Lexar time

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The pen drive/USB disc/thumb drive/butt plug or whatever your preferred slang for a flash disc is comes in an easily opened cardboard and plastic combo. The drive sticks out the front in a clear plastic bubble where you can see the capacity graph that makes this USB disc that much better.

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The display is an interesting technology which has been designed by E-Ink. It relies on a thin space filled with clear gel/liquid, in this liquid are two types of particles. One is white which is attracted towards the positive wire, and the other is black which is connected to the negative wire. When a charge is passed, the particles move to their corresponding side which creates a monochrome image. This lasts even if there is no charge applied (i.e. the display is unpowered) which makes it perfect for the USB drive. Other reasons include that it can be read/seen from any angle and if pressed, it won’t deform unlike LCD’s.

The capacity graph shows how much the USB drive is filled in %, which can be a little confusing. Considering as there are a few different versions of this disc, 512mb, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, it makes no sense to have a percentage. Instead, all they have to do is print different labels; e.g. on the 4GB disc, the 50% mark becomes 2GB etc. The reasoning behind having a percentage scale is that if the graph isn’t accurate, it gives them a little leeway (baring in mind there are only 10 blocks making the graph), it also lowers production cost (all discs are the same on the outside, bar the capacity label).

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Below the graph is a small capacity label which lets you know how which version you have, and beneath that is a Lexar logo. Flip the disc over and you’ll find a complimentary white curved rectangle which mirrors the shape of the graph. This stripe is actually the same stuff they put on some credit cards, and it allows you to scribble your name or user of the disc if you have loads of similar drives.

There is no lanyard supplied with the disc, but Lexar have made it possible for one to be used. They have decided that the best place to mount the loop is on the lid which means if it becomes unattached from the actual flash disc, you’ll have a lid and nothing else hanging round your neck. Fortunately, the lid locks into place nice and tight, so it’s unlikely that in normal circumstances you’ll lose the drive itself.

The drive itself is pretty slim. It’s barely larger than a USB port itself in regards to width, which bodes well as there is nothing more annoying than having to pull out another USB device because your flash disc won’t fit into the port beneath because it’s too fat. This all comes as a surprise as Lexar have managed to produce a drive that is slimmer than both the smaller Crucial Gizmo! 1GB and the larger 8GB Corsair Voyager GT, as well as including the capacity graph.

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There is nothing that really makes the Lexar JumpDrive stand out from any other drive (bar the graph) in regards to looks. In a way, that’s how it should be. I don’t think anyone has ever really considered a USB disc a fashion accessory and hopefully it’ll never happen.