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| SanDisk Cruzer Contour 8GB USB2.0 Flash Drive Review |
| Page 2 - More Info and Conclusion |
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SanDisk has been a leader in the flash memory market for
many years and today we’re taking a look at their latest entrant into the world of USB flash drives, the Cruzer Contour in 8GB form.
Almost everyone has a need for a USB flash drive these days, with them having long since taken over as the preferred and universal method of personal data storage and transportation. Such a demand has led to the massive stylisation of the medium, having them designed to look like spaceships, pens and even having them resemble food (for some reason?). The SanDisk Cruzer Contour we’re looking at today is not so much form over function as many other designs out there, but it has certainly been designed to cater for the fashion conscious individuals who still need reliable (and not to mention fast) portable storage.
The Cruzer Contour has a silver metal frame that encases a glossy black plastic cover for the flash memory itself. Although a silver/black colour scheme is not exactly unique with today’s peripherals, the Cruzer Contour pulls it off very well, with a bit of a ‘less is more’ approach, and personally I think it looks great. The USB connection is not usable without coaxing it out of its little hidey-hole which helps prevent any possible damage to the connector, and unlike many other retractable USB drives the connector is completely sealed from the outside world by a small metal trapdoor so even dust and other contaminants cannot get in to mess up the connector.
Another feature that is unique to the Cruzer Contour is the retraction method of the connector. As the picture below shows, the body is slid backwards inside the metal frame then drawn forward with the USB connector now protruding from the unit and ready for connection. To retract the connector the body is this time slid forward in the frame then backwards, taking the USB connector with it and sealing it away behind its small trapdoor protector.
Although the back and forth movement is easy enough for anyone to complete with just their thumb, the force required is a significant enough amount that the connector is not going to be accidentally retracted when you try to plug it in. Once the connector is exposed, it is locked securely in that position until you decide it’s time to come back inside. It’s also quite durable, we had different people around the office try and break it, well - kind of, by repeatedly opening and closing with force and yet it still remains in one piece and functions properly
