http://www.gadgetspeak.com/gadget/article.rhtm/754/645374/Iomega_eGO_1TB_Freecom_USB_Card.html

Hard Drives from Iomega and Freecom 

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The first item is from Iomega and is the first 1TB drive that I have seen that does not need external power even on a Netbook. The second is a device around the size of a credit card and as such will probably be kept in a wallet.

iomega eGo III 1TB Portable Compact USB 3 0 External Hard Drive

Iomega eGO 1TB

While in some quarters size is said to be important, lack of size can in others be desirable. Here a sleek black hard drive the first I have seen at 1TB that does not require external power. I tried it on desktop, Notebook and Netbook the latter two both running on battery and I could both read and write without any problem with the unit.

It comes with a rubber sleeve that is little more than the four corners linked together this adds 31grams to the 187grams ‘naked weight’ of the unit. It comes with a mini USB to USB lead that is a Y shape on the PC end should you need extra power but as stated above I did not even on a Netbook running on battery. So it is unlikely.

1TB actually means 931GB and when you first load it you find that a small amount of this is already used do not be in a hurry to delete this as it is a one year subscription to Trend Micro Internet Security as well as a couple of Backup options all provided for nout extra, so its rather good these days to get something for nothing.

This is a USB2 unit – I understand they do have a USB3 version but unless you have USB3 this is a rather nice unit. While it is pushing it to say an external USB drive with a rubber vest is smart it certainly looks better than several other such units that I have recently looked at.

The links are actually for the USB3 version that I have not seen so I cannot comment on the transfer speed to and from the drive but cosmetically it looks identical to the drive that I was sent. For me anyway 1TB without additional power is rather nice.

The link below has the USB3 version available at £82.90 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0043SHS2I?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://go.iomega.com/en/products/external-hard-drive-portable/ego-portable-series-usb-3/ego-blackbelt-usb-3/?partner=4735

Freecom USB Card

freecom usb flash drive

Yes there are smaller ones, yes there are lighter ones the recently reviewed Verbatim is both but there is I am fairly sure no thinner USB card around. The one I was sent is 8GB and is the size of a credit but even thinner than one.

Of course being designed like a credit card means it will fit in your wallet and as such should remain safe. The actual bit that goes into the USB port flips over and you have a 6cm length that is available to plug in the PC.

The size I was sent is a not insubstantial 8GB which is about the size of a current Windows operating system when installed.

I really feel I should have a pair of callipers to measure the thickness of the card but trusting in my ruler make the card between 1 and 2mm thick.

According to the second link below they are available in sizes between 2GB and 16GB. While I have seen others they were solid plastic and certainly thicker than a standard credit card at nearly 3mm thick. The one I have on my desk weights 13grams against the 9grams of this Freecom unit.

The 8GB Freecom USB Card is available from the link below for £14.70

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001A304WU?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.freecom.com/Products/USB-Flash-Storage/USB-Cards/USB-Card

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