Archos ArcDisk 4GB Hard Drive USB Key
While the ArcDisk’s rigid, switchblade-like, flip-out USB connector has no problem connecting to a solitary, front-mounted USB port, it’s impossible to connect to a populated bank of USB ports. It just won’t wiggle in comfortably with its neighbors. However, there is a solution — the device comes with a USB extension cable. The cable can be plugged into a tight-fitting port and then routed out to the front of the computer or carried along should you suspect you’ll need it elsewhere.

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A little bit larger than a matchbook (1.8 x 1.7 x 0.5 inches), the ArcDisk is the lightest of the four drives at 1.4 ounces. It uses a 4GB Hitachi drive that formats out to 3.79GB. Because of its small size, you could possibly lose the ArcDisk for a while in a crowded pocket, purse, or belly bag. To prevent that, at least for the fashion conscious among us, Archos also includes a thin wrist strap that you can attach to the drive, making it instant techno-jewelry. Missing, however, was software.

While none of these pocket hard disks are blazingly fast by any definition, the ArcDisk was the most nimble of the four in our document transfer tests, edging out Imation and soundly trouncing both Seagate and Sony. Unfortunately, it dropped to the back of the pack during the music and video transfers. While that doesn’t bode well for its use as a media drive, the ArcDisk gets a huge nod as a backup or general data transfer device despite its lack of helpful software.

Archos ArcDisk 4GB Hard Drive USB Key Archos www.archos.com/products/prw_500658.html Price: $150 Product Specs Buffer: 128K Rotation: 3600rpm Stated Capacity: 4GB Formatted Capacity: 3.79GB Max. Transfer Rate: 97.9Mbps Interface: USB 2.0 Software: None Size: 1.8 x1.7 x 0.5 inches Weight: 1.4 oz Warranty: One year