SanDisk Cruzer® Micro (4 GB) (SDXDH-1024-A10)
- Type: USB Flash Drive
- Capacity: 4 GB
- USB Interface Type: USB 2.0
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595
Is U3 All That?
Pros
U3 (for some), quick reads, retractable connector
Cons
U3 (for some), no lanyard included, super light (feels cheap), slow writes
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Retractable USB connector, now in cheaper (construction) form!
Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4GB with U3
With a new job comes new equipment being ordered for me. I got a slew of fresh electronics to review, and the first one up is Sandisk's own Cruzer Micro 4GB U3-enabled USB flash drive!
Package
The Sandisk Cruzer is packaged in a plastic blister pack which I hate! These things are hard to get into without help of a box cutter or shears. It advertises the U3 functionality, the applications included, and stating that it is Skype Certified. The package is attractive with Sandisk's traditional red and blue theme. It will catch your eye in a store for sure.
Sandisk always seemed to be a more of a premium brand when it comes to USB flash drives. However, with this model, there really isn't anything included with the Cruzer except for a little leaflet containing an ad. There isn't even a lanyard! For that, I am disappointed. You can definitely get a cheaper flash drive nowadays with the same capacity and performance. However, the U3 feature and sliding USB connector may be worth the extra bucks.
Design
The first Sandisk USB flash drive I have owned was a 2 GB Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. It was one of the best feeling USB flash drive I've ever owned. Being made of metal, it is hefty and solid. The sliding USB connector was very good design, as it does away with a cap. However, while the connector may have been retracted, it still leaves the electrical contacts open. I've had USB flash drives not being detected when plugged in or have it "disappear" while a file was transferring (yikes!). After a few inserting and removal cycles (in, out, in, out...), the instability is gone. This is usually a sign of dirty contacts due to an unprotected USB connector (or sometimes even a dusty USB jack on the PC...).
This Cruzer have the same retractable connector design, which also shares the same pros and cons as stated above. Think of this Cruzer as a plastic version of the Titanium. The metal casing is replaced with a matte black plastic. Because of this, the drive feels much cheaper than the Titanium. In fact, it feels cheaper (and lighter) than the Kingston DataTraveler I reviewed not too long ago. That's saying something, since I've stated that the Kingston DataTraveler was the cheapest feeling drive I've ever used. Despite the features and the cool retractable connector, this Sandisk Cruzer Micro feels cheaper than the Kingston! The size is similar to the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, which is a good thing, as both are compact as usual. There is a small silver ring attached to the drive that allows for a lanyard (which is not included!). You can always attach it to your key chain ring on your keys though.
The sliding mechanism is easy to use - you just push down on the lever and push it forward. To retract, you push down on the lever and pull it back. When plugged in, an orange LED lights up from underneath the translucent white lever you used to slide the connector. It flashes when there is activity.
Performance
Performance is respectable for both reading and writing, though not the best in either category. For testing, I used a PC with a Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB of memory, and Windows XP Pro SP2 as the OS. I used a Windows XP Pro 64-bit ISO file that is 558 MB in size.
Copying the 558 MB file to the Cruzer took 1:22 minutes, which equates to a write speed of 6.8 MB/sec. When copying the file from the Cruzer, it took a brisk 22 seconds, which equates to a read speed of 25.36 MB/sec.
The slow write speed is disappointing, but not as bad as a some other flash drives I've used. When compared to an older Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, this Cruzer is slower - the Titanium wrote files at 10.33 MB/sec, which is faster. However, when compared to a new generic Microcenter USB flash drive, the Cruzer beat it around 2 MB/sec (4.13 MB/sec for the generic Microcenter drive).
The read speed for new flash drives seem to keep increasing! When compared to an older Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, this Cruzer is much faster - the Titanium read files at 17.63 MB/sec. This was considered blazing fast 2 years ago. However, this Cruzer trumps that speed with 25.36 MB/sec. However, there are drives that can do much faster. In fact, the same generic Microcenter flash drive that was super slow in writing read much faster than this Cruzer! The generic drive read at a blistering 34.86 MB/sec! That's practically saturating the USB 2.0 maximum throughput!
