Dane-Elec 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive DA-ZMP-08G-CA-N4-R (Black)

I purchased the Dane Elec because it was the cheapest 8GB flash drive I could find that didn't have a separate cap. I wasn't expecting much for the price, so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package.

The drive has a soft plastic (rubberized?) texture that makes it easy to grip. The USB connection slides out by using firm pressure, but not so tight to make it hard to open. It stays closed in my pocket. The keychain hold is inset far enough that it should not break.

Once I plugged it in, Windows XP pro recognized it immediately with no problems. I transferred a large number of tiff, jpeg, mp3, and various video files, and they all transferred very quickly. I then plugged it into my Mac, where it also was recognized immediately. Read times were also very fast, and everything transferred with no problems.

I think that, for the price, this offers durability and speed at a great value.

My drive just went through the washer and dryer. Plugged it in right after I got it out and it still worked. I was able to copy all my files off.

Great drive...durable, dependable, affordable.

I thought all flash drives functioned the same, so I initially bought this Dane-Elec flash drive simply because it was capless and had a durable keyring hole.

But to my pleasant surprise, this flash drive works when plugged directly into my Mac keyboard. Usually, other flash drives draw too much power, requiring me to fumble around and plug them directly into the computer. But this flash drive draws less power, so it works when plugged straight into the keyboard. Nice!

And "thumb drive" is a perfect nickname for this drive. The main slider part is about the size and shape of your thumb. The retractable feature is great. It took a little more effort than how it looks to slide it into position, but actually this is a good thing. I never worry about it sliding open in my pocket. The construction is very solid-feeling.

And it works perfectly on both Mac and PC (to make this work, be sure to format it not with Disk Utility but on a real PC with the...Read more