SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive SDCZ6-4096-E11
by SanDisk
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive SDCZ6-4096-E11
Customer Review: Solid performing flash drive for the money, U3 optional.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first flash drive and it's been very useful at transferring large amounts of data between a partially crashed system to a temporary machine with no worry or fanfare. Two editions of Windows XP seamlessly installed the drive upon initial plugin, and it is recognized (and made available) in subsequent connections almost immediately - even in Safe Mode.
My informal measurements show it performing slightly above the advertised specs, but not a significant overachiever. It still works at USB 2.0 speeds and doesn't feel like a USB 1.1 connection at all - it easily met my transfer rate expectations.
The bundled U3 application launch environment certainly added to startup time after plugging it in for the first time, and the shipped applications didn't really do much for me. But, that's just me. SanDisk helpfully ships a U3 uninstaller with the U3 environment, itself - it's under Settings -> U3 Launchpad Settings from the launchpad. They also note in their online U3 FAQ that you *could* reinstall the U3 launcher after uninstalling it from your flash drive - code to do so is on their site.
I might also experiment with the alternative PortableApps Suite because it seems to offer more of what I might desire in temporary, mobile applications between PCs than U3. Having options for application launchers seems good.
I should add that the SanDisk U3 uninstaller removes the read-only partition that holds their U3 launcher+apps, and re-formats the *entire* flash drive as a single, blank partition up to its max capacity. Essentially, you get a blank slate after uninstalling U3 with their bundled utility. That was a thoughtful option, I felt.
The open/close slider took a few seconds of experimentation to get right: just press down on the raised "button" and easily slide it one way or the other . . . then, ensure it "clicks" into place when open. It is all housed in a plastic case, but still feels solid to use with our tighter USB slots. Plus, it's extremely light and conveniently small for carrying around a whole of 4GB (sure, 2 years from now that statement will seem horribly outdated), and I have it tied to the convenient lanyard in order to ensure that it doesn't get accidentally misplaced due to size. Dropping this doesn't cause trauma to it or me, fortunately.
I like the Cruzer's large, unavoidable orange glow under the sliding button when plugged in - there's no way to miss it as part of your computer, but it's also NOT so bright as to be annoying when next to your laptop's keyboard.
I'd wish for the writing speed to be a *little bit* faster, but it's not necessary. I'd expect to pay more for such speed, and that might also require a bigger form factor, etc. given today's technology. For the balance of what this product offers, it feels just right and not at all like a compromise.
After a day with this flash drive, it easily met all my expectations and worked without any external driver or other weird setup issues. Windows XP Professional and Corporate editions seem happy with it, and I am, too.
Customer Review: Great for international travel
Summary: 5 Stars
Sandisk updated their U3 since I first bought this and I find it is even better. Upgrade available at their website.
I mainly bought this so I could have a secure data storage while traveling internationally. What the U3 software offers is password protection of information on the drive plus Firefox browser, skype, email, etc. independent of what is on computers in internet cafes.
So I can save login information and passwords in Firefox, go to an internet cafe, and browse email or log into other websites without entering any passwords. No worry about key loggers or similar spyware. Also since Firefox is running off this drive and not the computer, it should be harder for other types of spyware to intercept information.
I have also used Skype off of it and was able to make calls while just paying for internet time. If necessary, I have Open Office on it so I can even edit Excel spreadsheets or Word documents right at the cafe and send right back.
One thing to note. Unless things have changed, the account on the computer was said to need administrator rights since it adds something to the registry like it would add for any new usb device.
However, in actual experience, even cafes that have software restricting installation or altering of the setup have not caused problems. The worst I have seen was one computer locked me out. But the attendant logged it back in and then I plugged in the drive again and it came up just fine. After that I tried the same computer a different day and it was fine.
The drive also works well for day to day syncing of computers although the built in syncing software is a little quirky. Best to just get a regular program for that.
Customer Review: INDESTRUCTIBLE
Summary: 5 Stars
I've used a handful of these flash drives over the years and they've always worked well for me. I do have a tendency to lose them, because I have never found a way to really attach them to myself. Call me a flake, but I've put these things through the wash a couple times, and in the past I assumed that they were goners. Well...
At the beginning of the year, I had thought I lost one, so I purchased a second one. Only a few days later, I found the first and kept both because I hoped that I would always have one around to bring to class. Naturally, since I had two of them, it became even more likely that I would lose one. By the end of the semester -- over four months ago -- the second SanDisk cruzer 4GB had vanished.
I didn't think much of it, because they are cheap, and moved on with my life. This morning I was emptying my clothes dryer and noticed something black and plastic wedged between the lint trap and the dryer wall. When I pulled it out, I was amazed to find it was that other flash drive I had lost. That means it had gone through the wash, fallen out of my pants and gotten wedged in the dryer, and been run through approximately 5 months worth of drying cycles. I do laundry every week, with anywhere from 3 to 5 loads. This comes to a grand total of 80 dryer cycles this flash drive went through. I plugged it in, assuming it was melted -- and it WORKED. All my files are active and running.
THIS THING IS INDESTRUCTIBLE. I can't believe it! This must be the most magical thing I've ever used...
Customer Review: It Doesn't Suck!
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviewing the SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro is like reviewing something as simple as a vacuum cleaner. The only way you have a problem with the Cruzer is if it doesn't store data. The only way you have a problem with a vacuum cleaner is if it doesn't suck.
The Cruzer does everything that I bought it for: simplicity, speed of transferring files and it's plug and play. I plugged it into the USB port on my Windows XP equipped computer, XP immediately recognized it, and I was storing and backing up data within minutes. Simple drag and drop process of taking files from a hard drive Window to a file in the Window for the Cruzer that automatically opens as soon as you plug it into an XP equipped machine.
And let me tell you...this thing transfers files fast! I've got a couple of Seagate external hard drives, the Cruzer is twice as fast as my Seagates and its about 1/3 the size. The Cruzer is about as thick a three slices of Wrigley's chewing cum and it's only 2 inches long. The Cruzer even has a small ring to attach to a key chain.
The Cruzer obviates the need to lug my laptop to presentations; I just ask my host (or partners) to bring theirs, and I plug the Cruzer in when I get there.
And of course backing up data is a must...if not for necessity for sanity sake if you've got files that you'd hate to lose. 4 gigabytes is way more than the average computer user will ever need. The SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro is an extremely worthy investment.
Customer Review: It works fine with a Mac
Summary: 5 Stars
To clear up some confusion, the DRIVE works fine on a Mac, the SOFTWARE doesn't work at all. When I inserted this drive into my Mac (OS X.4.7) my computer said it was a blank CD and I needed to select which program I wanted to use with it. I selected Disk Utility so I could erase the drive and selected Mac OS (Journaled). Once I did that (and provided a name), it works just fine. It's very fast for transfers and I'm a happy camper.
If you want to keep this drive available to transfer data back and forth between Macs and PCs, do what I just suggested, but select MS-DOS File System for the formatting. This will ease the U3 software on the drive, but who cares. Note: if you do format the drive for this format (and not Mac formatting) file transfer on the Mac will suffer a performance hit. That's just the way it is. When you run a PC formatted disk on a Mac, you have to have some emulation going on and that eats up cycles. However, if you place a Mac formatted disk into a PC, it will not know what to do at all other than to offer to erase the drive. So, if you want/need to play with PCs you will have to accept the performance hit. If you never go near PCs, just format for Mac and be a happy camper too.
Since the U3 software is irrelevant to me, my review is not based on the significance that I removed it entirely from the drive.