Customer Reviews

Corsair 1 GB Flash Voyager USB 2.0 Flash Drive ( CMFUSB2.0-1GB )

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I got the 4GB version of this device from ZipZoomFly for abut a hundred bucks afer rebate. So I put it to the test. The transfer speed is advertised as 15MB/s write and 20 MB/s read. My test using a 624 meg file yielded closer to 8.5 write / 11 read - still a very respectable speed. This is on almost a brand new Dell Inspiron 9300, over USB2.0.

A few extras came with the drive, which I didn't expect and was pleasantly surprised to find:

1. a lanyard. I can't imagine wearing this around my neck like a dorky fashion accessory, but I know two people (single guys) who do. More power to them.

2. An extension USB cable - pretty nice if you have a desktop and don't want to have to reach to the back of it every time you want to plug it in.

3. A mini-CD with an encryption utility that lets you partition and password-protect a part of the drive, letting you keep private data protected in case you loose the drive (Now that would be a real bummer).

The design is pretty nice - a rubbery feel to the drive and the cap. There is a keychain/lanyard loop on the drive itself, not on the cap - I would have much preferred to have one on both, is that too much to ask? Why can't manufacturers provide that and let me make the choice - I can't figure out. Personally I prefer to have the cap attached to my keychain, so I don't have to have all my keys hanging off the computer.

One problem is that the cap is plain rubber, and it slides on the USB plug and is held there only by friction. It's nice and chewy, but it just doesn't feel that secure. Please, Corsair guys, if you read this, next time, make it a snap-on kind, that would be so much better.

I found a website with a TON of apps that you can run right off the drive - actually two - portableapps.com and portablefreeware.com - 6 pages of freeware apps! Also, Pegtop.com makes a nice free portable start menu type program, so you can keep all your freeware apps neatly organized.

Well, I'm now looking forward to years of happy use of this drive. It wasn't too long ago people were WOWed by the 4 gig hard drive in my laptop. Now, this is my portable desktop with all my apps installed on it and with me wherever I go. Any computer now is just a dumb terminal to me with network and print services.

This flash drive is great in terms of ease of use and durability. I've seen several flash drives out there that look like flimsy sticks, but corsair's design is freakin' sweet (meaning you shouldn't be able to accidentally break or crush it). It comes with a 10 year warranty, which shows they care about the quality of their product. The flash drive is supposedly water resistant, but I don't want to loose my data in order to verify that theory.

If you live on a university like me, you find the drive works well with any machine you can throw at it. Windows XP has no problem recognizing the device, but I've yet to try it on OSX. As far as software goes, it gets the job done if you do basic things like me. The software has the ability to partition the flash drive into two disks so you can have one partition encrypted and the other not encrypted. That way if you use a machine with out the corsair software no one can access your data and even if they try then it is password protected. The software is pretty limited to those modes of functionality and I can see users complaining about have something that manages their files/photos/whatever for them. However, if you want something that works and isn't skittish then check out this gem.

Three reasons why I will not touch any Corsair USB memory drive again:

1) As the other reviewer pointed out (4 gig) "The wide, thick rubber gasket surround the USB connector limits how far you can insert the connector into even lightly recessed USB receptacles". I thought it was just mine! There is not enough metal exposed so it means the drive frequently disconnects, loosing valuable data in the process and crashing the PC often.

2) Right from day one, the drive would show up as a USB Hub (I think it uses this to control 4 chips inside instead of a single chip). But this would at least 50% of the time cause any other device to be inserted into the same USB port on removing the memory drive not to be recognized - only a reboot would fix this. I tried this on many laptops/desktops and got the same results.

3) I contacted Corsair who said to ship it back to them even though the local retailer would take it back. Since I was out the country I told them I was uncomfortable posting it internationally (back to them in Fremont, CA) using ordinary post (courier would have been 50% of what I could buy it new for). But they pushed for this without offering to pay for the post so ordinary post it went. They now claim not to have received it and now unlike the other reviewer I do not even have own a $100 paper weight.

