iDisk Diamond, so small USB

What with MicroSD cards, it's not like a device of this size should blow any minds — in fact, to our jaded selves, even a USB port-sized USB flash drive is still starting to seem a little big. Ok, we give the peeps at Solid Alliance / Pretec credit for their iDisk Diamond, but c'mon, internal USB circuitry or no, if MicroSD can do 512, this thing should be able to do more than 128MB.

[Via Akihabara News]

[billflu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Is this the recommended way of storing it?

http://www.solidalliance.com/press/img/iDiskD33_90x120w.jpg

[flave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

wow that is small. However PQI have had a similarly tiny 1GB for over a year and they are very cheap on ebuyer.
http://www.pqi1st.com/products/istick.asp

[NekoTsukimi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I'm screwed if I would ever let that thing fall into a bag of chips XD

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How bout one that goes all the way in and nothing sticks out but a string to remove it. Just for kicks, you could put a red led on it that stays lit for a few seconds after you pull it out. It could be the iPon.

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Smaller please! I want to lose it in my pocket easily. Besides, carrying a pair of usb needle nose pliers is more nerdy than just carrying my usb flash stick.

[Kurt Ramsauer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I wish camera makers (and cell phones, pdas, etc.) would use this type of memory. Unfortunately it never caught on.

[t0dd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

flave: the PQI one is way bigger - at least twice the length. Personally I would like one of these in 1GB. It looks sturdy. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1740035,00.asp

[Elias @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I can't believe you guys didn't post this image:

http://www.solidalliance.com/press/img/iDiskD33_90x120w.jpg

Captioned: "It enters the ear, it is small."

-- Elias

[Ethan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

t0dd: yeah, it's bigger, but how small do they need to be? The PQI I-stick is high capacity, cheap, and thin enough to fit in the (included) wallet holder. The Lexar product you linked to is more than double the thickness of the I-stick, which makes it quite hard to fit in the wallet. This new device is small enough to lose easily, and isn't very high capacity. But then, it's a personal preference world, so to each his/her own!

Link to the PQI I-stick (1GB version):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820214009

(I bought the 512MB version about a year ago for more than that price, and it's still one of the cheapest USB sticks available on Newegg.)

[Jon Rosen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Transflash memory already has greater capacities. All you would need is a USB adapter. Who needs yet another memory format. Creating non-compatible memory devices is Sony's job, anyway.

[Kyran @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I don't see how a USB memory device can be considered "non-compatible" since practically half the new devices use smaller and smaller memory cards anyway. At least you could stick these in a USB port with some level of success.

I just wish camera and cell phone makers would utilize formats like this (they could always up the capacity if there's a market for it). It would save a lot of headaches, but Lexar's UFC didn't get anywhere.

[Rory Bigger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I think Pretec has actually been selling this for over a year now.

[Kyran @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

After taking a closer look, I noticed the price for this bitty 128mg guy is at �4980. That's like 40-45 USD! I'll stick with my Cruzer Micro if it ain't goin' into a phone, anyway.

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

It's not a thumb drive, it's a thumbNAIL drive.

[Nizam Rahman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

#4: Haha I'd want the iPon.

[capwkidd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The iStick is small enough to keep in your wallet, no probs, anyone have measurements for all theses tiny "thumb" drives?

[capwkidd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The iStick is small enough to keep in your wallet, no probs, anyone have measurements for all theses tiny "thumb" drives?

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

MicroSD = Transflash
They are used in cell phones. [ie. (my) Motorola E815]

[CapWKidd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Answered my own question:

Lexar
12mm x 4.5mm x 31.75mm

iDisk
27mm x 12mm x 1.9mm

iStick
33mm x 18mm x 2.8mm

So, the iDisk is smallest...

[Ron Krauter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

"USB key with 128Mb of memory seems to be the IDEAL thing to lose all the time"

??