Transcend JetFlash 220 - 16 GB Biometric USB 2.0 Flash Drive TS16GJF220 (Lime Green)

I took a gamble on this product since it did not say if I needed to install any software or not to use it on other computers. I found out that you only need to install software if you plan on changing the partition size. You can uninstall the software when you are done.

Pros...
1) Large size to handle just about anything you want.
2) Easy to use application that plays well with IE
3) Software makes it easy to customize the private/public space.

Cons...
1) I'm annoyed that public space is not accessible when you log in to get access to the secure space. It's public, it should always be available.
2) NO FIREFOX SUPPORT.
3) The software sometimes does NOT quit properly when the drive is removed. The software stays resident in memory and needs to be manually turned off from task manager.

Edit (January 3rd, 2011): Added a third CON

Pro: reasonable security at a reasonable price. Covers and protects the fingerprint scanner. Quite difficult to retrieve the data without the finger.

Con: It requires software be run on the host computer - this is a risk! The software resides on the device, so it need not be installed on the host. But then the transfer of the key from device to host is a security hole.

I'd prefer all encryption/decryption be done on the device, and I think only IronKey and Sandisk Cruzer do this, at about double the price. Another problem: if your USB port is vertical, then swiping your finger at the proper angle would be difficult.

Conclusion: For the price, this device offers adequate protection. I would not use this for transferring data from my PC to a client's PC because it would require the client to run software on his PC. But only for a moment, and it doesn't stay resident. It's safe - trust me!

I had mixed feelings after having bought the "Transcend JetFlash 220 - USB flash drive". While initially expecting it to be a vital security product I could rely on to store my gobs of password files, vital financial backups, and other personal "necessary evils", I found it to be less than up to my expectations of security. As any Google search could tell you, this is one of the many types of fingerprint flash-drives which are easily "unlocked" with a publicly free, available tool on the internet. Repeat: this does not have the security expected of a "biometric" device, with little more protection than would deter the casual snooper.
This is not to say the device is useless, however. For mere convenience purposes, it's extremely useful. While there is still not Firefox support (and I assume Mac OS X and Linux support lack as well), these aren't major problems in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, take the pros with the cons: don't expect this to be the major tower...Read more