Portable USB 2 Flash Drives for Travellers from OCZ
OCZ is a memory manufacturer best know for their high end computers memory products for workstations, servers and laptops. OCZ also makes a couple of USB 2 flash drives perfectly suited for travel.
The OCZ Ultra Slim Mini Kart USB 2 flash drive is a marvelously thin 0.11 inch (2.8mm) that can fit in your wallet like a credit card. Available in 512mb, 1gb and 2gb capacities.
“The Mini-Kart housing is 2.8mm thick, making this compact unit small enough to store in your wallet, ensuring that it is always handy to access or transfer documents, music, pictures and videos from your home or work computer. As a result of the incredibly thin Mini-Kart usb flash drive profile you’ll never have to unplug surrounding USB ports to make room, a common problem with many oversized competitor drives. The Mini-Kart has a highly durable USB connector that is designed to be exposed without any issues. “
The just introduced Roadster USB 2 flash drive is a flip top design with a full size USB flash connector and appears more rugged than the open design of the Mini Kart. The OCZ Roadster is only available in a 1gb size for the moment.
Both come with a 3 year warranty.
Targus Mini Travel USB 2 Hub-Small Travel USB Hub
I’m a big fan of the other Targus Travel USB hub even though this little number is even smaller.
The Ultra Mini USB hub certainly fills all the criteria for a travel hub, small (natch), 4 ports, no AC power adapter, built in cable.
The only problem I have with it is the dangling cord. It is a personal preference but I like gear that are enclosed without any dangling bits, external cables tend to catch on luggage, zippers or other gear. Perhaps I am just clumsy or a bad packer.
Someone who is careful or wraps the cord around the unit with a rubber band may find this unit an excellent solution. It’s tiny!
The price is $19.99 US
Targus Travel USB Hub, 4 USB2 Ports with Built in Cable
If you’re a modern traveller or travelling business person it is inevitable you will be bringing some gadgets on your trips. Digital cameras, USB memory sticks, external USB hard drives, wireless mouse, PDAs maybe even a portable printer; all these things need USB ports.
Most laptops come with 2 to 4 USB ports but maybe that is not enough if you want to plug everything in at once. External USB hubs have been around almost as long as the original USB 1.1 spec. The problem with most is they are not made for travelling and can be quite bulky. Some even require a power adapter, the last thing you want to bring is another brick three or four times the size of the hub just for some extra ports.
Some require an extra cable, better, but why bring an extra cable when you don’t have to.
That’s why I always search for 4 port USB hubs with built in cables and no power bricks. Two ports may not be enough in emergencies and they aren’t much smaller than 4 ports if you buy the right ones. Which brings me to one of my favorites, the Targus Travel USB 2.0 4- Port Hub with Built-in Cable.
I also have their earlier model which is about the same size but this latest version is even better. Fully enclosed in a slick black case the cable and ports are all inside the casing, preventing dust and minor splashes from entering the USB ports.
Price is $29.99 US