Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Krusty · Jun 2, 2002, 01:22 AM

This looks really cool ... I've already thought of about 3 different things I could use it for. I've already place my order (via smalldog, they're cheaper) but am waiting for it to come off backorder.

<a href="http://www.cdcyclone.com/more_flash_key.html" target="_blank">ultra mini hard drive</a>

looks more convenient than a microdrive or a flash reader .. it has a loop so you can put it on your keychain. TOO CONVENIENT !!!

[ 06-02-2002, 02:23 AM: Message edited by: Krusty ]

Mac Zealot · Jun 2, 2002, 06:42 AM

If it was firewire and waterproof I'd really want it

Just imagine! Instant data transfer

but USB is good, when I grab some money I'm going to pick one up

G4ME · Jun 2, 2002, 12:12 PM

it would be good if I needed to transfere 256 of data around but I don't need to so I don't need the product, still it is really nice the next floppy drives

Krusty · Jun 2, 2002, 03:08 PM

Actually, the fact that its USB is the clinker .... Firewire wouldn't be any faster (because the data transfer rate of this drive is limited to less than 1 mB per second anyway) and practically every computer made in the last 4 years has USB .... tons of current PCs (and older Macs) don't have firewire.

My uses for this device:
1 - I transfer data to and from work (MP3s mostly but also work documents) ... and its a PC - Mac transfer so this would work like a charm.

2 - Its like the infamous missing floppy (or even a zip drive, really). I've always worked around it by either using the 'net or burning a CD. I love sharing files over the internet via iDisk file sharing ... but when it gets in the 50+ meg range it starts to get a little cumbersome -- especially from a dial-up which most people I know still have. Also, my work apparently has some sort of block because I can never ADD files to my iDisk from work (always fails .. though it works fine from my friend's home machines and I can delete fine from work).

3 - I don't know how many times I've been at a friends or family member's house and they had some family pics or an album or a game demo or SOMETHING that I wanted a copy of. Having this thing on my key ring means never being at a loss for disk space ( --- see GEEK accessory !!) But I wouldn't always have to PLAN to have disk space with me ... it'd just BE there without having to think about it.

I don't really think that this is something that I'd use everyday ... but I bet I'd use it at least 10 to 15 times in a year. Most of the time It'd just be a regular key fob ... but it could come in handy from time to time. (--- see again, GEEK Accessory ... a toy for the techno-enabled ... not really a MUST HAVE ... just fun)

[ 06-02-2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: Krusty ]

rambo47 · Jun 2, 2002, 10:14 PM

But no support for OS X ? Whatup wit dat? They mention OS9 but X is conspicuously absent.

Krusty · Jun 2, 2002, 10:45 PM

That's a typo on their web site. Should read OS 8.6 or greater ... I read a review of this drive and it worked flawlessly for them in X. Its X enabled for sure. Ahhh, here's the link ... MacHomeJournal
<a href="http://www.machome.com/reviews/index.lasso?-database=reviewsDB&-layout=web&-response=display.lasso&-recordID=34550&-search" target="_blank">Review Link</a>

Mac Zealot · Jun 2, 2002, 11:51 PM

In X you don't really need support for anything because if it's a disk it will pop up on your desktop.

I really want one now because in our lab we have all kinds of imacs, and such, and it'd be really sweet to just walk up to one and slip the keychain onto a USB port, people wondering what it is?

Still agreed, very friggin cool!

Just as a thought about it, the flash media and readers are suckage compared to these in a way, because those need a seperate drive, this is the whole thing. What'd be outstanding is if you could plug it into, let's say a digital camera, and have it beam down everything.

[ 06-03-2002, 12:52 AM: Message edited by: Mac Zealot ]

Krusty · Jun 12, 2002, 06:01 PM

Well, I've had my little 128mb buddy for a couple of days now. Pretty much lives up to every expectation I had for it. Works seamlessly in Mac or Windows ... I've used 4 times already (twice work ->> home, once home ->> work, and once friend's house ->> home ->> work). Of course, i knew I'd have a few specific uses for it off the bat. Now its just going to be a keyring until needed again.

BTW, cdcylone sells the 128mb for $154 but small dog has that size for $99 !! All sizes are much cheaper at smalldog.

Also, very small (as you can see from the link) but also INCREDIBLY light. Feels like empty plastic. Crushing it is the only thing I'm worried about right now ... but so far it seems pretty strong.

Finally ... in the box:
1) flashkey drive WELL PACKAGED
2) lanyard (which I've never opened and probably never will)
3) Install driver CD for Win98 machines (everything later than 98 or OS 8.6 is natively supported).
4) USB extension cable: fantastic !! Have it plugged in to my work machine ... just use the empty keyboard USB jack on my home machine.

All in all, quite nice. If you think you have use for something like this I can highly recommend this particular device (though after a search, I've found that at least 3 or 4 vendors have version of this same thing right now). But, this one is among the least expensive and looks the best.

PS:
Other programmers and multimedia people at work: "that thing is bad a$$ ...its the coolest thing I've seen in a long time"
Not-as-technicals (design, support, etc) : "You are complete and utter geek"

Mac Zealot · Jun 12, 2002, 06:12 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Krusty:
PS:
Other programmers and multimedia people at work: "that thing is bad a$$ ...its the coolest thing I've seen in a long time"
Not-as-technicals (design, support, etc) : "You are complete and utter geek"<hr /></blockquote>But they think floppies are a necessity right?

