Recommend a good USB thumb drive?

[GnomeCop]

I'm putting my iomega mico mini to rest soon as its 1GB capacity is starting to feel too small. so I'm looking for a new USB flash memory thumb drive. I've given up on finding a drive with 8-16 gb capacity as small or smaller than the micro mini, so a larger drive will be OK.
I really got used to having a tiny usb thumb drive because it fit on my key chain comfortably.
But not that size isn't as much of an issue, I want to emphasize good performance, and good build quality.

Another good thing would be an integrated cap, I hate losing those things. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Crucial's Gizmo. These units are small and fast.

 

[GnomeCop]

cool. I'll look into that one, any others?

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsai...loc/101/204050314.html

 

[GnomeCop]

I read some reviews on that drive... seems like performance with small files is awesome while large file transfers are unusually slow... which is not the ideal situation for a 16gb drive.
But if its not unreasonably slow that could work.

 

[esquared]

Lexar Lightning. link here
Unfortunately they only have 4GB for now. This thing is fast. 18-24MB/sec read. Write is 12-15MB/sec for me.
I have the 2GB version. Paid 10.00 after 20.00 MIR and PM. I've seen the 4GB model go for 45.00 or OTD, no rebates.

The Corsair 8GB Voyager drive is supposedly even faster. 28MB/sec read speed. They have a 16GB Voyager version, but I hear it doesn't have the same read/write speed. These are obviously more expensive because of greater capacities.
Link to 8Gb Voyager review

Here's a review of the Corsair Survivor drive. 24MB/sec read and 20+MB/sec write.
Link to Corsair Survivor review
Apparently these 16GB drives are as fast as the 4's and 8's. Expensive though.
Corsair prices at Newegg

 

[Blain]

Corsair Voyager.

 

[GnomeCop]

voyagers and voyager GTs are great drives, just with they had an integrated cap design, I just don't want to have to mind where the cap is every time I use it

 

[bluestrobe]

Avoid the Seagate pocket drives. Had two fail on me in the last 3 months. I would recommend the Corsair Voyager as I was looking at it.

 

[GnomeCop]

do you mean those hockey puck lookin things?

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: GnomeCop
do you mean those hockey puck lookin things?

Yea. I bought a 2.5GB one on clearance and it died within 2 months. Bought a 6GB model online and it died in about the same time span. Both out of warranty. They aren't a true flash drive and actually are mini hard drives.

 

[GnomeCop]

ah yeah, I'll break a mini HD like that in a new york minute, no moving parts pls

 

[Kakumba]

Corsair Voyager GT. awesome stuff, I love mine.

 

[GnomeCop]

if only they had integrated cap designs for those... love that its semi rugged though.

 

[GnomeCop]

settled on an 8gb sandisk cruzer contour. cool design, decently fast, and no cap to mess with. So far it's great.

 

[montag451]

Write/Read speed please

 

[GnomeCop]

The cruzer contour 8gb I have says 18mb/s write, 25mb/s read on the box.

 

[Tristor]

you can't do much better than either the Corsair Voyager GTs or the OCZ Rally2s, they are both using dual channel setups inside the drive so are extremely fast, the Rally2s are also in an aluminum casing to help dissipate heat. I've got a 4GB Rally2 and an 8GB Voyager GT, they are both awesome

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Another vote for OCZ Rally thumb drives. I quit using my Corsiar Voyagers in favor of my 2gb OCZ Rally.