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Product:
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HighSpeed PC TX50 Wearable USB Drive |
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Price:
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$150 (CAN) / $99 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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HighSpeed PC
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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January 28th, 2003
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Scott from HighSpeed PC
for sending the TX50 Wearable USB Drive for review.
Introduction:
Portable storage devices have transcended through many technological changes over the past few years.
The 3.5" floppy drive although obsolete by today's standards is still widely used and remains a staple
in most computer configurations. Part of the reason why the standard is still available is due to the
cost factor since both the drive and media can be purchased for less than $20. A few companies have
introduced alternative solutions to bypass the limitation of floppy media. IOMega introduced Zip and
Jazz Drives with specialized media and while the system worked it was both slow and cumbersome to
maintain. From Zip and Jazz Drive Media we moved into CDR media which today is a widely acceptable
and easy to maintain format. For consumers still looking for the perfect portable storage solution,
a few companies have started to introduce USB and Firewire based solid state drives. Today in the
MTB Labs, we will be evaluating the TX50 Wearable USB Drive, a miniature solid state drive which
provides a plug and play solution to removable media.
Specifications:
The TX50 Wearable USB Drive is an all-inclusive solid state disk with a USB interface for PC and Mac
compatibility. Solid state drives work on a similar principle as hard drives and CD-ROM drives, with
the exception that instead of data being stored magnetically or optically, data is stored electrically
on a solid state semiconductor. The benefits of this are lower power requirements and virtually no
susceptibility to vibration, shock or extreme temperature. HighSpeed PC offers the TX50 Wearable USB
Drive in 64, 128 and 256 MB sizes. The devices are completely plug and play, requiring no additional
drivers or software, with the exception of Windows 98 & 98SE users. Here are some specifications from
the HighSpeed PC website:
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TX50 Wearable USB Drive - Key Specifications:
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| TX50 Wearable USB Drive: Distributed by HighSpeed PC |
| Dimensions: 80mm(L) x 24.5mm(W) x 11.7mm(H) |
| Weight: 11g |
| USB interface, plug & play storage device |
| Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, Mac OS 9.0 or above, Linux 2.4 or above (driver needed for Win. 98’ version only) |
| No battery or power needed |
| LED status indicator |
| Weatherproof casing |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The TX50 Wearable USB Drive package arrived in standard retail packaging with the USB drive suspended
in a plastic dome holder. The front portion of the package details some of the product features while
the back portion highlights a list of product specifications and quick steps for installation. One
issue that I immediately noticed was that the package advised that it should include a CDROM which
contains a USB driver for Win98, digital manual as well as a USB extension cable. Neither of these
items was included in the review package that I received.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Out of the packaging, I was immediately impressed at the size and compactness of the TX50. The unit
measures approximately 80mm (L) x 24.5mm (W) x 11.7mm (H) and weights in at 11 grams. The outer casing
of the unit has been protected with weather proofed hard formed plastic which makes this unit ideal for
any type of environment. The TX50 is capable of operating in 0 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius
and in storage mode from -10 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius. To get an idea of how small this
unit is I placed it next to a double AA battery for comparison. The TX50 Wearable USB drive is a plug
and play cross platform compatible solution that can operate on the PC or Mac platform. Consumers using
open source GPL Linux operating systems will also be pleased to know that this unit also works on that
platform as well. For users running older Windows based operating systems such as Windows 98SE or lower
will require the addition of a driver installation prior to using this unit.
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