Cheap SIMPLETECH 256MB Bonzai USB 2.0 Mini-Drive ( Windows / Mac ) (Electronics) Price

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Customer Reviews of SIMPLETECH 256MB Bonzai USB 2.0 Mini-Drive ( Windows / Mac )

It works perfectly well. The 480 Mb/sec are -as usual- a little bit overstated, but overall the reading/writing speed is very good. The quality of the device seems good. It comes with an additional USB cable, which allows pluging even if the USB ports are vertical. The total size is not as big as it looks on the pictures. I find it small enough.

Overall it is a great product that offers the flexibility of a USB memory key for the price of the SD alone.

Wow!
Executive summary: 1.44 floppies are just not cutting it. I work with clients and don't want to lug around a CD burner to move files from my laptop to/from their network. I also don't always want to lug my laptop home. Enter Simpletech's Bonzai USB mini drive. It is awesome. If you are looking for high capacity and expandable computer storage in a small, portable, USB-based, no install hassle package, buy the Bonzai USB mini-drive now.

A few details . . .

Insert it into a USB port, and in about 5 seconds Windows 2000 and Windows XP (home and professional) pop up a message telling you about the removable disk that it automatically found. Automatically! No drivers are required for Windows 2000 and XP. This is very cool when you are visiting a client or friend and don't really want to install stuff on their PC. From there, you use the USB drive just like a hard drive (drag and drop, etc.)

Here are some factoids I wish the product description (or picture) would have told me:
1) A 4 foot USB extension cable is included, which in my book eliminates any negative dealing with the fact that the USB ports on some computers are close together or very tight. (BTW I have a Compaq Presario with 2 USB's on the front and although it is tight the Bonzai works fine there without the extension, even with my mouse plugged in right beside it). Having to carrying a small cable is just not that big of deal folks.
2) It is very small. 2 1/2" long including the USB plug. 1 1/4" wide. 1/2" deep.
3) It is very light. About the weight of one Oreo Double Stuff cookie :)
4) The USB plug has a cap.
5) The case is heavy plastic.
6) A blue lanyard (i.e big shoestring looking thing that goes around your neck like a Referee's whistle) is included. I like this a lot since it helps remind me to take it with me :)
7) I have a 60MB zip file on my Bonzai right now which unzips faster than those on my hard drive. Did I mention the Bonzai is fast? And I'm only on USB 1.0.

8) The whole thing seems solid and well made.

BTW, a guy I work with and I did some research. We both concluded that Bonzai is the answer to our goal of a slick way to quickly move files between computers, with zero install requirements (at least on Win2K and WinXP). He is very envious of me since he opted for the Sandisk Cruzer instead of the Bonzai (because his Best Buy didn't have the Bonzai). I picked Bonzai and was delighted to find that amazon.com has it. The Cruzer is about 4-5 times bigger, and doesn't feel nearly as solid in my view.

I opted for the 128MB model instead of the 256MB or 512MB models because at the time the cost was still pretty high. Things look much better these days since the 256 mb version costs less than what I paid for the 128mb version. If I was buying again, I'd go with at least the 256MB version, simply because I never seem to regret having too much space :) But the 128mb (equal to 88 diskettes) has been enough for me except for one time (and I really didn't expect the Bonzai to handle that 50 GIGAbyte backup file). The good news is that if I want to expand, all I have to do is buy a new memory card and snap it in place. In 20 seconds my 128mb drive becomes a 256mb or 512mb, or whatever capacity is available at the time.

Bottom line: I've had mine for over a year now with ZERO PROBLEMS. Highly recommended!