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SanDisk Cruzer Micro (4 GB) USB 2.0 Flash Drive
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mrkstvns's Review
Problematic
a technology geek, a techie
| Cons |
|
MAR
25
2008
The problem with all Cruzer drives of all sizes is that they are badly implemented and loaded with unnecessary software that is incompatible with some systems and can cause errors or crashes in some cases.
It shouldn't be that way. A USB flash drive is so fundamentally simple that users should expect flawless compatability across platforms. This is the critical Achilles heel with the SanDisk Cruzer. It comes with U3 apps that provide no useful functionality for most customers. Unlike well-engineered USB flash drives, the SanDisk Cruzer takes *TWO* of your drive letter slots, and they're non-contguous letters at that. Adding insult to injury is the fact that you can't override this behavior nor can you easily uninstall their space-wasting useless U3 software.
My 4GB Cruzer works okay with an XP system I have at work and with an older Windows 2000 system I have at home, however, on one of my new Vista boxes, it locks up the computer because it's trying to install a control on the system.
That's B.S. A USB drive works very nicely, thank you very much, within Windows. You drag and drop like with any other device and you just eject it as you would a CD, DVD, or diskette --- normal Windows operation is easy and intuitive. What is *NOT* intuitive is having unnecessary controls added to your desktop to duplicate existing functionality and what is *NOT* helpful is working in a way that's unlike similar drives from other manufacturers.
I have several flash drives laying around, and I always reach for one of my Lexar drives before the Cruzer, simply because it's a faster, leaner, simpler, SMARTER flash drive that has NO trash on it, uses only 1 drive letter, and integrates well with my existing Windows applications. Simpler is better. SanDisk Cruzer is WORSE.
SanDisk Cruzer Micro (4 GB) USB 2.0 Flash Drive is not recommended by mrkstvns
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