I'd like to say a lot of other things, but fear that Amazon will not print it, so lets leave it at the simple facts above. I don't think I have been so disgusted at a company of peripherals as much as Corsair. And for Corsair to validate what I have said is true, my RMA Number: R153005

I love my Corsair Flash Voyager. I've had it about three months, and really put it through the paces.

I had originally intended on using it to carry a full bodied Linux distribution on it, so that I could boot from USB on any machine that motherboard had that capability. I could install the full version of Slax, which, yes, has Xorg AND KDE on it! I could fit Open Office on there and Gimp, with room to spare. I could even remaster Knoppix with what I wanted for programs, and get THAT to boot with room to spare.

It worked great for that, and then I realized, I spend more time just carting files around than needing to run memtest off a Flash drive.

The good news is... The Flash Disk is partitionable. It comes with software to do as much, but I've found any software will partition this drive without an issue. The only time you *need* the Corsair software is if you password protect your drive... Even then, there probably is a way around it, but I've not tried it.

What this means is one can put boot an operating system, or run applications, off one partition, and still have a goodly amount of room to store files. With this drive, you can have the best of both worlds.

The read/write speed is great on the drive, loading applications faster than a LiveCD would... Also, the blue light indicator is large, easy to see, and reassures you that, yes, even though the transfer was fast, something *did* happen.

The downsides to this drive: It collects lint like nobody's business. Not a huge downside for me, but I know that there are people it would irk, and you do want to avoid getting too much lint on the contacts. The second downside is that it is bulky... Not that it makes it difficult to carry, but if you have two USB ports side by side, you may have difficulties fitting another removable drive or cable in beside the Corsair Flash Voyager.

The package comes with an extra dorky lanyard that is quite big, so that you can be sure you won't misplace the drive (but keep an eye on the cap). It also comes with a mini-disc of partitioning software and pdf manuals, a 6" extension cable for crammed together USB slots, and a 10 year (something like 10,000 writes) warranty from Corsair.

I don't know how this product compares to others in price or speed. All I know is I just retrieved it from my washer after it went through a cycle in the pocket of my jeans. I popped it into my laptop and it was as if nothing had happened! Impervious to water!

Mine stayed intact for about one year. It seems to be advertised as a flash drive that can take a beating, but I don't know how helpful the rubber casing is. It creates more opportunity for bending between the USB connector (the tip that you stick into the USB port) and the rest of the internal components since there is no rigid body. This means that even without abusing it, the metal connections between the connector and where memory is stored become weaker and weaker. My connector broke off entirely yesterday. Maybe the rubber would make it sturdier if it was formed over an actual rigid case. I did give it 2 stars because I used it for a year without too many problems.

This drive is made out of rubber and not very sturdy. If you are planning on carrying this drive in your pocket like me, stay away from it. Mine broke in half in my pocket!!!! It's just a PCB board with two memory chips on it wrapped in rubber there is no reinforcement of any kind. The bottom line is if you don't want to lose your data buy something more sturdy then this.

Purchased this drive to move my large file phots around from home to work, and family members etc. It is also has enough storage for small movies which will be useful.

I wanted to be sure that the drive would stand the test of time since it would be moved around, dropped, squashed etc The rubber design is very tough and I can see it would be hard to break it. So top marks there.

The write and read speed is very fast - make sure you check these time when comapring to other cheaper drives.

I give 4 stars because the encryption software that comes with the drive is not user friendly, and this was a another key reason I bought it.

This is a GREAT USB drive. I have had mine for about 6 months now and have managed to put it through what most people will put it through in it's lifetime. It has gone through the washer AND drier twice, been carried to cool in my pocket daily, and is normally used for booting linux. Not once, even after putting it through the wash, has it ever failed on me. Whoever said that their drive broke in half while in their pocket is either on something or works for a competitor..... this is absolute bull$^!% mine is carried around in a pocket all day, everyday, has been dropped down a flight of stairs, sat on once, and through the washed and drier. The drive still looks and works like it's brand new. THis is a great drive that will last many years, if you are considering a flash drive then by all means, get this one.

Corsair is known for quality. Spend a bit more if you want the best. Nuff said.