EGAD ! - A Flash Drive with BLOATWARE? Say It Ain't So!
Written: Mar 29 '08 (Updated Mar 31 '08)
Product Rating:
Pros: Compact, Fast, 2GB, Retractable connector, loop (but no lanyard), sub-folders for varying types of data.
Cons: Retractable connector, McAfee, U3 Programs. File Management is crucial, REVIEW WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT!...
The Bottom Line: Retracting connector seems handy but those caps served a purpose. Recommended: Flash Drive with rotating closure or a tethered cap. Delete U3 BEFORE loading your files on CRUZER.
ASourdough4's Full Review: SanDisk Cruzer® Micro (2 GB) USB 2.0 Flash Dr...
SanDisk SDCZ62048A10 Flash Memory Family
Update: Monday 3/31/08
VISTA COMPATIBILITY and Other Frightening Things
--- The original epinion was of the subject device running on MS Windows XP. This did nothing for MS Vista Users, so a test was run this morning at 4:30am.
I plugged the 2GB Cruzer into a USB Port in our Vista PC and looked up at the screen: The device had been recognized and made ready for use - INSTANTLY!
I prepared to run a performance test, choosing to load it up with Photos. I selected a series of 11 Folders containing *.jpg files and DRAGGED THEM OVER TO THE CRUZER icon. And there they were, about 1.3GB transferred. Later, after diversions noted below, I transferred 1.75GB from the PC Hard Drive (C:\) to the Flash Drive (F:\) in 15 minutes or so.
OKAY! Now let's clear the CRUZER and ... I did. When I went back to the "My Pictures" folder under "C", the list of folders was truncated. Cold animal fear flooded through my worthless self - in an instant, I realized that I had MOVED those folders, not copied them. That's right, GONE!
I got them back OK... Please look at Notes appended at the end of this review for some hints.
TEST RESULTS: Advertised 2GB capacity is actually 1.75GB Maximum. It takes about 15 minutes to move that much data to an external drive (Maybe my cable is USB 1.1?). Resident programs and the U3 silliness use about 2 MB
----------------
Saturday 3/29/08 (Original Review)
No sooner than one gets accustomed to a new gadget, they change the derned thing - this one can be changed right in the middle of a production run, and they do that, and nobody will notice - UNTIL, that is, one grabs the new one and plugs it in.
This morning (3/29/08) my lovely partner mentioned an appointment she had with an editor who was hired to guide her from exposition to experiention (?) in her novel. She had sent him a copy but failed to make an exact copy for herself. The appointment, a teleconference, would be at 10am. SCRAMBLE! We can run it down to Kinko's - now where is that "lipstick"? After a furious search of her PC for the file, I realized that our old 1MB Flash Memory had 6 different revisions on it. Hoping to simplify the task, I grabbed my new SANDISK SDCZ62048A10 ripped it from its plastic package, and jammed it into what has always been Drive "K" on her PC. The correct file was ready to go, I sent a copy to the ..... ??? WHAT'S GOING ON??? Hey, stop that thing. And I did. When I left for Kinko's at 8:45am, I had the right file on the old 1MB flashdrive (Brand X). Kinko's opens at 9, at 9:01 the drive was in a new super printer (That copies and punches binder holes $20 for 218 pages). At 9:08, I was on the way back to Yountville. The day was SAVED!
-----------------
NOW, LET'S DISCUSS SANDISK.
What had happened that got the new drive standing in the corner; was not the dowloading onto the PC of the 'signature' file that alerts Windows XP that new hardware had been detected. That was fine, but I had seen a new screen appear with two folders. Without thinking of the awful possibilities, I had opened one folder then the other. Strange things began to happen! ABORT! YANK! DROP! Run for the pickup!
Nothing like that had happened in 18 months of moving files around on the old Flash Drive. What I had seen was a lightning quick installation of some folders and some auxiliary software that was not expected. After some research, including the Manufacturers Website and a half dozen Epinions, the problem became a bit clearer.
DESCRIPTION
SanDisk Cruzer Micro USB Flash Drive "Take your files Plus U3 Compatible
PC Programs with you wherever you go."
