The AH421 is the latest product in Apacer’s Handy Steno range of portable storage devices and has some unique features primarily designed for laptop use, coupled with some very impressive performance.

The AH421 is a very sleek looking device cased in all black glossy plastic which more or less looks like most other USB flash drives on the market, however instead of the USB connector sticking out the end it comes out of the side of the unit at a 90degree angle, so when the unit is plugged into a USB port on a notebook it will sit flush along the side instead of sticking out like a sore thumb like most USB flash drives.

Apacer AH421 Box

Apacer AH421 Top

The USB connector can also swivel around 180degrees, so if you plug it in one way and its blocking off another connector port close by, simply swivel it straight up or the opposite direction and problem solved. A small cloth pull-tag is located behind the USB connector for easy removal.

Apacer AH421

Plugged In - Horizontal

Plugged In - Vertical

This connector, while convenient for some, makes the device completely impractical for connecting to a desktop PC, it will be more or less impossible for most computers without the aid of some sort of extension cable (which is not included with the AH421). This is because with a USB port that is recessed by even just a couple of mm, the AH421 wouldn’t be able to go in. So they’re not making it easy for people wanting to transfer data between their laptop and home PC.

Full 180-Degree Swivel Movement

Another point about the connector, is that because USB ports are often situated in pairs right on top of one another, the AH421 will be blocking off whichever port it’s not plugged into, no matter which way you swivel it around, so while Apacer have quite an innovative design to cater for a specific sector of the market, the design has a couple of rather significant drawbacks.

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