Kreisen KR-321T 32" Widescreen Flat-Panel HDTV-Ready LCD TV

Average customer rating:

Buyer Beware!

Encross/Kreisen BEWARE: TERRIBLE WARRANTY SERVICE

If you are looking for an HDTV LCD, look no further...

Encross/Kreisen BEWARE: TERRIBLE WARRANTY SERVICE

A true Kreisen fan

Kreisen KR-321T 32" Widescreen Flat-Panel HDTV-Ready LCD TV

Manufacturer: Kreisen
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

TVs | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
By Size | TVs & HDTVs | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
All Flat-Panel TVs | Flat-Panel TVs | TVs & HDTVs | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
All Flat-Panel LCD TVs | Flat-Panel LCD TVs | Flat-Panel TVs | TVs & HDTVs | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
All HDTVs | HDTVs | TVs & HDTVs | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Accessories:

Sylvania 6900DTE ATSC/HDTV Broadcast Set-Top Box Receiver

Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD

Samsung DVD-HD841 Up-Converting DVD Player

RCA DRC8300N DVD Player/Recorder and VCR Combo

RhinoMounts Tilting Mount for 26-42" TV's - FPM-2100S

Product Features:

HD-Ready: HDTV Monitor. You'll need to add an HDTV tuner (through DIRECTV, DISH Network, cable box or an off-air HDTV receiver) to receive an HD signal

Aspect ratios of 16: 9, 14: 9, 4: 3, 1: 1

Stereo sound and 5 sound status memory modes (Flat, Music, Movie, Speech, User)

Includes stand and remote control

22-2/5Hx6-3/4Wx37-2/5L"

ASIN: B0007XV5KO

Product Description

Encross Enterprise focuses on top-quality consumer electronics products in digital video, digital audio and other high-technology products.PRODUCT FEATURES:3D Comb Filter;PIP (Picture in Picture);PC-DVI;Aspect Ratio : 16:9, 14:9, 4:3, 1:1;DVD-IN, AV-IN &OUT, S-VIDEO IN, PC-IN, H/P OUT;WXGA (1366 x 768) LG Philips LCD Panel.

Customer Reviews:

Buyer Beware!.......2006-02-11

If you need service on your TV, you will be in trouble. They do not answer their phones and do not respond to emails.

I purchased a 32" Syntax/Olevia LCD and the Kreisen at the same time and for the same price. The Syntax is so much better in terms of quality and performance. There is only basic a/v connections, the remote is horrible and the picture is really bad.

Most important is no service after your purchase. Maybe they have gone out of business???

For the money, I would purchase the Syntax/Olevia.

Encross/Kreisen BEWARE: TERRIBLE WARRANTY SERVICE.......2006-01-06

I began to have a serious problem (no audio) with my KREISEN DVR-530C a few
months after purchase. I e-mailed warranty service at Encross and shipped it
to them at MY EXPENSE ($20) on November 12, 2005.

On November 17, 2005 Encross wrote: "We received your DVR yesterday, and we
will probably be testing it out this afternoon or tomorrow. We'll get it back
to you as soon as possible."

On November 28, 2005 I wrote: "Did you test my DVR?"

On November 29, 2005 Encross wrote: "Yes, we tested your DVR and found it
definitely had a problem. We will be sending you a replacement in the next
couple days."

On December 11, 2005 I wrote: "I have no new information from you since
November 29. When could I expect to receive my DVR back?"

On December 12, 2005 Encross wrote: "Our repair center has it, and is working
on it (along with many others). We hope to get it back this week, and will send
it to you as soon as we can."

On December 18, 2005 I wrote: "You received my DVR for repair/replacement
more than a month ago and it seems that I have no chance to get it back
before Christmas. I will write customer reviews about the Encross/Kreisen
bottom quality and the worst warranty service."

On December 20, 2005 Encross wrote: "We've had some problems getting parts
from Korea. We are hoping to get your player back this week...

January 5, 2006 - I still did not get my DVR back...

THINK WELL before buying any Encross/Kreisen products........

