Sony intros family of tiny thumbnail drives

[Bob Crabtree]

Sony Europe is set to introduce what's possibly the world's smallest 2GB thumbstick drive, the MICRO VAULT Tiny. It's 14.5x30mm, weighs 1.5g and has the largest-capacity in a four-strong range.

Quite why anyone would want a drive almost small enough to be eaten by a hypochondriac along with a handful of pills we're not sure. And Sony rather spoils any arguments it might make by its need to supply a rubber carrying case fitted with with a clip and strap for "safe transport" - something that bangs up the overall size considerably.

More in this HEXUS.headline.

[Fat Gat]

Ha! Noooooooooooooooo, I well don't believe that these are targeted at women, never in a million years could you believe that.... Oh hang on, I've just opened my eyes

[ca197]

Havent PQI and OCZ had drives this small for a while?

http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?o...1&limitstart=1
http://www.pqimemory.com/products_IT.asp

[howardan]

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[Bob Crabtree]

Havent PQI and OCZ had drives this small for a while?

http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?o...1&limitstart=1
http://www.pqimemory.com/products_IT.asp

Haven't your read the article?

The Sony products are smaller. But, as the piece says,

Sony appears merely to have taken the lead in a quest that others have already embarked on.

[Funkstar]

Just thought i would add, these are smaller than MemoryStick Duo cards. Same length but about 5mm narrower.

[Lee H]

If these flash storage devices get any smaller we'll all be loosing them on a regular basis. Hmm.... *strokes chin* maybe that's their plan in that People buy them, use them and get used to using them, then loose them and then buy more.

[lost eden]

Pah, that's HUGE compared to the iDisk Diamond.

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news...+your+ear.html

[chrestomanci]

Havent PQI and OCZ had drives this small for a while?

http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?o...1&limitstart=1
http://www.pqimemory.com/products_IT.asp

That OCZ minature pen drive looks very cool and worth having. According to the PlanetX64 review, the 1Gb version is avalable for €22.22 (About £18)

Is there any chance that Scan could get some in? At that price I would buy one, as it would be very easy to carry.

[Bob Crabtree]

Pah, that's HUGE compared to the iDisk Diamond.

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news...+your+ear.html

But look at the capacities - the Sony range goes up to 2GB and all the story says is that it's the smallest 2GB thumbdrive.

What possible use is there, today, for a 128MB?

And, I really do mean that - 1GB in my view is the minimum anyone should buy - okay, not necessarily if you MUST have ultra-small, because pricing is still a bit silly for these models.

However, the real question, surely, isn't whether or not Sony has the smallest of all USB thumbstick drives?

It's why would you want something this small and easy to lose? And who'd be willing to pay out for the pleasure when more practical bigger-capacity drives are available so cheaply?

And, it's so small that Sony feels it necessary to wrap it up in a rubber travel case and hasn't left room on the drive itself for a lanyard.

D'oh!

[stud]

I've had the PQI "Intelligent Stick" for years. First the USB1.0 type, which is purple. Then a USB2.0 128mb version, then a 256mb version, which I still have. It fits behind my photo ID in my wallet, so it's always there with me, but adds no noticeable bulk.

I've been looking for a replacement 1GB type - Kingmax do a white one that looks v similar, but the read/write speeds are very average. I expect Sony have better speeds, but won't be able to match the £18 for the Kingmax I've seen.

I personally love these small things, far better for me than one of those chunky plastic ones.

[Lakeuk]

I got one of these http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/92574 small beasts at xmas, bought because it was so small and wanted a usb drive that I could put a standalone webserver (apache, php, mysql etc..) to develop on any pc without having to install anything.

I attached it to my car keys and kept it in my pocket but it only lasted a few weeks, I suspect the static build up in my trousers fried by usb drive - this has put me of buying another for the moment and I'm sticking with drive that has a cap to cover the usb connector and avoid static

[herulach]

microdirect carry the ocz one, i got the gf one to attach to the inside of her purse, that way it doesnt get lost

[5lab]

its not much smaller than microsd is it?


actually, microsd - 11x15x1mm is a fair whack smaller. and i've had a gig card for a while. bet its much cheaper than sony ones too

[xbo]

its not much smaller than microsd is it?


actually, microsd - 11x15x1mm is a fair whack smaller. and i've had a gig card for a while. bet its much cheaper than sony ones too

Only goes up to 1GB though

[herulach]

its not much smaller than microsd is it?


actually, microsd - 11x15x1mm is a fair whack smaller. and i've had a gig card for a while. bet its much cheaper than sony ones too

and you cant plug micro sd straight into a usb slot