Write speeds were always troublesome for flash media, but read speeds seem to be bumped up higher and higher with each new generation. Performance seems to be the same whether U3 is removed or not.
Windows Vista also seem to agree that it is fast enough, as it allows the Cruzer Micro to be used for ReadyBoost.
U3
I didn't expect U3 to be included with the Cruzer, so it was an added bonus. U3 allows for special U3 applications to be installed on the flash drive itself. When you insert the USB drive, it automatically loads a software that emulates a Start menu on the system tray area of the Windows taskbar. This is the U3 launcher, which allows you to use the U3 programs installed on your U3 flash drive. It only works with current versions of Windows (XP, 2003, and Vista). With other OSes (Mac, Linux, etc), it will act like a standard flash drive.
The Sandisk Cruzer Micro includes Skype, Cruzer Sync, SignupShield, and Avast Antivirus. These are U3 applications that does not require you to install on your PC, but instead, runs straight from the flash drive itself. Skype, as you know, is an internet VOIP, chat, and collaboration software. Cruzer Sync allows for you to sync your Outlook data (email, calendar, tasks, etc) to your flash drive so you can access them on another Windows PC. SignupShield is a password manager - you know... the kind of software that allows you to store all your usernames and passwords for different web sites and accounts you have, while keeping them safe with one master password. Avast is an antivirus program that may be helpful when the PC you are using does not have an antivirus program already installed.
It's odd how it works, and not very seamless. U3 makes your Windows PC see 2 drive letters - a virtual CD-ROM drive and the flash drive itself. The virtual CD-ROM drive contain files that autoruns the U3 launcher, which automatically starts the program when you plug in the USB drive. Other than that, the virtual CD-ROM drive isn't really used by the user. Having a fake CD-ROM drive complete with a drive letter would confuse your average user, though. However, U3 is suppose to make it easy for the same users to carry their belongings and data "DNA" from one computer to another.
You can uninstall the U3 functionality, but it requires a reformat of the drive, so you must back everything up on the drive before you uninstall U3. The U3 functionality takes up 6.5 MB of space, which really isn't much when compared to the large 4 GB of space the Cruzer Micro offers. Once you remove U3, the Cruzer Micro functions like a traditional flash drive. You can reinstall the U3 functionality by visiting Sandisk's website and downloading the setup file again. However, there are some users who report that it either refused to install or it destroyed the drive (Windows won't recognize it when plugged in).
Needless to say, I uninstalled the U3 functionality as I hate clutter and bloatware, though it does not affect the drive's performance either way. It does, however, slow down machines that aren't very beefy. I still support machines that have only 256 MB of RAM, and inserting this U3-enabled flash drive causes a lot of hard drive thrashing while Windows is trying to cram the U3 launcher into system memory that have since ran out when Windows XP first booted.
Conclusion
You can easily find faster USB flash drives, and even cheaper ones that perform better than the Sandisk Cruzer Micro. However, if you really like U3, it may be worth the extra dollars to get this drive. If you like the sliding connector, this drive is also for you. If you are a speed freak, it does pretty good with reads (better than previous generation, anyways), but still not the fastest I've tested. Writing speeds are decent, but not exactly brisk.
If speed doesn't matter, and you are just looking for a USB flash drive, there really isn't much I can say to ding it. The U3 launcher may be the only thing that I can ding it with, but it can be removed.
If you MUST have a U3 drive, then by all means, this is a decent U3 USB flash drive.
If you catch the Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4GB on sale for less than $25, I'd say go for it! However, my company purchased it for me (yea, it's free for me, lol), and they went through CDW. I'm not sure if they get a corporate discount, but on their web site, I found it for $41.99, which is pricey for a 4GB nowadays.