If you are looking for an HDTV LCD, look no further..........2005-09-28

I saw an interesting commercial the other day on TV for Circuit City about a guy who's looking to buy a television set but doesn't know which one to get. It starts out with him saying that there is a lot of acronyms around these days, like HDTV, EDTV, etc. and one can easily get confused and end up with NO TV. I thought that was pretty funny, but I also know that it's right - technology goes forward at such a pace, that it is impossible for an average person to keep up with it. I am not going to give you a lecture here, but I do want to explain a few things first (you can skip them and go directly to Pros and Cons list if you already know all of this) before I get to the actual rating of the product:

1. HDTV vs EDTV - High Definition TV versus Enhanced Definition TV. What is the difference here one might ask? Well, regular, or standard output of the television set is 480 lines. It's sometimes referred to as 480i, where "i" stands for interlacing, meaning that every frame of video is split into two fields and each field is shown alternately. EDTV is a step forward - it displays the same 480 lines, but at the same time, and called 480p, where "p" is for progressive. You might have heard of a term "progressive scan". This is exactly what it is. Most of the DVD players on the market these days produce progressive scan output, but your TV has to support it. EDTV does. HDTV does that, and more... HDTV is another step above. First, it increases the number of scan lines on the screen. Second, it widens the aspect ratio of the screen from the standard 4:3 which is what most televisions are today, to 16:9. The wider screen format has a more theatrical look. So, if you have a high definition cable or satellite provider; if you are planning on buying a tuner to receive free off the air high definition broadcasting; if you plan on using it for playing video games and/or use it as a computer monitor; then it is definitely worth to spend a "few" extra dollars and buy an HDTV. And if you are still thinking about "saving" money and getting an EDTV - Don't - you're going to end up getting an HDTV anyway in a couple of years.

2. LCD vs Plasma - Another "hot" topic of conversation. LCD TV's are better than Plasma TV's. Here is why:

- Better viewing angle - LCD's have 170 degree viewing angle, where as Plasma only has 160;

- Burn-in - LCD's don't suffer from pixel burn-in, Plasma TV's do. If you watch a lot of programs with a static image (like CNN Headline News, for example, where there is always a bar on the bottom of the screen) on a Plasma TV, you will have a burn-in, meaning that the pixels in that area will fade and will be of different shade and color than the other ones;

- Brightness - LCD's are brighter and display colors better. This is a known fact as well. Especially pure black and white colors are much more brighter and vivid on an LCD than Plasma. Also, if you play computer games, you will notice a difference as well;

- Product Life - LCD's have a life span of 60,000 hours. Plasma TV's between 20,000 and 30,000. Notice the difference?

- Power Consumption - LCD's consume about half the power of what Plasma TV's do. Once again, the difference is very noticeable.

I know I promised not to "lecture" you, but those are essential things to consider when choosing your TV. Now that we've determined that LCD's are better than Plasma TV's, and that HDTV is better than EDTV, let's get back to Kreisen. I am not an "impulsive" buyer by any means. Usually, I do want something right away, however, I know that if I hurry things, I'm going to end up "loosing" in the end. That is why, especially when it comes to electronics, I take my time, do my research, read reviews, compare, and ONLY then make a decision. This was also the case with Kreisen. I already knew all the stuff that I've explained here before, so I knew I was going to get an HDTV LCD, but I still didn't know which one to get. It took me about 2 months to make a final decision. So, why did I get Kreisen 321T and why do I recommend it to other people? Let me try explain. I hope my Pros and Cons list will be helpful and will help someone else to make the right choice.

PROS:
Price - Go ahead, I dare you to find a cheaper one with the same specifications.

Design - Very smooth. Has both silver and black colors, which coordinates nicely with any piece of furniture. It's also nice to have speakers on the sides, and not at the bottom like some other TV's.

Specifications - I've already mentioned that it's going to be hard, if not impossible, to find a cheaper TV with the same specifications. So, what does make Kreisen stand above the competition? Contrast ratio of 1200:1. Response time of 8ms. Resolution of 1366 x 768. Do I need to say more?

Display/Colors - It is a known fact that the leading manufacturer of video equipment is Sony. However, in the past couple of years, Samsung and Philips became leading manufacturers in the LCD industry. I'm not telling you to take my word for it. Do your own research if you don't believe me. Sony LCD's are good, but they are not as good as Samsung and/or Philips, and they cost twice as much. You might want to ask what is the relevance of all this information. Well, Kreisen uses both Samsung and Philips panels. If you check, the model 320T uses Samsung, and the 321T uses Philips. In my opinion, Philips is slightly better (check the specifications for both models), and after doing some research, I found out that Philips is significantly better than Samsung displaying black and white colors. I can't talk for 320T model, but I can say that the colors on my TV are simply brilliant. The picture is crystal clear. The colors are so vivid, it's almost unreal. I hooked up a DVD player to it to watch Lion King with my daughter, and I was absolutely blown away. Truly amazing experience.

