Transcend Jetflash 110 1 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive: Another Good Portable Storage Device

Author's Rating:

Pros: Good capacity, easy to use, durable

Cons: None unless being very picky: a little small and button became discolored

The Bottom Line: 
I highly recommend this flash drive for most users. It is durable, easy to use, and perfect for storing documents, some pictures, and some music.

Author's Review
For those who don’t know, I’m a flash drive junkie. I’m simply addicted to these little portable storage devices. I’m young enough that I’ve had a computer most of my life so you would think I’d just accept flash drives just as I have any other piece of technology. This isn’t the case at all and it continually amazes me that the 1.44 MB floppy disks I grew up using have been replaced with massive-capacity storage devices that rival a keychain in size.

As a flash drive enthusiast, my collection has grown to approximately fifteen of these tiny data-keepers. My Transcend Jetflash 110 1 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive is one of the later editions to my collection, having only been purchased a year ago. I purchased this drive mainly to use for school, to store documents and C++ programs for my computer science class. I also planned to use it for transporting a few pictures and audio files between my desktop and laptop when I leave my laptop at my fiance’s apartment.

Why This Flash Drive?
I purchased this flash drive because the price was right and 1 Gigabyte (GB) was a perfect capacity for what I was looking to do.

Design and Durability
This Transcend Jetflash 110 1 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive has a small, sleek design with a red exterior. This is probably one of my smallest flash drives. It is certainly the flattest. Length-wise, this flash drive is about the size of my thumb. It is extremely lightweight.

The tiny drive is a bit uncomfortable or me to hold, even with my little hands. I think it actually would have been helpful if it was a little bigger.

The USB can be extended and retracted by sliding the white button on the side. This design is far better than designs were the USB is constantly protruding from the drive, like on my 128 MB and 256 MB Cruzer minis. The design of this drive protects the USB when it is not in use, allows it to be pushed in by excessive pressure rather than being, and eliminates the need for easy-to-lose caps. I wish they had made the button black since the ridged button has collected dirt and become discolored over the last year.

This flash drive is still in very good condition, especially considering the amount of abuse it suffers. I throw the drive in my bag with little regard for its safety. My bag gets tossed around on my way to work and school. It gets tossed around my room and my fiance’s apartment; bed to desk, desk to nightstand, and an occasional drop on the floor. I don’t recommend mistreatment of the drive, but I have been impressed by its durability.

Usage
Using this drive is the exact opposite of brain surgery. It couldn’t be any easier. Simply plug it in your USB port (even if you don’t know which one that is, it’s as easy as a toddler’s toy, match up the rectangular port to the drive) and you’re done! This drive functions plug n’ play. I have only used it with Windows XP and Vista. I have experienced no problems with either operating system.

A software utility was included to partition the drive. It was very easy to use. I was able to make a second partition to separate my more important documents (resume, school schedules, etc.).
Capacity
This drive can support a little less than 1 GB (1,024 Megabytes), since some of the capacity is devoted to formatting. I found this to be sufficient for my uses. 1 GB provided plenty of space for me to store my documents, programs, and a few multimedia files. I recommend this drive for anyone with similar uses. 1 GB is over 700 times the capacity of a floppy disk. It can hold a tremendous number of documents, around 250 audio files (depending on quality and song length) and approximately 300 pictures from my 6 megapixel digital camera. Video varies so much depending on the file type and quality for me to give a semi-accurate estimate of how much 1 GB would store.

A 1 GB flash drive is all most people would need. For those looking to store mostly multimedia files, I recommend a 2 GB flash drive.

Price
At the time of purchase, I paid $29.99 for my Transcend Jetflash 110 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive. At the time it was a steal, but I’d expect it to be a bit less expensive now.