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Bytestor Dataferry 16 GB
by jennikitten
After my last flash memory drive bit the dust, I was on the lookout for a physically smaller and more attractive solution. The memory stick industry seemed to take a few massive leaps during this time, and whilst memory sticks of 512MB and 2GB had been the expensive norm when buying my first one, by the time I wanted a second, 16GB+ and ... cheap prices were the standard.
This 16GB Dataferry model offers a hi-speed USB connection - though to be honest I don't really notice the difference - and simply slots into a USB port on your laptop or PC to transfer data across. You can transfer lots of different types of data - music, spreadsheets, Word documents, (small) games and so on, to carry around easily or transfer to a different computer. With so much in the 'cloud' these days due to Google's involvement, data sticks aren't as useful as they once were, but I still carry one round just in case. They do come in handy when there's no internet connection available or I want to transfer large files relatively quickly.
This Dataferry stick does feel a little cheap due to the plastic used, but it looks good and it's well-priced at around £18 from Amazon. Always buy memory cards, sticks etc online as they are extremely cheap compared to the high street shops and supermarkets - I've found that they are generally a quarter of the price.
There's a little loop at the end which hints at some kind of practical travel use (putting it round your neck or with your keys maybe) but to be honest I think it's more of an aesthetic thing and haven't used it for that purpose. The memory stick also has a well-designed lid, which is easy to remove but stays secure when travelling. You just pull it off to reveal the USB connection.
I've had this memory stick for a good few years and never encountered a problem with it. It's easy to travel with, it doesn't have any wear and tear, and unlike my old bulky stick, you can plug things in USB slots next to it. Although it's advertised as 16GB, with formatting and so on there's a good chunk of space knocked off it, but this is true for all memory sticks and isn't a problem. If you think you will push 14GB though, you might be better off looking at memory sticks with a larger capacity.
This 16GB Bytestor Dataferry is available in a few different colours, including black, pink, and a bluey/purple colour. This is a good memory stick that ticks all the boxes and it would definitely be a memory stick I'd consider in the future should I buy another.
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Sandisk Cruzer Micro 16 GB
by ChewyBacon
This is a great option if you are looking for cheap storage, with great value for the GB's offered. The design is really nice, and it's really light, but the data transfer speeds are a bit slow compared to other devices on the market, and the quality of the materials and build seems to be poor as well.
First, the design is ... very nice. It looks modern, made out of plastic, with a switch to push or retract the USB connector, and a hook at the end to connect it to a set of keyrings. It is very small, and light, making it easy to carry around. However, this also means it is easy to lose, as it is also black, which means it blends in.
The packaging is easy to read, but also protects the product. However, it is very hard to remove from the packaging, which can be annoying. The hard plastic can also cut into your skin, and can be very hard to cut with scissors.
Next, the build quality is very poor. This is evident with a USB connector which is very flimsy. After months of use, with the constant plugging and unplugging, it certainly feels like this could become loose and fall off. Also, the plastic doesn't fit together very well, with a loose fit. Again, after a few drops, it could fall apart. In fact, it can be pulled apart by fingers alone, just by pulling.
Another big annoyance is the fact that it is wider than most drives, so therefore if the USB ports are close together, you can't use 2 things at the same time!
The speeds are average compared to other drives, which is evident if you move large files or folders, such as video or pictures. This can become very slow over time, so opt for a more premium flash drive if this is the case.
On the other hand, the price is very good, and for the generous amount of storage, it's certainly good value for money. A lot cheaper than similar products, it's a good option if you want a basic drive.
Overall, a great product that is great value for money making the perfect option for students as it is also lightweight and small. However, the speeds are slow and the build quality is poor.
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Bytestor Dataferry 16 GB
by InchyInchy
ByteStor 8GB USB High Speed "Dataferry" Flash Drive
I have owned this ByteStor memory stick in an 8GB in the blue colour for well over a year now and up until lately when I got a new memory stick this was my primary one.
Something that I don't recommend trying, but that demonstrates how ... indestructible this memory stick is, is that it has been put through a cycle of the washing machine and it has lived to tell the tale. After it had the chance to dry out it still continued to work just fine. However, I was less able to rely on it without worrying and trying to make sure everything was backed up.
My one complaint about this memory stick is that it has a detachable lid. The lid to protect the USB port is easily losable. I have had this memory stick for a while now but I have mostly been using it without the lid, as that fell off sometime in a bag or out and about and I never recovered it. The lid does attach to the bottom of the stick when you aren't using it, but it is still easily knocked off. I found that the lid on my one became slack with use.
This ByteStor memory sticks works really well and like most of all of these USB flash drives you don't need any expert IT knowledge to use it, just plug it in, then transfer the files that you want, then finally remove and off you go with your data in hand. Personally, in all the time that I have owned this one I have never had any problems with these memory sticks failing to work or corrupting any data. They have proved to be a reliable method of moving and / or storing data.
I think I paid around £20 for this but it is now available to buy from Amazon for a reasonable £12.
I really liked this memory stick and I like that it is available in a range of colours for you to choose from (including blue, burgundy and pink), which makes it feel a bit more tailored to preferences, rather than being in the very generic black or silver casings that these more often than not come in. It is also handy for coordinating what you use each one for, or what memory stick belongs to whom. In the past we have often had to plug a memory stick into a computer to identify who it belongs to.
This deserves a well earned four out of five stars. I was very happy with mine until I upgraded it.
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