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Crucial Gizmo (10/12/2003)

Crucial Gizmo

Entered CNET Catalog: 10/12/2003

SKU: 0649528722829

Manufacturer: Crucial Technology

Manufacturer description

The new Crucial Gizmo! Hi-Speed version is faster than ever, and can move data at speeds up to 480 megabits per second. All that power in a sleek device that you can handily attach to your key ring!

Product summary

The goodThe good: Simple, attractive design; can password-protect data; very inexpensive per megabyte.

The badThe bad: Forget your password, and you'll have to send the drive back to be reset.

The bottom lineThe bottom line: Crucial's Gizmo offers password protection and an attractive look at an excellent price per megabyte.

Average user rating: from 6 users
3.5 stars

Editors' review

  • Editors' Choice: Yes
  • Reviewed on: 04/02/2004
The slick-looking Crucial Gizmo, which measures 3.25 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 0.37 inches thick, is neither the smallest drive we looked at, nor is it so big that it will obstruct neighboring USB ports when you plug it into your PC. The Gizmo's attractive two-tone design features opalescent white plastic on the front and gray plastic on the back, with a small hole at one end to accommodate the included neck strap. Crucial provides a brief data sheet on how to use the drive and also includes a USB extension cord--a handy extra if your computer's rear USB ports are hard to access. We like that the Gizmo comes in plastic packaging that doesn't require an industrial-grade box cutter to open.

The Gizmo includes Crucial's Secure-D software, which allows you to password-protect up to 97 percent of the drive. The Secure-D setup file comes loaded on the drive, but you can access it only on systems running Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP. Also worth noting is that if you forget your password, not only will you lose all your data, you'll have to return the drive to the manufacturer to be reset. The Gizmo does not include a driver disc, so users on pre-2000 versions of Windows will need to download driver software from Crucial's Web site.

The Crucial Gizmo is available in capacities from 64MB to 256MB. At this time, the Gizmo offers only a USB 1.1 connection, which makes it a bit slower than most of the other drives we tested. Still, our 256MB test model costs about $63, or 25 cents per megabyte, which is very inexpensive.

Return to CNET's USB flash drive roundup.

User opinions

Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6
User Rating:
0.5 stars

out of 6 user reviews

This was a piece of junk.

Pros: Didn't get to see any postiive points

Cons: Was defective, had to return

Review: Well it didn't work at all so I had a defective drive. Went to another drive.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 6 user reviews

Value For Money

Pros: Simple & Reliable ! A Nice & Sleek Design.

Cons: Its a little too big.

Review: Amazing value for money and in my view the best drive on the market.
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 6 user reviews

Best There is

Pros: Small, fast speed to upload and download. Using mine for 9 months and have found no negatives.

Cons:

Review:
User Rating:
2.0 stars

out of 6 user reviews

Not compatible with common OS's.

Pros: Crucial and Micron usually produce reliable products ; they USUALLY offer well thought-out products that can be used by many.

Cons: Crucial Website now states clearly that their USB flash-drives are NOT compatible with Win95/Win98/Win98SE (it appears that they are unwilling to offer any drivers). I personally dislike proprietary products that only work in certain "pre-ordained" envir

Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 6 user reviews

best usb drive on the market

Pros: Simple, reliable, password-protected data, extremely durable, very inexpensive per megabyte and lifetime warranty.

Cons: I found no flaws.

Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 6 user reviews

Amazing value for money.

Pros: Great value for money. Reliable. Password protection option. Visually appealing. Best all-around flash drive.

Cons: Fractionally bigger than other flash drives. Cap is not held by device while in use; might get lost.

Review:

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Crucial Gizmo specifications

  • General
  • Product Type USB flash drive
  • Storage Capacity 256.0 MB
  • Compatibility Mac , PC
  • Compatibility Non-specific
  • Memory
  • Interface Type Hi-Speed USB
  • Interface Specification Compliance USB 2.0
  • Expansion / Connectivity
  • Interfaces 1.0 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
  • Miscellaneous
  • Compliant Standards Plug and Play
  • Software / System Requirements
  • Software Included Secure-D
  • OS Required Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 , Microsoft Windows XP , Apple MacOS 8.6 or later
  • Manufacturer Warranty
  • Service & Support Limited lifetime warranty
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