Imation's -- yawn -- carabiner flash drives

Imation was once an innovative data-storage pioneer. Unfortunately, the company seems intent on destroying its credibility, releasing gimmicky flash memory products such as its "Furry Flash" drives, flash wristband, and its latest must-have product, a series of colorful flash drives on carabiner clips. They're not the first carabiner-equipped flash drives, they're certainly not the first to come in multiple hues, and they're definitely not the first designed to be "built to last" (and they don't look particularly rugged, so we have to question that one). Maybe Imation feels it has to go after the lowest-common-denominator market after such high-profile flops as its LS-120/240 high-capacity floppy drive, but at least that was an effort to innovate. These products are just attempts to get teenagers to make impulse purchases at Target, and that's hardly an innovative business strategy.

[EntropyIV @ Mar 27th 2006 10:47AM]

I don't think the flash wristband is gimmicky at all. I have one and I love it.

[Ryan Waddell @ Mar 27th 2006 10:59AM]

Innovative business strategy? No. *Profitable* business strategy? Most likely. Teenagers are stupid. Mostly.

[Andy @ Mar 27th 2006 11:06AM]

Wow Marc, that was a pretty bitter post.

I'm not interested in these drives, but they don't look THAT bad.

[Glancing Aft @ Mar 27th 2006 11:11AM]

I could definitly see a lot of use for these while I'm on my 4th or 5th pitch of a trad climb, such as, um, um...

I dono, but they don't look that bad....

[WexusNexus @ Mar 27th 2006 11:20AM]

Didn't Imation come up with some quarter-sized hard drive about two years ago? What ever happened to that thing?

[Goobimama @ Mar 27th 2006 11:21AM]

...In fact, I am very much interested in them. Wonder if I'll be able to get one in India...

[Ethan @ Mar 27th 2006 11:48AM]

Wow, I was looking at these thinking it was actually a useful form factor for a flash drive for once. Someone has a prejudicial beef with Imation!

[Peter @ Mar 27th 2006 12:01PM]

I agree with the others, I don't know what your gripe with Imation is. Unless these are 64 Meg drives, they seem pretty useful to me.

[strider_mt2k @ Mar 27th 2006 12:11PM]

I think it's pretty clear.

Imation flash drives killed his dog.
Just give him room folks, he'll be okay.

I carry mine on a keychain anyway, so what's the diff?

Portable apps rule!

[Victor @ Mar 27th 2006 12:13PM]

I guess the teenage world was never thought into that post. If you showed this to school students, it would definitely generate profit. Its small, hard to lose the carabiner, and looks attractive to a high school kid. So I like the idea. It can even clip on a backpack, how many other flash drives can do that without modding it or buying accessories?

[StormDrain @ Mar 27th 2006 12:14PM]

This product is not exciting enough to tell eng readers, but not inherently bad. I can clip it to my backpack or Trapper Keeper. yay.

[JArelllano @ Mar 27th 2006 12:27PM]

As a very happy user of iMation's 'swivel' USB drives, I saw this new product as a great upgrade/option to an already great product.

Too many flash drivers have caps to lose or aren't sturdy enough to be kept on a key chain. This one seems to solve those issues. I can't wait to see one of these.

The post was a bit negative though. That being said, I'm glad this story was posted. It informed me about a product I want to buy.

[Marc Perton @ Mar 27th 2006 12:36PM]

I'm not bitter. It's just that Imation's a great company with a great history, and I'd like to see some more innovation, rather than products that follow the herd.

[martin @ Mar 27th 2006 12:54PM]

dunno, i sort of like the design. specs are sketchy, though...

funny - somebody forgot to take out the ipsum lorem on this one, on the brochure, under operating system requirements.

http://www.imation.com/products/pdfs/BR_Flash_Drives.pdf

[RickP in AZ @ Mar 27th 2006 1:20PM]

Hmm, I'm not teenager (I'm 34 years old) and what do I have clipped to my belt loop right now? A mini carbiner with a 2GB Sandisk Micro and a 512MB Lexar Traveller. This "form factor" is exactly how I carry my flash drives every day. The much stronger integrated loop for the ring is smart.

But, I'd rather that is was made by Corsair Memory, which will definately be the maker of my next drive.

[glacia00 @ Mar 27th 2006 1:24PM]

I'm not sure why the 'yawn' this is what every flash drive maker should be doing. Most flash drives are mechanically poor. I know I've nearly lost a drive because of a flimsy design.

They never said it was going to save lives or end world hunger... Just be more rugged. Good for Imation.

[Rudy @ Mar 27th 2006 3:29PM]

Recently (last six months) I was looking for a flash drive that could survive being on my key chain, which takes some serious abuse (impact, water, etc). I hadn't been able to find anything suitable. The carbiner part of these drives is pretty silly to me but the fairly rugged (looking at least) drive certainly has a potential market. I don't see a mention if the drive is waterproof, but if it is I might pick one up finally.

[Eric Jacobsen @ Mar 27th 2006 3:55PM]

I just lost my postage-stamp-sized Iomega keydrive the other day, because the swivelling mechanism was flimsy and it fell apart. If these are about the same size and sturdier, I'm sold.

[Jacob @ Mar 27th 2006 4:36PM]

I'm 18 and a high school senior. I have yet to get a flash drive, mainly because I've been indecisive about it and am using my money for a lot of other things, but these really appeal to me. I'd like to be able to carry it on my keychain, since that keychain goes everywhere I go. Seems like a good design, will have to look into how rugged it really is though.

[Ken @ Mar 27th 2006 5:06PM]

The LS-120 was a great drive. It ran normal 3.5" floppies faster and quieter than any other drive. That alone made it worth it to me. The 120MB storage disks were just a bonus.

[rick @ Mar 27th 2006 5:58PM]

You know what's nice about the entire Imation Flash product line?

Integrated caps.

Whether they swivel, pop-up, whatever - their value-add to me is that they stay integrated.

And I say that as a customer.

[jazzay @ Mar 27th 2006 9:23PM]

Rudy, Flash is inherently waterproof, just be sure to completely dry it out before using it again, or else itll short. At least I think so... My Sony Clie went through the wash and its fine...

[Matt @ Apr 2nd 2006 12:40AM]

Anyone know where I can get a "Furry Flash" drive in the US?

[David G? Rosado @ Apr 6th 2006 12:54AM]

I think your criticism is way off on this one... The drives visually demonstrate a well thought-out and innovative form. Something not that common in the industry. Although real use may later prove otherwise, their design screams "durable" (The reinforced opening, the retractable USB plug, the construction and material, the rounded shape, the lack of non-functional ornament... What the heck, I think I want one! My only gripe is that they do not come in 2GB flavors.