CONS:
At first, I was going to say that there are no Cons for this TV. However, there is one thing that I find somewhat annoying - input selection. For example, after I watched a DVD, and want to switch to a regular cable broadcasting, it takes 5 clicks of a button on the remote control to do that. And, there is a delay between every input, so it takes about 10 seconds to achieve the desired goal. Not a big deal, but I think it's something Kreisen should address in future LCD models. A friend of mine has a 37" Syntax Olevia HDTV LCD, and I love the way you can select input on it. You press the button, the list of available inputs pops-up, and you just navigate to the one you want. Very cool. But overall, I still like my Kreisen better.

Summary:
Besides minor annoyance explained above, I would still recommend this TV to anyone. Great picture quality, nice design, and unbeatable price make this TV a perfect buy.

Encross/Kreisen BEWARE: TERRIBLE WARRANTY SERVICE.......2005-09-06

I purchased this TV in March and began to have a serious video problem with it only a couple of months later. Whenever I use the AV1or AV2 inputs (including the S-Video input) the screen turns all green and I get a humming noise from the speakers. It works fine with the HD/component input. I contacted customer service at Encross and spoke to a "Sang" who told me he'd call me back with an RMA number. I never heard from him again. I have e-mailed and called and left several messages, but not not heard back from anyone for over two months.
It's a decent TV, but don't expect any support from them!

A true Kreisen fan.......2005-05-13

This is my second Kreisen which I have had for over three months now and am still very pleased with it (I also bought a KR-270T 27" Flat Screen in November 2004). While the KR-270T is a fabulous piece of equipment, I had this weird desire to own a 32" LCD TV to watch movies (my main reason for owning a large flat panel TV). While the 27" Kreisen is fantastic for my house, this gives a few extra inches that make watching wide screen movies worth it. The quality is fabulous at the price: It's a Philips LCD Panel (I thought I saw it was an LG/Philips LCD screen). That in itself should tell you what a value this is comparing specifications and prices between big name brands since I am sure you will hear more of Kreisen. Watch a good special effects film on this (e.g., "the Incredibles", "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Independence Day", or similar title) and you will have a fabulous experience. As I said in my other review for the KR-270T, Don't take my word for it, go to a Microcentre store and see the Kreisen line "in person". You'll find that they are indeed a super value for the money. Toss in a good AV Receiver with Surround capability for a fantastic home theatre system. While the tuner section is useless in Centre City Philadelphia (need cable or satellite), the Kreisen's tuners work well outside of the city.

Product Description

Think of the Linksys Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports as a kind of "splitter" for your Internet connection. Just connect your DSL or Cable Modem to the Router, and all the computers in your home or office can share the Internet - all at the same time. The built-in 4-port switch lets you attach four local PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches as your network grows. Once your computers are connected to the Internet through the Router, they can communicate with each other too, sharing resources and files. All your computers can print on a shared printer connected anywhere in the home. And you can share all kinds of files between computers - music, digital pictures, and other documents. The two standard telephone jacks on the Router enable high-quality feature-rich telephone service through your high-speed connection even while you're surfing the Internet. Each phone jack operates independently - like having two phone lines. And keep one phone number for life, regardless of where you move. It's all easier than you think - the included Setup Wizard takes you through configuring the Router, step by step. The Router can act as a DHCP server for your network, so your PCs are configured automatically. Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) lets specialized Internet applications configure the Router so you don't have to. Built-in NAT technology helps keep intruders out of your computers. With the Linksys Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports at the heart of your home network, you don't need to be a networking genius to share high-speed Internet, printers and files, and turn your Internet connection into a high-quality, high-value AT&T voice service.

Average customer rating:

rotten customer service

CDRW DRIVE 40X/12X/48X EIDE W/

Manufacturer: BUSLINK
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Internal Drives | CD-RW Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
ASIN: B00006BAJD

Product Description

BUSlink's CD-Rewritable Drive allows you to write and rewrite data files. To record your favorite music CD, to copy other CDs, and to backup your important files with unsurpassed reliability, do it all, with BUSlink's CD-Rewritable Drive.

Customer Reviews:

rotten customer service.......2003-02-26

Do not buy a Buslink product unless you know you will never need customer support. They do not return e-mail, they have internimable phone hold times and they are unfeeling, unhelpful and cold in their enforcement of the letter of the law. Choose another company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PS I told them I was going to post my feelings all over the internet and they still didn't care.

