EDGE Tech DiskGO Secure Flash Drive Enhanced For ReadyBoost
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Storage Capacity: 1 Gbyte, 2 Gbytes, or 4 Gbytes
Casing: Swivel chrome housing
Encryption: 192-bit TDES encryption
Special features: Lifetime warranty, Vista-compatible
Speed: Not listed
Price: $30 / $40 / $50

Some people have noticed that Windows Vista requires a sizeable chunk of RAM in order to achieve optimal performance. Through a built-in feature called ReadyBoost, Vista can grab hold of the available flash memory to use for cache operations. In non-technical terms, you plug in your thumb drive, configure ReadyBoost in the "Properties" window, and your Vista PC should run faster.

However, most secure USB drives were initially incompatible with the ReadyBoost feature. EDGE Tech led the way with DiskGO Secure Flash Drive Enhanced for ReadyBoost, a device containing both security and improved Vista functionality.

In addition, DiskGO Secure includes a choice in encryption technologies: 256-bit AES encryption and 448-bit Blowfish encryption, a fast, open source, and export-friendly method.

Storage Capacity: 4 Gbytes, 8 Gbytes, 16 Gbytes
Casing: Basic black
Encryption: Software-based 256-bit AES encryption
Special features: Portable vault
Speed: 23-Mbps read, 20-Mbps write
Price: $45 / $83 / $160

The ACP-EP Privacy Flash Drive mounts as a standard USB drive. Files can be protected using the included Portable Vault software. Users can set up a password (recommended length of seven characters) as well as a password hint to access the files.

Portable Vault creates and works with a hidden directory on the root level of your USB drive. Unlike some of the more transparent offerings that will encrypt/decrypt in the background as you use Windows Explorer, with Portable Vault you need the software to explicitly add or remove files to the secure area. This hurdle, in turn, may increase the risk that users will ignore the secure area entirely.