Product Description

Now you can store, carry and transfer large files in an affordable, convenient device. DataTraveler from Kingston helps budget-conscious users break storage barriers, allowing them to easily store and move large files in a device no bigger than a pocketknife. As easy as click and drag, DataTraveler can hold just about any file you can think of ¿ term papers, theses, digital images, spreadsheets or other important documents. It works with virtually any computer with a USB port. DataTraveler is also a great promotional item for businesses; your company logo can appear on it to increase your brand recognition, and it comes in multiple colors based on capacity. Backed by a five-year warranty and Kingston¿s legendary service and support, DataTraveler is a reliable, inexpensive solution for carrying digital files with you wherever you go.

Product Details

• Size: 16 GB
• Color: white/red
• Brand: Kingston
• Model: DTI/16GB
• Platforms: Mac, Windows
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x .5" w x 4.00" l, .25 pounds

Features

• Convenient ¿ pocket-sized for easy transportability
• Simple ¿ just plug into a USB port
• Practical ¿ store cap securely on end of device to prevent loss of cap
• Guaranteed ¿ five-year warranty
• Fashionable ¿ available in multiple colors by capacity

Customer Reviews

Kingston 16GB Data Traveler - Expanded Capacity In A Proven USB Drive Design

The Kingston Technology DataTraveler 16GB USB Flash Drive is the latest update from Kingston in their standard design. This model doubles the capacity of the Kingston 8GB DataTraveler USB flash drive that I have used alongside my many other flash drives for almost a year. All of these drives have worked very well for me.

The 16 GB capacity on this guy makes it very useful for even more file backups or USB storage than other drives. There are a few cons to this standard design, but over time they have come to seem even more minor. This is a solid product. I will have to use it a little longer before I can report on any other minor differences in durability or performance.

PROS:
+ 16 GB capacity allows even larger data backups than ever before
+ Durable NAND flash memory stands up to a lot of abuse
+ Compatible with Mac and PC operating systems (XP, Vista, OS X)
+ Kingston brand has well deserved reputation for quality
+ Reliable performance
+ Very light case
+ Rear whole to connect a lanyard or keychain
+ Rear bar to hold the cap while in use
+ USB 2.0 connection is backwards compatible for older computers
+ Very quickly mounts and stops
+ Less scum-ware and needless apps than some other drives
+ Easy to format and enable encryption to protect your data

CONS:
- Cap comes off easily and can be lost; inferior to retractable designs
- Not as attractive as the Sandisk Cruzer Micro
- Not crazy about the color scheme for the 16 GB model
- Slow USB rate still limits file transfer speeds
- Old body design is larger than needed
- Rear bar is easily broken or pulled out

Kingston has used the same design for these Data Traveler drives since the 1 GB I got quite a while ago. One thing that is different between each drive is the color scheme. This is a very minor detail, but the maroon accents on the 16 GB drive are not all that attractive compared to the purple used with the 4 GB model, for example.

Transfer speeds are comparable to other drives. In general, I think that top USB transfer rates have come to be much slower than I would like. In this case it's a trade-off for convenience. Load ups are fast and stopping the drive before removing it only takes a second.

There are a few ways in order to enable encryption. The best way may be to use another tool to encrypt the drive after re-formatting it. This way you can test the drive as well as use the encryption you prefer.

Kingston's DT100 and Sandisk's Cruzer Micro are alternative drives that also have retractable USB connectors. That way there's no risk of losing the cap, but there is more chance of getting dust in it.

Just as a small tip, the rear bar on the back of the standard Data Traveler drive can hold the cap in place while the drive is in use. Just *click* it onto that bar before you plug the drive into your USB port. So in that sense, the retractable models are still more convenient but you can minimize the chances of losing the cap with this one.

The SanDisk 8 GB Cruzer Micro does tend to be more expensive. Both the Kingston DataTraveler 100 and the Kingston DT100/8GB Data Traveler tend to add a little width, while the DT110 is designed to be much thicker for those who don't want a small drive.

Personally, I think selecting the drive which is priced the best at the moment might be the right strategy. I have never run out of uses for these drives and they also make great stocking stuffers.

CONCLUSION

It seems like thumb drive capacities continue to increase, and 16 GB is large enough to do complete data directory backups for many people. This much storage in a small USB drive is very useful. The price also seems to be more reasonable compared to previous drives. I definitely recommend you check this out.

Enjoy!

I normally don't bother reviewing stuff like this...
But after reading some of what is here, I felt the need to chime in and give this item the credit it is due and the positive rating it has earned.

Do I care about color schemes? No. Do I care about the possibility of cap loss? No; I tend to take good care of devices that contain sensitive or personal data. Do I care that a supplier may have delivery issues? Well, yes; but I'm not going to penalize an item and skew perceptions just so I can vent.

I own two drives of this same design and have nothing negative to say about them. Of these drives I ask very little - provide a bunch of storage space and don't lose my data. They do both of these very well.

One last word on the cap-less design: it may be a great choice for those who lose parts to stuff, but I have a hunch that the 'catch' that prevents unintended retraction will become worn after a time, rendering it difficult to use. A drive of this design that I have been borrowing from a friend is starting to show signs of this behavior and it's only a few months old. I could be wrong about this prediction, but I do know that the capped design will never experience this.

Holds everything
My computer has been reminding me lately that it is full. Too many downloads clogging up the memory. The only solution to that is either to purge all of my goodies, or to transfer them to an external drive.

The Kingston DataTraveler has a good reputation, is inexpensive and easy to use. I wanted a drive that could hold a lot of information, so I went with the 16GB which had the most bang for my buck.

I am happy to say that all of my movies went right onto the drive without filling it up. It took the burden off my computer, which improved the speed and freed up enough space to start collecting some new goodies.

Even better, because my DVD player, the Philips all-region 1080i upscaling DVD player, has a USB port, I can pop the DataTraveler drive into my DVD player and watch my movies right on my TV.