UPDATE - 12-28-2008
The 16 GB version is now available at the same price as this 4 GB drive when I bought it at the time. Is it just as good? Read it here!
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 16 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive with U3
With a new job comes new equipment being ordered for me. I got a slew of fresh electronics to review, and the first one up is Sandisk's own Cruzer Micro 4GB U3-enabled USB flash drive!
Package
The Sandisk Cruzer is packaged in a plastic blister pack which I hate! These things are hard to get into without help of a box cutter or shears. It advertises the U3 functionality, the applications included, and stating that it is Skype Certified. The package is attractive with Sandisk's traditional red and blue theme. It will catch your eye in a store for sure.
Sandisk always seemed to be a more of a premium brand when it comes to USB flash drives. However, with this model, there really isn't anything included with the Cruzer except for a little leaflet containing an ad. There isn't even a lanyard! For that, I am disappointed. You can definitely get a cheaper flash drive nowadays with the same capacity and performance. However, the U3 feature and sliding USB connector may be worth the extra bucks.
Design
The first Sandisk USB flash drive I have owned was a 2 GB Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. It was one of the best feeling USB flash drive I've ever owned. Being made of metal, it is hefty and solid. The sliding USB connector was very good design, as it does away with a cap. However, while the connector may have been retracted, it still leaves the electrical contacts open. I've had USB flash drives not being detected when plugged in or have it "disappear" while a file was transferring (yikes!). After a few inserting and removal cycles (in, out, in, out...), the instability is gone. This is usually a sign of dirty contacts due to an unprotected USB connector (or sometimes even a dusty USB jack on the PC...).
This Cruzer have the same retractable connector design, which also shares the same pros and cons as stated above. Think of this Cruzer as a plastic version of the Titanium. The metal casing is replaced with a matte black plastic. Because of this, the drive feels much cheaper than the Titanium. In fact, it feels cheaper (and lighter) than the Kingston DataTraveler I reviewed not too long ago. That's saying something, since I've stated that the Kingston DataTraveler was the cheapest feeling drive I've ever used. Despite the features and the cool retractable connector, this Sandisk Cruzer Micro feels cheaper than the Kingston! The size is similar to the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, which is a good thing, as both are compact as usual. There is a small silver ring attached to the drive that allows for a lanyard (which is not included!). You can always attach it to your key chain ring on your keys though.
The sliding mechanism is easy to use - you just push down on the lever and push it forward. To retract, you push down on the lever and pull it back. When plugged in, an orange LED lights up from underneath the translucent white lever you used to slide the connector. It flashes when there is activity.
Performance
Performance is respectable for both reading and writing, though not the best in either category. For testing, I used a PC with a Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB of memory, and Windows XP Pro SP2 as the OS. I used a Windows XP Pro 64-bit ISO file that is 558 MB in size.
Copying the 558 MB file to the Cruzer took 1:22 minutes, which equates to a write speed of 6.8 MB/sec. When copying the file from the Cruzer, it took a brisk 22 seconds, which equates to a read speed of 25.36 MB/sec.
The slow write speed is disappointing, but not as bad as a some other flash drives I've used. When compared to an older Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, this Cruzer is slower - the Titanium wrote files at 10.33 MB/sec, which is faster. However, when compared to a new generic Microcenter USB flash drive, the Cruzer beat it around 2 MB/sec (4.13 MB/sec for the generic Microcenter drive).
The read speed for new flash drives seem to keep increasing! When compared to an older Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, this Cruzer is much faster - the Titanium read files at 17.63 MB/sec. This was considered blazing fast 2 years ago. However, this Cruzer trumps that speed with 25.36 MB/sec. However, there are drives that can do much faster. In fact, the same generic Microcenter flash drive that was super slow in writing read much faster than this Cruzer! The generic drive read at a blistering 34.86 MB/sec! That's practically saturating the USB 2.0 maximum throughput!
