PC Card drives ....................................................................................
In 2005, Toshiba broke new ground with a tiny hard drive that slips into a PC
Card slot and instantly delivers 5GB of storage without the need for cables,
screwdrivers, or jumpers. The only downside to this device is that, because it
is the first of its kind, it is more expensive and relatively small; both of those
issues are sure to be solved in a short period of time. As this book goes to
press, 5GB sold for about $150 in this format; expect to see larger capacities
at lower prices soon.Based on a 1.8-inch drive, Toshiba’s device weighs only 55 grams (fewer than
2 ounces) and draws only 2 watts when working and half that amount when idle.Flash memory keys ............................................................................
In 2005, you could purchase a key with 1GB of storage for just under $100.
These low-power devices draw no power at all when they are in an idle state,
and only a tiny bit of power is required to write or read information to or
from them. Prices and capacities are already spiraling down and up in the
right direction. The great advantage of flash memory keys is their tremen-
dous portability; you can keep sensitive material on the key in your pocket or
toss it into a safe. On the other hand, if you get too casual about the process,
you could end up losing them easily. The other potential problem: A USB key
sticks out an inch or two from the side of laptop, an invitation to disaster if
they are bumped by other objects. (I’m not so much worried about the keys,
which are pretty sturdy, but rather to the connectors on the laptop’s mother-
board or the possibility that the entire computer will fly on down to a hard
surface.) An example of a flash memory key is shown in Figure 7-7.Figure 7-7:
A flash
memory key
is an
excellent
way to
securely
transport
information
from place
to place (as
long as you
don’t lose
the little
fellow).138 Part III: Laying Hands on the Major Parts