INCLUDES:
~SKYPE (Trial) - Make Video or Voice calls from PC to PC
~Cruzer Sync Easily and securely synchronize you files and Outlook for access on any PC
~SignupShield - Remember one master password, the password manager remembers the rest
~Avast!, antivirus. Protect your PC USB files.
~For a complete list of U3 compatible PC programs go to www.u3.com
U3 Programs not supported on any version of Mac
U3 Programs can be deleted by formatting the drive. Undelete by downloading from the SanDisk WebSite.
On the Package (5 or 6 point):
Minimum System Requirements:
Pentium PC or Macintosh with USB Support
Windows 2000 (Me), XP, or Linux
Mac OS 9.1 , OS X v10.1.2
USB 2.0 Port (Backward Compatible with 1.1)
High power USB hub port
Model SDCZ6-2048-A10RB
(MS "ReadyBoost" ready)
Storage Capacity:
Up to 4800 photos, 480 Songs, 64 min video
These are idealistic estimates
2 Year Warranty
PasteOver Stickers:
Enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost
McAfee antivirus (30 Day Trial) included
instead of AVAST! antivirus
PHYSICAL:
2.75" Long extended or with cap, 7/8" Wide, 3/8" Thick
COMMENTS
Noting other Epinionators' concerns about dirt getting into the USB Port end (which is always open), I simply swiped the cap from our Brand "X" Device. Works fine and keeps stuff out of that connector. I had thought a retracted connector was desirable but my pockets do collect lint, sand, leaves, gravel, etc.
I like the folder for Files - Sub-folders for Documents, Photos, Music, Downloads, etc are a good idea but can delay things while user searches for the right place.
The U3 Stuff smacks of merchantilism, who needs this stuff? Passwords are dangerous, the idea of having another password manager frightens me. This device is ultra-portable and ultra-losable so memorize a password if you want to use one. Don't leave a track for a hack. Password Caches are easy for hackers to find. (Want Windows to remember your password?)
Overall, the Cruzer is a very handy device that really does not need to offer any more 'useful' files or software. This kind of sneak attack is clever but why gum up a good idea?
1. ... after a death struggle. Lesson learned, file management is crucial. DO NOT drag and drop, DO select, right click in the selected files, select COPY. Then point at the target drive ("F" in this case), RIGHT CLICK, select PASTE, the result will be infinitely better.
In VISTA, there was no taskbar where one could find the copy command. It is hidden, after a file is selected and highlighted, a right click on that selection opens a menu of options including Delete, Move and Copy.
2. Hey, how can I tell how much I have selected"
There is no cumulative file size total on the screen. Down at the bottom, a folder icon begins to keep count of the number of files you want to manage. Right-Clicking there on that Icon opens a menu, the bottom line of which is "Properties". The total cumulative file size is displayed. Thus, I found that the Cruzer would only accept 1.75GB Maximum. That right click trick can be used over in the Directory Lists as well. I like this feature.
3. The disaster precipitated by my "Drag & Drop" routine scared me more than somewhat - It was really "Drag & Drop Dead from Cardiac Arrest". I thought bad thoughts for a while but remembered a Backup DVD I had prepared some time ago. It was a long shot but I tried to see if the missing folders had made it and I was delighted to see that they had. Recovery is convoluted because the files are *.zip ones. Actually, the list of Folders and their contents could be "unzipped" but not to worry - at the bottom of every folder was a strange one that implied "Recover by Pressing Here". A new menu appears, prompting for what files to recover and what backup you want examined, etc. There were about 25 folders, some eleven were exterminated. Picasa and MS play tricks on the "Date Modified" data and I could not decipher which ones I wanted. Vista will only process one folder at a time, so, I finally went back up to the top level folder; which would allow in a single pass corrections for all files in the Sub-Folders.
Reasoning that if a duplication resulted, I would get to vote so I went for it. Prompts for discovery of a duplicate file reassured me that this was the proper protocol. The prompt file asks if the new one should overwrite the old, leave the old one alone, or BOTH old and new should be kept. I chose the second alternative and that proved satisfactory. Vista took about 15 minutes to restore.
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