SimpleTech STI-USBMD/128 128MB Bonzai USB Mini Drive

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Product Details

Product Manual [5.34mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006HYPU
• Item model number: STI-USBMD/128
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 12, 2002

Product Description

Product Description

Break free from the limitations of floppy disks and rewritable CDs. The SimpleTech Bonzai USB Mini-Drive is the easy way to store, transfer and carry your personal files. Whether you're at home, at work, or on the road, Bonzai gives you instant access to your files via any computer with a USB port. Use Bonzai to store your business documents, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and Word files, to work anywhere you travel. Carry favorite digital pictures, MP3 music, video and audio clips to share with family and friends. Even store games for a little fun between projects. It is like another hard drive for your computer. You have complete control creating, copying and deleting files from Bonzai.And Bonzai is guaranteed compatible. USB is available in nearly every desktop and notebook computer made in the past few years. Bonzai works equally well with Windows and MacOS computers, with no drivers required (except for Windows 98 and earlier). Bonzai even works with USB hubs so you don't have to remove other USB devices. Bonzai is a breakthrough in design and convenience. With enough storage capacity to equal more than 90 floppy disks, Bonzai gives you the freedom to carry all your files in the palm of your hand. Bonzai features a sturdy and stylish case that slips easily into your pocket, purse or briefcase. The all-in-one unit requires no batteries, no external power, and no additional cables or adapters. Other USB drives use embedded storage. If you want more capacity you need to purchase another storage device. But not with Bonzai. You simply open the case and plug in another flash memory card. Bonzai uses a patent-pending design for an infinitely expandable storage solution.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, March 15, 2003

By	MikeKDidIt "Have a great one!" (Logan, IA USA) - See all my reviews

Executive summary: 1.44 floppies are just not cutting it. I work with clients and don't want to lug around a CD burner to move files from my laptop to/from their network. I also don't always want to lug my laptop home. Enter Simpletech's Bonzai USB mini drive. It is awesome. If you are looking for high capacity and expandable computer storage in a small, portable, USB-based, no install hassle package, buy the Bonzai USB mini-drive now.

A few details . . .

Insert it into a USB port, wait about 2 seconds and WIN2K and WinXP (home and professional) pop up an acknowledgement of a new removable disk that it found. You use the USB drive just like a hard drive (drag and drop, etc.).

Here are some factoids I wish the product description (or picture) would have told me:
1) A 4 foot USB extension cable is included, which in my book eliminates any negative dealing with the fact that the USB ports on some computers are close together or very tight. (BTW I have a Compaq Presario with 2 USB's on the front and although it is tight the Bonzai works fine there without the extension, even with my mouse plugged in right beside it). Having to carrying a small cable is just not that big of deal folks.
2) It is very small. 2 1/2" long including the USB plug. 1 1/4" wide. 1/2" deep.
3) It is very light. About the weight of one Oreo Double Stuff cookie :)
4) The USB plug has a cap.
5) The case is heavy plastic.
6) A lanyard (i.e big shoestring looking thing that goes around your neck like a Referee's whistle) is included.
7) I have a 60MB zip file on my Bonzai right now which unzips faster than those on my hard drive. Did I mention the Bonzai is fast?
8) The whole thing seems solid and well made.

BTW, a guy I work with and I did some research. We both concluded that Bonzai is the answer to our goal of a slick way to quickly move files between computers, with zero install requirements (at least on Win2K and WinXP). He is very envious of me right now since he opted for the Sandisk Cruzer instead of the Bonzai (because Best Buy didn't have the Bonzai). I picked Bonzai and was delighted to find that amazon.com has it. The Cruzer is about 4-5 times bigger, and doesn't feel nearly as solid in my view.

I opted for the 128MB model instead of the 256MB or 512MB models for two simple reasons: 1) 128MB is enough for me for now (equal to 88 diskettes), 2) the price of Secure Disk (SD) is bound to keep tumbling so I'll pick up a 256 and/or 512 once the 1GB (and beyond) SD's come out and drive down their cost of their little brother and sister :)

Enjoy the Bonzai!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great product!, September 16, 2002

By	Bobby Humphrey "siphersipher" (Chino, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This one I use it as a combo reader/USB hard drive. The SD/MMC card inside can slide out easily. I use it with my IPAQ so I can transfer MP3 files quickly. Nice finish. The only drawback is this USB drive is a bit wide, so when you put it into a vertical USB slots (like my VAIO) one side tends to stuck on the table. It would not be a concern if your USB slot is placed horizontally. I find this USB drive is smaller then the Sandisk's cruzor but with similar functionality. Make sure you use it on a powered USB hub otherwise it does not work. Overall, its a solid product with competitive price.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars GREAT IDEA, BUT NO CIGAR, August 21, 2003

By	jeffery (Somewhere in Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this drive because of the removable SD card. However, the drive has a couple of glaring flaws:

1. The first problem is that the male plug connector is too short. The drive won't seat in many USB slots without using the extension cord. If the plug was just a little longer--say, the same size as on the extension cord--it would fit.

2. The extension cord is way, way too long and bulky. The drive itself is small and easily carried in your pocket. But if you have to carry the extension cord with it, it's no longer easily portable.

Just extend the male plug (about 2/10 of a cent's worth of materials) and this would be an absolute winner!