Product Description

Stylish and sleek the BenQ LCD range of monitors makes no sacrifices on quality while using only a third of the space. BenQ develops their own TFT technology and their LCD monitors are prized for their vivid colors, multimedia functions and ability to reduce user stress and strain.FP882 has a large viewable size of 18.1 inches, which is suitable for professional and high-end users, while having a wide view angle 80/80/80/80 (left/right/up/down). The brightness of BenQ FP882 is 250 cd/m2 and the contrast ratio is 350: 1. It can process both analog RGB input signal and digital DVI-D signal, and support up to 16.7 million colors. The maximum resolution is 1280 x 1024 with 0.2805 mm pixel pitch. With regard to refresh rate, BenQ FP882 is able to support up to 75Hz from 56Hz. The display offers 22 preset timings to ensure the compatibility with every kind of VGA card output.

Product Description

The SmartSwitch 2200 is a high-performance 10/100 Fast Ethernet switch that provides 24 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports via RJ45 interfaces and one VHSIM slot. It is ideal for workgroup environments requiring up to 24 ports of 10/100 switching as well as integrated connectivity to high-speed backbone technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet or ATM. The switch provides the ability to implement a high-density 10/100 workgroup solution with a feature set that is characteristic of a data center switch. Built-in features include full RMON, port trunking, port mirroring and redundant power. In addition to high density and advanced features, the SmartSwitch 2200 Fast Ethernet switch provides the flexibility of a high-speed uplink for either local servers or for a connection to a high-speed backbone using an optional VHSIM. The VHSIM slot can be populated with a large variety of technologies including switched Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-SX/LX/CX) using the VHSIM-G, or ATM, FDDI, Fast Ethernet or WAN using an HSIM. The physical media type (MMF, SMF) within the VHSIM/HSIM is also user-configurable, according to type of Port Interface Module (PIM) used. VHSIM slots accept VHSIMs as well as HSIMs, ensuring investment protection for uplink modules purchased in the past.

Cabletron 24 Port 10/100 Switching Modl F/ Smartswitch 6000 Via 2-RJ21 Port

Average customer rating:

Cabletron 24 Port 10/100 Switching Modl F/ Smartswitch 6000 Via 2-RJ21 Port

Manufacturer: Cabletron
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Product Description

SmartSwitch 6000 platform and modules have been designed to meet the demands for greater bandwidth in a scaleable system, both economically, and with no single point of failure. The SmartSwitch 6000 offers a comprehensive line of Fast Ethernet options that fulfill any performance and connectivity requirement. This inherent flexibility simplifies wiring closet design and configuration while ensuring a high level of network performance. All of the available modules offer the same set of advanced features, including support for the award-winning SecureFast Network Services, integrated high-speed backbone connectivity, and per-port 10/100 auto-negotiation services. The SmartSwitch 6000 provides the industry's most affordable, feature-rich, and high performance solution for migrating toward 100Base-T connectivity in the wiring closet.

Enterasys 2H253-25R 24-Port 100Mbps Ethernet Switch

Average customer rating:

Enterasys 2H253-25R 24-Port 100Mbps Ethernet Switch

Manufacturer: Cabletron Systems
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Product Description

Average customer rating:

good product, crap headphones

Obsolete

Creative MuVo Slim 256 MB MP3 Player Light Blue

Manufacturer: Creative Labs
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

MP3 Players | Portable Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
128 MB to 512 MB | Flash Drive-Based | MP3 Players | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Similar Items:

Creative MuVo Slim 256 MB MP3 Player Black

Product Features:

256MB holds up to 8 hours WMA or 4 hours MP3 music

Stores data files such as photos and presentations (256MB: Equivalent of 176 floppies)

Built-in FM and FM recorder with 32 presets

Removable Li-ion battery recharges via USB - upto 17hrs* of continuous playtime

Mass storage class - simple drag-and-drop music and data file transfer

ASIN: B00067DUBI

Product Description

MuVo Slim is a stylishly sleek digital music player. The super slim profile means you can slip it neatly into your pocket, briefcase or purse and enjoy up to 8hrs of music wherever you go. And, with a built-in FM tuner you can also enjoy and record all your favorite radio shows on-the-go. MuVo Slim also works as a personal voice recorder, using a built-in mic for recording up to 16 hours of those all important notes or conversations. Being a mass storage device, MuVo Slim is so easy to use - no drivers or software are needed to get started. Just plug it in and simply drag and drop your files between MuVo Slim and your PC or notebook. Whats more, its removable Li-ion battery recharges via the USB port, so you'll never need batteries again or if you want, carry a spare to extend your play time.

