VisionTek Products revealed on Thursday that its latest pocket-sized storage device is more than an ordinary thumb drive; it's a bus-powered SSD aimed at professionals and performance enthusiasts alike. The stick-shaped SSD is available now in capacities of 120 GB and 240 GB.
So what makes this storage device different than other pocket SSDs and thumb drives? The device includes an LSI SandForce controller enabling read speeds of up to 455 MB/s and write speeds of up to 440 MB/s. The drive also has a USB 3.0 connector, resulting in super-fast file transfers when connected to a PC's USB 3.0 port.
According to the company, the drive is encased in aircraft-grade aluminum, keeping your stored data safe and secure. The drive is also capable of playing host to a copy of Windows 8 or higher. Simply download and install the company's Boot Camp drivers, and then install the operating system on the SSD stick. This means users can boot up into Windows without the need for partitioning the local hard drive.
"This new line of ultra-portable drives delivers among the highest levels of reliability and performance in an SSD, but adds an incomparable level of convenience. Imagine…over 400MB/s of reliable storage speed that can attach to [a] key ring and can provide a full Windows environment wherever you require it," said Mark Bilson, Executive Vice President of VisionTek.
VisionTek indicates that this SSD-on-a-stick is ideal for downloading and saving uncompressed HD content. Parents can even use the stick to create a safe environment for their kids. Does your tablet or smartphone support USB OTG? Connect the drive and quickly back up your pictures and videos.
VisionTek's new SSD competes directly with the likes of Corsair, which offers the Flash Voyager GTX. Corsair's storage device, sold in 128 GB ($134.99) and 256 GB ($264.99) capacities, also utilizes an SSD controller. The drive is even encased in a durable brushed metal housing, and provides USB 3.0 connectivity. Read speeds are up to 450 MB/s and sequential write speeds are up to 360 MB/s.
But what seems to make VisionTek's solution stand out against the Corsair product is its ability to boot into a full Windows environment. That said, users can move from one computer to another with a full copy of Windows intact, and don't need to bother with re-saving configurations, files and so on. You can even run Windows 8 on a Mac computer thanks to the SSD.
Customers can buy VisionTek's 120 GB model now for $109.99, and the 240 GB version for $174.99. They're available at VisionTek, Dell, Newegg and Tiger Direct.
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