U3 thumbdrive

does anybody here have a u3 thumbdrive (well, they call it a "u3 smartdrive")? if so, have you used the software that's there? i'm curious if it's worth a flip, and i would like my thumbdrives data to be secure in case i lost it, etc. i have no idea how much you'd pay for the drive plus the software that's preinstalled, as i acquired mine for free (no i didn't steal it). basically, it was a thumbdrive for work (not my work), they gave it to someone else (another company), that party lost it, and returned this one as a replacement. the user didn't like it (u3 software interface), and i merely swapped it out with one of mine the same size and brand (at their request). anyway, i'm just curious. - sos

http://www.u3.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3

 

the software on it is useful, but if you are going to use it on your main home computer, chances are that you would already have similar (or even the same) software installed.

 

hmm, i don't have any software that is similar. i don't know if it encrypts the data (i read this from some links), or not. is there any freeware that will p/w protect data on thumbdrives, or whole folders on the hard drive(s)? i don't really have anything that's valuable (money wise), but i have stuff like pics, my resume, etc, etc, that i don't want compromised (on my thumbdrives).

i've noticed that i can't access the drive (other comps) in "my computer" by clicking it, i have to wait till the software loads, put in p/w (which i created), then it will let me access the drive. anyway, i know anything can be hacked given time. i'm just curious if worth a darn? - sos

 

the U3 drive that I had came with some kind of encryption software, i forgot what it was....

all U3 drives come with password protection, although i can imagine that it would be pretty weak

if you want to spend $100, here is a program that offers "government level encryption"
http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?ProductId=359&Selection=7

this "vault" program is free, but it only allows 10 megs of files in your "vault" space
http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?ProductId=225&Selection=1&Lang=en-US

free encryption program:
http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?ProductId=168&Selection=7&Lang=en-US

 

I have a U3 Sandisk. In summary the U3 Launchpad smart drives are like mini computers in themselves and allow you to take applications and your own computer settings on the move, not just files and documents. You can also password protect your files, play games, edit photos, browse the web, check email

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]If you want to uninstall the U3 system software, you'll have to download an uninstall program from U3, or if you have the Sandisk model, they have their own uninstaller. But think carefully before you do so as you lose all the advantages that make it a smart drive and not just a storage device.[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

They normally sell for about the same price as regular flash drives. I just saw a 1GB Sandisk U3 Smart drive on Staples.com for $14.98. Whether it has any U3-compatible programs installed other than the U3 launchpad itself, I don't know but I doubt it. As you may know, you can get software from U3.com, both freeware and not-free software.

I have the impression U3 Smart drives are not being sold as much as they were a year or so ago. The drive I mentioned above is the only U3 drive listed on Staples.com now. And, I visited the link you posted to Wikipedia and found this near the bottom of the page:

Future

Sandisk and Microsoft have recently announced a partnership to develop a new line of portable USB-based hardware. This series, currently unnamed, is expected to replace U3 by the end of 2008, making the U3 format obsolete.

 

lol, just when i run across something that i think is cool, it's fixin' to be obsolete.

speculant, thx for the links.

lev, i don't plan on removing the u3 software, as i have plenty of regular thumbdrives. i'll probably carry this one (1gb) around instead of my 4 gb.

usaveteran, thx as well, i didn't see that.

 

I use Ceedo, aka Lexar's PowerToGo.

Much better than U3, and any drive can use it.

 

Another option for running software off a flash drive is PortableApps. It's free (well, the PortableApps.com Menu is free but some of software that runs as a PortableApp is not free), and, like Ceedo, any drive can use it. However, Ceedo appears to put more emphasis on security.