Customer Reviews

SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive SDCZ6-4096-A11

5 star:		(133)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

I was apprehensive when I read all the reviews about U3. I simply wanted a reliable storage device and nothing else. As soon as I connected the usb drive, I removed the U3 launchpad and technology. It took a total of 1 minute and it was done. No more U3 and I have an excellent 4 GB drive for 23 bucks. Same drive sells at retail for over 40. I run windows xp and it was no problem at all to remove the U3. I can see how it may look overwhelming with all the programs/apps, but one or two clicks of a button and it was gone. I highly recommend this drive to anyone looking for a place to store music, docs, pictures, etc....

...don't listen to the negative reviews for this product. SanDisk makes a great product, every time. I use nothing but SanDisk for my flash drive/memory card needs because quite frankly, other companies don't make reliable products. The software issues with this device are not even a problem if you simply UNINSTALL the U3 software. Once you do that, it's treated as a mass storage device just like anything else. There is no law written down that you need to use software on a device just because it came with it. Using the Windows explorer to manage your files is easier and more effective anyway.

I have a SanDisk Cruzer U3 drive and it works great. I purchased another with 4 GB to use solely as for ReadyBoost on my Vista computer. Installation was a no-brainer and it immediately offered me an option to use it for ReadyBoost and to apportion the 4 GB between the normal Cruzer US functions and ReadyBoost. I chose to used the majority for ReadyBoost and have been rewarded with better performance. I keep it installed permanently. I'd recommend it highly.

I've been using this drive for about a month now. I carry it in my pocket every day, it's survived well so far. The case is a bit scuffed, but that's it. The retractable USB connector still slides smoothly and locks into place. I've used it with PCs, Macs, and Linux - no problems with any of these. Speed is acceptable, I've played video files off it with no problem. The drive itself is excellent.

Now, for the downside - the U3 software. It's a good idea - gives you a way to carry your own apps with you. Unfortunately, it's a less than good implementation. It autostarts *every* time you insert the drive into a windows computer. On a mac it shows up as a useless CD-Rom drive. I used it for a while - it was nice to have my own browser with my own bookmarks, but it was randomly causing issues with the security profiles on some computers. So I uninstalled it and installed Portable Apps instead - free software that does the same thing, but better.

I recommend this drive, but I also recommend you remove the U3 software first thing. It wil require a PC, clicking through a few "are you sure" screens, and downloading a program, but its worth it.

I found myself carrying 4 small flash drives in my pocket and decided it was time to get a single drive that would meet the bulk of my needs. THIS IS IT!!! At work I have XP Pro and at home and on my laptop I run VISTA. The U3 works seamlessly between the two operating systems. I appreciate the password protection since I keep school records on this drive. All of the trial software had pretty icons but all went away to free up usable space. I took the black clasp from a PNY neck strap and converted it into a nice key chain attachment so when the drive is not being used it makes a darn nice key fob too. I will probably buy another in the near furture for my wife. We both work in the same school system and work on the same server. Other reviews I read would lead one to believe this unit had some serious flaws. My opinion is they have some serious pickiness issues. The drive is as advertised and it performs extremely well.

Warning: Don't install the "update" because it will erase all of your data! I have been using the Cruzer thumb drive for some time. I have never liked it because it installs software on my computer without my permission (is that legal?). I usually have other copies of the data on my thumb drive, but recently a hard drive failed at work so I used my SanDisk thumb drive to back up some important data. Then today when I plugged the thumb drive into my desktop at home, I was prompted to update the software (called LaunchPad I think). I clicked OK. I was looking for some kind of warning to back up data or close all programs or whatever (as is standard). I didn't see any warnings -- just a license agreement. I clicked OK on the license agreement. It immediately started the "update," but the status said "formatting drive." I tried to not freak out. Surely they would not be deleting all of my data with no warning? Surely they could not be reformatting the drive? There is software on there! But when the "update" was complete, I checked and sure enough, the drive was entirely wiped clean! All my files, folders, programs -- everything. GONE! WITH NO WARNING! I couldn't believe it! Is it legal to do this? If it is, it shouldn't be! This is outrageous! I didn't have any other copy of a lot of that data! I called SanDisk, they immediately knew what I was talking about (I'm sure this is happening to lots of other people). They refused to take financial or legal responsibility for their actions. They didn't care about my lost data. No apology. All they would do is refer me to a company, LC Technologies, for data recovery. And get this, they are "partnering" with LC Technologies to offer a "discount" on data recovery. They even have a big link with a special discount code on the Support page for this thumb drive (but no warning about having your data hosed if you install the update). I'll bet you that they are getting a kickback from LC Technologies for sending so much business their way. How evil is that!?!? Not only is SanDisk deliberately deleting data, and not taking responsibility, they are benefitting from it financially at well! This is truly wrong, truly outrageous. I'm going to try to find a class action lawsuit to join.

PLEASE, do yourself a favor, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!

Great product if you are not using VISTA. U3 Software in NOT VISTA compatable and SanDisk cannot tell me when the update will be available. Can't find a way to change the password once set. Working on it. Any upgrades to the U3 system formats the unit.

I have had this device for about six months now, and i basically just use it to take files to and from school. Today it survived its ultimate test in my opinion. This little thing survived the washing machine and not only does it still work but all my information is still saved on it. Based on that fact alone i recommend this device to anyone.

The appliance comes with evil, unwanted, non-uninstallable software. Here is what it does:

1. Installs itself on your system without asking your permission first. It puts an icon in your tray. It pops up a window suggesting more software you can get.

2. It claims you can unstall the adware, but the uninstaller does not work. If you delete all the files, they magically reappear every time you put the device in the port. (This is a SPYWARE technique, and it is EVIL.)

3. An uninstaller downloaded from the SanDisk web site similarly does not work. Perhaps it works on some systems, but it did not work on mine.

4. It accesses the internet. My firewall stopped it, but the question is, WHY would any flash drive try to access the web? I have confidential data. I do NOT want my flash drive giving ANY information to any other source. Again, this is a typical spyware activity.

5. No privacy statement. No license agreement. No documenation warning you that unwanted software will be installed. No information about the installation, such as what registry keys were added, or where hidden files reside. I could be carrying artifacts of this device on my system for years, and I wouldn't even know it.

Although I can not technically call this software spyware, I can call it frustrating, aggravating, and EVIL. It wasted my time not only researching this nasty behavior and how to clean up my system after this appliance touched it, but also the time it takes to return this evil device to the vendor.

I'm a software developer who uses (well, used) this drive to transfer files between my mac and pc. Starting today, I'm no longer going to use this drive or any that Sandisk makes. Their auto-run software is annoying, and there is no way to remove it permanently as far as I can tell. The thing launches 2 drives when you plug it into windows XP... one for your stuff which is pre-cluttered with sandisk junk, and one for their auto-run software. Even when you try to delete their files, it comes back next time you insert the drive. You can disable the auto-run software temporarily, but this morning I ran a windows XP update, and behold, their autorun stuff is back, bothering me with popups and wasting my system resources. Get a clue, Sandisk. People want a drive for their data, not yours.