Amazon.com Product Description

About the size of a credit card and just over 1.5 ounces, the light blue Creative MuVo Slim digital audio player is compatible with both MP3 and WMA files and has a built-in FM radio and voice recorder. The 256 MB memory will store up to eight hours of WMA files at 64 kbps or up to four hours of MP3 music at 128 kbps. With super-fast USB 2.0 connectivity and simple drag-and-drop transfer without software, the MuVo Slim accepts music files as quickly as a song per second. The 256 MB model comes in light blue, black, pink, silver, and dark blue.

With built-in support for Windows Media Player 9 Series, the MuVo Slim offers compatibility with a wide range of popular music services, including Best Buy MusicNow, Buy Music, Musicmatch, and Napster.

The MuVo Slim features an FM radio with 32 presets, plus FM recording capabilities to record favorite radio shows or songs. With the built-in microphone, the MuVo Slim can record up to 16 hours of voice recording, from important meetings to reminders to yourself. You can customize playback with a five-band graphic equalizer with four equalization presets, as well as environmental settings for pop, rock, jazz, or classical.

The removable battery is rechargeable via the player's USB connection, providing up to 17 hours of continuous playtime. The 132 x 32-pixel blue backlit LCD displays file information, and you can scroll through folders, playlists, or individual songs.

What's in the Box
This package includes the 256 MB MuVo Slim (light blue) digital audio player, neodymium earphones, carrying case, and CD-ROM with Creative MediaSource music management software. MediaSource is an easy-to-use application for ripping CDs, organizing entire digital music collections, and easily transferring MP3 and WMA files.

Choose your music. Choose your device. Know it's going to work.
Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure.
The PlaysForSure logo makes it easy to find digital media stores and devices that work together. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including CinemaNow, MSN Music, Musicmatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
Look for the PlaysForSure logo on a wide variety of devices, including portable music devices, portable video devices, digital audio receivers, Pocket PCs, and Smartphones.

The checkmarks indicate if the device is capable of playing back audio and video that's been downloaded from an online store. Additionally, some devices can play back media that has been purchased through an online store that offers subscriptions or rentals.

Customer Reviews:

good product, crap headphones.......2007-06-07

Although I like the product overall, I'm frustrated with the useless nickel-sized ear buds. They are very uncomfortable and do not stay in place. If you buy this product, get a pair of ear buds as well

Obsolete.......2007-03-07

If this was 2002, I'd say "go for it", but today... I must say "don't bother" -- this thing is small and thin, but the interface sucks, and is waaaay out of date. Not to mention 256 Megs is nothing in today's world. Get an iPod or a comperable mp3 player that is more current technology. This thing deserves to have "Hello Kitty" stickers placed on it, and be marketed to kids.

Customer Reviews:

Cheap Phone Beware.......2003-12-02

I purchased this phone. It malfunctions often. Many of the number keys do not work. The sound quality is bad. Batery life is very short. If you do buy this phone make sure you have a backup phone; becaues it malfunctions often. The answerning machine recording quality is very poor. Your callers may not leave a message because they can not understand your message. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT BUY this phone from Columbia Telecommunication Group.

Average customer rating:

Does the job, cheap and easy!

The age of "Star Trek" type storage is here

CD Cyclone 256 MB Flash Key USB Pen Drive Storage Device

Manufacturer: CD Cyclone
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

256 MB | USB Flash Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
Accessories:

Targus PAUH212U 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub

Targus PAUH217U 4 Port Ultra Mini USB 2.0 Hub

Product Features:

Plugs into a standard USB port and requires NO software

Ideal for quickly transferring files from a laptop to a desktop or vice versa

About 3 inches long and less than half the width of a business card

Works with almost any OS: Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98, and MacOS 9

ASIN: B00007IFK2

Product Description

The Cyclone Flash Key transfers data instantaneously and recognizes immediately as another drive. It has no moving parts. Drop it into your pocket or toss it to a friend. The Cyclone Flash Key plugs into a standard USB port and requires no software. It is ideal for quickly transferring files from a laptop to a desktop or vice versa and is perfect for any file format.

