-virus, which plays a large role in my home networks security, is not up to date enough for my PC to trust talking to it. A half an hour of installs later you completely forget which files you needed in the first place.
This device can be a lifesaver, quick, extremely small for portability in your pocket or a small pocket in a briefcase.
My little friend came with a lanyard or maybe my father-in-aw bought it separately. No, I would never wear it around my neck - it looks good on those of you that do this - but for me it acts as an aid in finding it since it is so small. How small is it? Read on!
Size and Specifications
The cases are made of a not so durable plastic, not as stout as I would like to have anyway. A step on this while laying on concrete and CRUNCH. Hope there was not anything important on there! This is why it does not get 5 stars or even 4. It could easily cause a devastating event from a number of scenarios in regards to its sturdiness. Plus, it is not distinctively better than any other brand I have used.
It is a hair under 3 inches long, 1/4 of an inch thick and 3/4 of an inch wide, certainly a space saver!
Portable, reusable storage device.
Less than 1/3 of a pound.
USB 2.0 and backward compatible.
Easily transfer data, music and images from computer to computer.
Lanyard included. (Oh, so it is.)
Read Speed 9MBps.
Write Speed 4MBps.
Compatible with Windows 98SE and Mac OS 8.6 and later. Manufacturer one-year limited warranty.
If this review was informative, please feel free to visit my other Computer Hardware reviews:
APC ES 550 UPS System - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Apple MacBook Pro 15-INCH 2.3GHz 2GB RAM Notebook - I Rated It: 4 Stars
ASUS (DRW-1814BL) DVD-RAM Burner - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Brother HL-2040 Laser Printer - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Brother P-Touch® PT-2600 Labelmaker with PC Interface - I Rated It: 3 Stars
Corsair Memory 2 x 1 GB PC2-4200 DDR2 RAM - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Dell Dimension 4700 PC Desktop - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Dell Dimension E521 PC Desktop - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP 20.1 inch LCD Monitor - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Fellowes Premium 30-Piece PC Tool Kit - I Rated It: 4 Stars
GeForce® 6800 XTreme, 256 MB PCI Express Video Card - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Hauppauge WinTV PVR250 Video Capture Card - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Hewlett Packard Compaq Presario SR5010NX PC Desktop - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Hewlett Packard Officejet 4215 InkJet Printer - I Rated It: 1 Star
Kenneth Cole Laptop Carrying Case - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Kingston Multimedia Card Reader - USB 2.0 - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Linksys WRT54G Router - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Logitech V200 Laptop Cordless Mouse - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Microsoft Desktop Elite Multimedia Keyboard and Mouse - I Rated It: 4 Stars
RIM BlackBerry® 8703e Smartphone - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Seagate OneTouch III 300 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive - I Rated It: 3 Stars
ViewSonic VA1930WM LCD Monitor 19 Inches - I Rated It: 4 Stars
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mongomad1
|
|
Location: Actionville, FL (Jacksonville)
Reviews written: 58
Trusted by: 65 members
About Me:
I would give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.