Kanguru's Fire Flash: First FireWire Flash memory drives?
By Peter Rojas 
posted September 15th 2004 8:31AM
posted September 15th 2004 8:31AM
That USB Flash keydrive you've been using? Apparently those are totally over. We're starting to wonder what was
wrong with us that it never once occurred to us that with all those gazillions of USB keychain Flash drives out there
that somebody could also make a keychain that worked with FireWire. Then again, apparently nobody else did either,
since Kanguru has only just now rolled out what they claim is the world's first line of FireWire Flash memory drives.
Maybe not quite so critical now that there are speedier USB 2.0 versions out there, but the Fire Flash comes in sizes
ranging from 128MB all the way up to 1GB and is plug-and-play, just like the USB ones.
[Via Tech Digest]
"We’re starting to wonder what was wrong with us that it never once occurred to us that with all those gazillions of USB keychain Flash drives ut there that somebody could also make a keychain that worked with FireWire."
One huge reason that USB flash drives are so useful is that you can plug them into everything (i.e. all computers have a USB port). You can only plug a firewire based one into a computer that has firewire, which I think will kill the thing off.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope all the gadgeteers who love and own Apple computers (like myself) and hence live 24/7 in the firewire world all go out and buy one.
I'm still waiting for more digital cameras (and other products) to come out with firewire ports built in - so far they've only really taken off in videocameras.
Kap
P.S. Now here's an idea (don't know if it's possible): a stick with two ends - firewire on one and USB2.0 on the other.
esp. useful for those computer users who have USB1.1 and firewire ports on their computer(s)
The biggest thing I saw that the firewire based drives have over usb is with windows 98se and ME, there are no drivers needed at all. This will help for tech people that still ahve to support older units. They won't have to go through the hassle of loading the drivers on to each machine.
About two years ago wiebetech had a keychain that was firewire based. and had up to 1 gb storage. so actually this isn't actually the first. http://www.wiebetech.com
unfortunately they no longer sell it.
also one of the huge advatages for mac owners is that firewire drives like this are bootable
I will say they are not the first to create the FireWire Flash Drive but may be close in being a few to commercially market the device. I heard of it almost 3 years ago but it was only intended for bulk resellers and carried a huge volume purchase to aquire. I guess that is now water under the bridge.
Mac Users should be head over heels about the device but it seems to carry a premium price point over the USB counter part. Mini FW HD based drives just offer more bang for the buck.
Humm... Now I wonder how much will change with the recent NAND developments that seemed to just recently come into play. 4GB and 8GB seem to be a contender. I guess just warch out for it. ; - )