Those things rock, can't wait till I have enough to get one :-D

Phat Bastard · Jun 12, 2002, 08:09 PM

A friend of mine in the lab bought one of these microdrive things (hers was

Phat Bastard · Jun 12, 2002, 08:16 PM

A friend of mine in the lab bought one of these microdrive things (hers is <a href="http://www.apacer.com/product/handydrive/" target="_blank">this one</a>)--it looks like they are based on the same design. I tried it on my OS X Mac and I remember I couldn't write to the drive because the file system on it wasn't strictly UNIX compatible...I could see all the files on it, but the permissions were such that I couldn't write to the drive. All the files were owned by the group "wheel" (whatever that means, it's not a group on my filesystem) but with my user name...quite odd.

At any rate, I'm curious to hear if Cyclone drive is OS X compatible (Krusty?) and what kind of groups/users your files have.

Mac Zealot · Jun 12, 2002, 08:19 PM

Those drive docks are hella funny.

You know you can plug anything USB into one! Imagine a bluetooth adapter on that thing! Rofl!

Krusty · Jun 12, 2002, 10:44 PM

Hmm... from the looks of that aPacer thing ... the cdcyclone one looks like it is simply a re-badged version of the exact same thing. Every curve and shape of the one you linked to looks exactly like the one I have. From the side switch to the key eyelet ... same plastics. CDC must just be getting from the exact same supplier.

I've had no trouble with in X (in fact, I've used it only in X and not in 9 yet on the Mac side of things). As far as priveleges: owner is whomever is logged in and group is also "wheel". owner/group/everyone are showing read/write ability. Do you have any special security measures on your machine ... did you verify permissions on the mounted volume ?? Also, I inspected the drive with the OS X Disk Utility ... its an MS-DOS formatted drive (which explains why it works flawlessly for me between platforms). However, the apple disk utility showed it as available to be erased/reformatted with the regular OS X choices (HFS+, extended, UNIX). 'course I'll be leaving mine as is but maybe your friend has set some permissions or set something up differently somehow.

I have a coupla questions for you. How long has your friend had it ?? Has it seemed to hold up OK ?? I knew this thing was light but that website you linked to showed a weight of 17 grams in one place and 20g in another. That's somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 of an ounce !! Now THAT'S LIGHT WIEIGHT !!!

So no probs in X ... does seem that I had to unplug and replug though to reclaiim space from deleted space (eg it has 125mb of formatted space if I add and then delete a 35mb file it will only show 90mb of available space until I unplug and replug).

Mac Zealot · Jun 12, 2002, 10:52 PM

Of course, it's only one tiny chip and a little circuit board.

Kinda reminds me of the iKlip or some name like that.. can't remember what it was called but it was a little blue keychain device where when you pressed a button on it it'd remember what time it was when you did, so that you could sync it on a website and find out what song was playing on that station at the time you hit the button.

Silly idea, but it was handy as it got me the names of many songs, cool toy it was too

F that, I want an ipod!!! :-D

Krusty · Jun 12, 2002, 11:00 PM

Yeah, now if they could just put an iPod on a keychain that would solve everything !!!

Actually, the data transfer speed of this one was enough to play mp3s and a wmv FROM THE DRIVE w/o any skips or probs. I even copied the acrobat reader "package" to the drive and was able to run it directly from there (albeit rather slowly).

BTW, I never bother taking it off the keyring ... just let the keys dangle while its in use. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

[ 06-13-2002, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: Krusty ]

lextek · Jun 13, 2002, 05:09 AM

I use a 128mb smartmedia card with my Zio for the same thing. That way I can use it with my digital camera. We've come a long way since the Zip.

HouseSold · Jun 13, 2002, 12:17 PM

Now using Sony USB memory stick reader and 128mb stick as well.

Also have PCMCIA memory stick adapter in Powerbook for the same purpose.

Transfers data, music and photos seamlessly between PC's and Macs.

Total cost for stick $49.95; other sizes and readers (ZIO ?) also from Lexar and new multifunction readers for SD, memory stick and compact flash available too.

Personally like leaving Sony memory stick PCMCIA adapter permanently in the Powerbook (fits flush) and transfer using 128mb stick. Sony will soon have larger capacity sticks out.

Links available for all.

Krusty · Jun 13, 2002, 08:17 PM

Yeah, I've know about ZIO and other flash media readers for a long time. This one seems a bit niftier because its on my key ring and always there w/o giving it a thought. Even micro readers like the ZIO require you to remember to bring it with you whenver you head out ... In other words, they still qualify as "gear" that you have to conciously equip yourself with if you want it to be with you when you get someplace. To adapt the old laptop cliche : "the best hard drive in the world is the one you have with you."

Oh, and Yes, MacZealot ... you've pretty much pegged the type of person who thinks its geeky. (well, it IS ... but its also useful). BTW, I've had it for 3 or 4 days and I'm pretty much "over it" Its still cool and useful (I used it again today) .. but now its just another tool at my disposal ... exactly what I hoped it'd become. If you think you could use one ... DON'T hesitate to get it.

later all

Phat Bastard · Jun 14, 2002, 12:54 PM

The Apacer drive is holding up pretty well. As far as I know she carries it around on her keychain on her belt, so I'm sure it gets jiggled around somewhat. It seems pretty resilient.

It's funny, she bought the thing because she felt her brand new iBook was too heavy to carry around from home to work. I was amused by that since I wonder why she bought a laptop in the first place if she wasn't going to take it around with her. I guess she didn't anticipate the Handy Drive coming out, that thing is so convenient.