Write speeds were always troublesome for flash media, but read speeds seem to be bumped up higher and higher with each new generation. Performance seems to be the same whether U3 is removed or not.
Windows Vista also seem to agree that it is fast enough, as it allows the Cruzer Micro to be used for ReadyBoost.
U3
I didn't expect U3 to be included with the Cruzer, so it was an added bonus. U3 allows for special U3 applications to be installed on the flash drive itself. When you insert the USB drive, it automatically loads a software that emulates a Start menu on the system tray area of the Windows taskbar. This is the U3 launcher, which allows you to use the U3 programs installed on your U3 flash drive. It only works with current versions of Windows (XP, 2003, and Vista). With other OSes (Mac, Linux, etc), it will act like a standard flash drive.
The Sandisk Cruzer Micro includes Skype, Cruzer Sync, SignupShield, and Avast Antivirus. These are U3 applications that does not require you to install on your PC, but instead, runs straight from the flash drive itself. Skype, as you know, is an internet VOIP, chat, and collaboration software. Cruzer Sync allows for you to sync your Outlook data (email, calendar, tasks, etc) to your flash drive so you can access them on another Windows PC. SignupShield is a password manager - you know... the kind of software that allows you to store all your usernames and passwords for different web sites and accounts you have, while keeping them safe with one master password. Avast is an antivirus program that may be helpful when the PC you are using does not have an antivirus program already installed.
It's odd how it works, and not very seamless. U3 makes your Windows PC see 2 drive letters - a virtual CD-ROM drive and the flash drive itself. The virtual CD-ROM drive contain files that autoruns the U3 launcher, which automatically starts the program when you plug in the USB drive. Other than that, the virtual CD-ROM drive isn't really used by the user. Having a fake CD-ROM drive complete with a drive letter would confuse your average user, though. However, U3 is suppose to make it easy for the same users to carry their belongings and data "DNA" from one computer to another.
You can uninstall the U3 functionality, but it requires a reformat of the drive, so you must back everything up on the drive before you uninstall U3. The U3 functionality takes up 6.5 MB of space, which really isn't much when compared to the large 4 GB of space the Cruzer Micro offers. Once you remove U3, the Cruzer Micro functions like a traditional flash drive. You can reinstall the U3 functionality by visiting Sandisk's website and downloading the setup file again. However, there are some users who report that it either refused to install or it destroyed the drive (Windows won't recognize it when plugged in).
Needless to say, I uninstalled the U3 functionality as I hate clutter and bloatware, though it does not affect the drive's performance either way. It does, however, slow down machines that aren't very beefy. I still support machines that have only 256 MB of RAM, and inserting this U3-enabled flash drive causes a lot of hard drive thrashing while Windows is trying to cram the U3 launcher into system memory that have since ran out when Windows XP first booted.
Conclusion
You can easily find faster USB flash drives, and even cheaper ones that perform better than the Sandisk Cruzer Micro. However, if you really like U3, it may be worth the extra dollars to get this drive. If you like the sliding connector, this drive is also for you. If you are a speed freak, it does pretty good with reads (better than previous generation, anyways), but still not the fastest I've tested. Writing speeds are decent, but not exactly brisk.
If speed doesn't matter, and you are just looking for a USB flash drive, there really isn't much I can say to ding it. The U3 launcher may be the only thing that I can ding it with, but it can be removed.
If you MUST have a U3 drive, then by all means, this is a decent U3 USB flash drive.
If you catch the Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4GB on sale for less than $25, I'd say go for it! However, my company purchased it for me (yea, it's free for me, lol), and they went through CDW. I'm not sure if they get a corporate discount, but on their web site, I found it for $41.99, which is pricey for a 4GB nowadays.
UPDATE - 12-28-2008
The 16 GB version is now available at the same price as this 4 GB drive when I bought it at the time. Is it just as good? Read it here!
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 16 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive with U3
