LaCie's XtremKey: it's pretty rugged, we guess

OK GUYS, WE GET IT. Sheesh, it's like they think we're a bunch of klutzes or something. Sure, there was that one time with the garbage disposal... one time. But after that... alright, the time with the mud, and the thing with the ocean. Oh, and when we dropped 2GB of Word documents into a black hole. Still, we hardly deserve to be treated like children. LaCie has stepped up the condescension to new levels with its XtremKey, a drive that's waterproof up to 100 meters, temperature proof from -58 degrees Fahrenheit to +400, and resistant to 16 foot drops. This ruggedness is accomplished by screwing the USB drive into a 2mm thick metal pipe that can withstand the pressure of a 10 ton truck rolling over it. Like that would ever happen that one time. The drive ranges in capacity from 8GB to 64GB, and will be out in August for some exorbitant, as-yet-undisclosed cost. Check out a needlessly abusive video of the drive after the break.

LaCie's XtremKey press shots

Show full PR text

LaCie XtremKey: The World's Most Adventurous USB Flash Drive

13. juli 2010

LaCie announced today the LaCie XtremKey – offering industrial-strength protection for your data. With capacities up to 64GB and an impenetrable shell, the XtremKey is a truly rugged USB key that stands up to the elements.

LaCie, originator of the flat, award-winning key-shaped USB flash drives, shields the XtremKey's premium flash memory modules inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 meters. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-meter drops, fierce heat and bitter cold – it holds up in any environment, no matter where you take it (+200°C / -50°).

XtremKey is constructed with zamac, a metal alloy composed of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper that's so strong, it can withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck. Less than three inches tall, this flash memory drive puts strength, security and storage right on your keyring.

"The XtremKey offers extreme durability and capacity in a convenient, well-protected and fun form factor," said Alexis Kobassian, Product Manager, LaCie. "Despite the robust, industrial-strength protection we've added, it's still a LaCie key that brings ease-of-use and reliability to customers looking to keep their data secure while on the go."

Equipped with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, XtremKey offers instant compatibility, outstanding transfer speeds and cross-platform convenience to all PC and Mac® users. With writing speeds up to 30 MBp/s and reading up to 40 MBp/s, you don't have to sacrifice performance for protection.

Designed by Constance Guisset exclusively for LaCie, XtremKey works relentlessly to keep your data protected, all while being portable, powerful and perfectly suited for your life's adventures. The key, when placed on a desktop, even shows some playful personality with a perfectly balanced wobble effect.

Availability
The LaCie XtremKey comes in capacities from 8GB to 64GB and will be available in August through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.

[Techtrino Posted Jul 14th 2010 4:19AM]

@SHFT
Corsair did

[aliendude5300 Posted Jul 14th 2010 4:35AM]

I broke my OCZ ATV flash drive... hopefully this thing is more resilient to the connector bending...

[kbon Posted Jul 14th 2010 5:26AM]

Design failure -_-
Look at 1:05 where the devie is plugged in the MacBookPro. The MBP lies on the edge of the table...if it was in the middle of the table, you wouldn't have been able to even plug in the drive.

[Sphynx Posted Jul 14th 2010 5:45AM]

The image with the tire skid marks is really bad photoshop. The marks are even under the stick.


IT'S A TRAAAAP!!

[Ivan0310 Posted Jul 14th 2010 9:11AM]

I'd like to see them actually run over it with a ten-ton truck. The vehicle in the video is a Ford F-250, which if you look up the specs, is less than half of the weight LaCie claims their drive can take.

[WhatWho Posted Jul 14th 2010 9:33AM]

So I could stick this into the diag port on a moving dump truck and if I miss and drop it and the truck runs it over it will be ok?

awesome1¡1¡111!!1

[docbrown88 Posted Jul 14th 2010 2:50PM]

I'm all for ruggedized tech, but why did they need to make it look like the disruptive alien ship thing from star trek IV.. I see rolling off any slightly slanted surface as potential annoyance.

[thehumanyawn Posted Jul 14th 2010 4:54PM]

Though it can survive all that, it can't be protected from LaCie's "quality" internal electronics.

[Xentom Posted Jul 15th 2010 11:25AM]

......spudgun ammo?

[qbgabe12 Posted Jul 17th 2010 1:43AM]

xtremkey physical design + ironkey type hardware encryption = win!