Customer Reviews:

Does the job, cheap and easy!.......2004-08-01

I have an older (4 years) Dell 7500 laptop running Win 98. I wanted a flash drive to use as a cheap and easy way to do backup because I have no r/w drive. All my s/w is licensed so all I was really concerned about was backing up Word, Excel and email files. My main concern from researching many of these devices was price, durability and the ability to work with my older and slower USB port.

This product had a nice price point for the memory size, 256 meg. The 128 sized drives out there are about 40% cheaper than the 256's, but I think the doubled size is worth the extra $20-$30. The larger drives are at a premium right now with the 512 meg drives going for more than double the 256er's, and larger storage jumping even higher. It was not worth it to me. I'm sure in a year or two, even multi-gigabyte sized flash drives will be available for cheap, but I wanted it now.

Next, I was a little concerned about this brand; I'd never heard of CD Cyclone. I did a little research though, and they seemed like a reasonably dependable company.

Finally, some of the newer model flash drives gave me some concern about compatibility with my older system and USB ports.

Amazon had the best price when I factored in their free shipping program. The product arrived sooner than promised; the free shipping is supposed to take 6-9 business days and I got it in about 5 days overall.

The product comes in sparse packaging with minimal documentation, the drive itself, a necklace cord, and a USB cable. Nothing else like a CD. The drive looks pretty cool, and weighs next to nothing. I popped open the cap to check that there was SOMETHING inside. (There was!)

The documentation says that newer operating systems than mine will do plug-and-play, but Win98 required downloading a small file (a driver, I guess) and rebooting before the device will be recognized. After installing the file and rebooting, it was plug-and-play instantly.

Using the drive from that point was extremely easy. It showed up on My Computer as the "E" drive, and all I had to do was drag the files I wanted onto it. It took about 30 seconds to copy about 80 megs of files. It couldn't have been simpler. Later I took the Flash Drive to a friend's computer running Win 2000, popped the drive in a USB slot, and was instantly able to read my backed up files.

It feels good knowing that if my older laptop dies or the disc crashes, I've got my files safely backed up. This was cheap and easy peace of mind.

The age of "Star Trek" type storage is here.......2003-02-02

Specifications: Like most "USB ram drives" this device is the size of the average disposable lighter and about as heavy. The interface is USB version 1.1, which means that you can expect a transfer rate of about 1.5MB a second. The ram configuration is static, which means that you cannot upgrade the drive for greater memory capacity. The drive is plug n play for Windows ME, 2000 and XP only. Other operating systems will need a driver update.

Performance: Plugging this drive into the USB port of my computer, the drive was instantly recognized and installed. Within "MY COMPUTER" it was listed as a removable drive for ME, 2000 and XP. I have not tried any other OS.

There is no special formatting necessary to get the drive to work with Windows operating systems. These drives behave as any other hard drive. Files can be written and deleted with simple drag and drop actions. Copying enough files to fill the entire 256MB of this drive took about 5 minutes, as expected.

Quality and Fit: These drives are small enough to put into your pocket, and easy to misplace as well. All manufactures offer some way secure the device to a tether and wear around the neck or on a key chain. Unfortunately, the case these devices come in are often flimsy and will likely wear out and break eventually, exposing the ram and board inside to the elements. Additionally, The cap that protects the USB connector will likely be lost within a couple of weeks. Again, this exposes the device to the elements and limits the mobility characteristics.

This drive is small enough to fit into a USB interface without an additional cable extension, though one is provided. It is a tight fit when there is another USB device next to it though.

Other issues: Because not all computers have Windows ME and up installed on them, you will need to take the driver CD with you when you take your "ram drive" out to remote locations.

It is sometimes inconvienent to plug the ram drive into USB Ports on the back of a computer. A front USB port on a computer is a welcome site.

Because the drive uses the USB 1.1 interface, the read and write speed is limited. Other drives use the USB 2.0 standard and can read and write data much faster. Above 256 Megs this becomes relevant.

Other drives have the ability to change out multiple ram cards to make the USB drive truly flexible. Those drives tend to be twice the size however.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

-Does everything it should do, and fills an important void in computer storage
-Very Small and convenient for transport
-USB interface available on most all computers made within the last 5 years
-All recent computers use ME and above for a OS (USB Plug N Play)
-About a million read/write operations before the ram fails

Cons:

-Small size makes it easy to lose
-Cost is still too high for mass adoption
-Need to carry around drivers for older or special OS
-Flimsy case will not likely last long
-Write times not as fast as USB 2.0 (1GB = 20 MIN)

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics