Looking for a rugged USB pen drive

[Clive Backham]

My daughter needs a USB pen drive for moving stuff between home &
school. I bought her a standard one, but various bits of the plastic
casing (the loop to attach it to a key ring, the clip-on top) quickly
got broken. And now it seems to be lost. (Yes, I know the correct
solution is for her to learn to take care of things, but I've tried
that and it just won't sink in).

So I'm looking for a replacement that will withstand being chucked in
the bottom of a school bag and have books thrown in on top of it. Does
anyone make USB pen drives with rugged cases (eg. metal or perhaps ABS)?

 

[Arno Wagner]

My daughter needs a USB pen drive for moving stuff between home &
school. I bought her a standard one, but various bits of the plastic
casing (the loop to attach it to a key ring, the clip-on top) quickly
got broken. And now it seems to be lost. (Yes, I know the correct
solution is for her to learn to take care of things, but I've tried
that and it just won't sink in).

So I'm looking for a replacement that will withstand being chucked in
the bottom of a school bag and have books thrown in on top of it. Does
anyone make USB pen drives with rugged cases (eg. metal or perhaps ABS)?

Get her one of these:

http://www.corsairmicro.com/corsair/flash_memory.html#fv

Ugly, but very hard to destroy.

Arno

 

[Rod Speed]

My daughter needs a USB pen drive for moving stuff between
home & school. I bought her a standard one, but various bits
of the plastic casing (the loop to attach it to a key ring, the
clip-on top) quickly got broken. And now it seems to be lost.
(Yes, I know the correct solution is for her to learn to take
care of things, but I've tried that and it just won't sink in).

The best way to achieve that is to NOT replace it when it gets broken.

That gets thru even with the thickest kid eventually.

 

[Impmon]

Get her one of these:

http://www.corsairmicro.com/corsair/flash_memory.html#fv

Ugly, but very hard to destroy.

Failing that, I'd get a decent USB drive and encase them in a steel
reinforced concrete block.

Even uglier but harder to break or lose.

 

[John Turco]

My daughter needs a USB pen drive for moving stuff between home &
school. I bought her a standard one, but various bits of the plastic
casing (the loop to attach it to a key ring, the clip-on top) quickly
got broken. And now it seems to be lost. (Yes, I know the correct
solution is for her to learn to take care of things, but I've tried
that and it just won't sink in).

So I'm looking for a replacement that will withstand being chucked in
the bottom of a school bag and have books thrown in on top of it. Does
anyone make USB pen drives with rugged cases (eg. metal or perhaps ABS)?

Hello, Clive:

I have a Centon 512MB "USBdatastick," featuring a leather exterior.
Seems quite sturdy, although, I've never gotten around to using it,
yet.


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>

 

[Paul Rubin]

So I'm looking for a replacement that will withstand being chucked in
the bottom of a school bag and have books thrown in on top of it. Does
anyone make USB pen drives with rugged cases (eg. metal or perhaps ABS)?

Sandisk makes one called the Cruzer Titanium which is supposed to be
pretty crush resistant. I haven't tried one but I saw one at the store.

Another possibility is a normal pen drive stored a hard container,
like the ubiquitous altoids tin.

I personally have a Kingmax Superstick, which is a tiny flat thing,
not even a connector shell. I carry it in my wallet's change pocket
which is ok for occasional use.

This looks tough and cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211204

 

[Clive Backham]

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

I think the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium looks like the best bet - no
plastic to break, no cap to lose, very good specs for read/write speed,
and not *that* much more expensive than "normal" ones.

Re. this comment:

The best way to achieve that is to NOT replace it when it gets broken.
That gets thru even with the thickest kid eventually.

I agree, but when it will affect a child's schooling, you have to be a
little more flexible.
I'm going to replace it this time, and if it gets broken or lost again,
she'll have to pay for a new one herself.