| Article Index |
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| SanDisk Cruzer Contour 8GB USB2.0 Flash Drive Review |
| Page 2 - More Info and Conclusion |
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The size of the Cruzer Contour could make it difficult for it to fit in some USB ports, for instance on my notebook I have two USB ports, one directly above the other, and I can’t fit the Contour in the top port if something already occupies the bottom port, it will however fit in the bottom port if something occupies the top port. The width of the Contour could also be a problem for many people, especially as many USB ports on the front of PCs these days are slightly recessed into the case, meaning the Contour wouldn’t be able to fit through.
When plugged in there is only one light on the Cruzer Contour, and that is the Cruzer logo itself, which stays lit a (not overpowering) blue colour and doubles as the drive’s activity light when in use.
The Cruzer Contour includes U3 technology and software already loaded on the drive, which can allow you to take with you your windows preferences, favourites, profiles etc... to make any PC just like your home or office PC. There are quite a few programs that can be installed onto, and run solely off a U3 drive, two of the more popular are Skype and Winamp. Although this function is not the reason I would buy this drive, anything that’s thrown in as a bonus is always welcome. One point to note is that although the drive itself is compatible with Linux and MAC, the U3 software and functionality is not.
Performance of the Cruzer Contour is outstanding for a drive of this capacity, giving constant write speeds of 18MB/s and read speeds of 25MB/s (tested and verified with SiSoft Sandra), making it one of the fastest USB2.0 flash drives on the market, and with a massive 8GB of space available to you, you’d want it to be fast, or you’d be there all day trying to fill it up.
Unlike many other USB drives on the market, they Cruzer Contour does not have the ability to be attached to a key ring or something similar, and as it’s quite a bit bigger in physical size compared to many others, this can be a bit of an inconvenience. It does come with a small leather carry case that has a small clip on it, to attach to your belt/bag/key ring etc... However this also serves to make the whole unit even bigger still, which doesn’t solve the problem, but at least it gives you an option.
Conclusion:
The 8GB version retails for around AU$165, so it’s in the higher end of the price spectrum, but the speed and quality of the Contour is top notch, not to mention it is one of the best looking USB drives on the market today. Its only real downfall is its physical size, it’s not something you would have hanging off your keychain, but if you can throw it in your laptop bag or your pocket, I think you’d be very happy with one of these drives.
OzHardware Rating – 9/10
This product can be purchased online at www.techbuy.com.au (Direct Link)
