PocketDisk offers form, function and price in portable USB flash drives

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Feb 17, 2003

IOPlus Inc., a manufacturer of USB computer peripheral products, has announced the availability of the company's newest product, the PocketDisk. A compact and portable mass storage disk that is available in numerous memory configurations (16MB-512MB) is now shipping at estimated street prices as low as $22.95. Small enough to fit into a pocket or attach to a key chain, the units are powerful enough to hold large presentations, spreadsheets, graphic files and databases and even offers a password protection security feature for sensitive data. The PocketDisk is built upon the latest solid-state technology (so there are no moving parts) and is therefore virtually indestructible--making it the ideal companion for the road warrior or the active teen with "mission-critical" music or homework, alike. In addition, PocketDisk supports USB hard disk booting (perfect for system backups) and requires no driver or software installation(1). Small, sleek and versatile, the PocketDisk offers the very best in portability and price.

In this fast-paced world, where time is at a premium, the PocketDisk is the solution for busy people of all ages with the "on-the-go" mentality who can benefit from the ease of simple plug-n-play, or more aptly plug-n-share. Small and sleek in form, the device plugs into any USB slot and is immediately recognized as an external drive letter--allowing for simple drag-n-drop file sharing. A built-in write protection switch is included to prevent files from being overwritten.

"With the new larger capacities of flash memory technology, coupled with the ease-of-use and durability of this file storage medium, we believe this to be a growing storage segment," says Sam Bhavnani, Principal Handhelds Analyst at ARS, a tactical research firm in La Jolla, Calif.

PocketDisk is available through the company's Web site, www.ioplususa.com and select channel partners in February 2003. The units will sell for an estimated street price of $22.95 for the 16MB to $329.95 for the 512MB.