Dioneer USB Memory drive (16MB)

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Product Summary

The good: Very affordable; USB extension cord included.

The bad: No security settings; dismal online documentation and support.

The bottom line: If you need simple USB flash storage at a rock-bottom price, this could be the drive for you.

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Jack Lyon
Reviewed on: 08/12/2002

For no-frills removable storage, check out the Dioneer USB Memory drive. The drive sports some of the smallest price tags to date for a USB flash drive for all its different capacities: 16MB ($36), 32MB ($45), 64MB ($72), 128MB ($121), and 256MB ($198). For no-frills removable storage, check out the Dioneer USB Memory drive. The drive sports some of the smallest price tags to date for a USB flash drive for all its different capacities: 16MB ($36), 32MB ($45), 64MB ($72), 128MB ($121), and 256MB ($198).

The Dioneer has a no-nonsense rectangular design and a matte-black finish. It also comes with a USB extension cord. But the device is otherwise pretty bare. It offers no password protection, write protection, or bundled utilities--just a driver disc for Windows 98. (Windows Me, 2000, XP, Mac 8.6 or higher, and Linux 2.4.x immediately recognize the device as a system hard drive.)

Though the included manual covers installation, it lacks even a rudimentary troubleshooting section. If you run into problems, you can call tech support. The drive is covered by a one-year warranty, and toll-free guidance is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. But the manufacturer's site offers little in the way of technical help.

The EasyDisk or the Trek ThumbDrive Secure are more complete keychain drives, but the Dioneer USB Memory drive offers plenty of megabytes for the money.