3. Memorex Mini TravelDrive

By Ed Tittel and Justin Korelc

The upside to having your own computer is that you get to personalize your workspace with the preferred applications and files to enhance and accommodate your personal experience.

The downside to having your own computer is that you get to personalize your workspace with the preferred applications and files to enhance and accommodate your personal experience.

Once you're in the class room, study hall or lab environment those luxuries are far out of reach - unless of course you have your laptop with you. For those less fortunate, there is one tiny token of solace in the form of the Memorex Mini TravelDrive with U3 technology. The U3 software platform converts a USB storage device into a container for user-defined settings, preferences, applications and data files to establish a portable workspace environment. All of this is made accessible through the U3 Launchpad menu interface, which comes stocked with Migo for synchronizing personal settings and data among computers; portable Mozilla Thunderbird, a lightweight email client; U3 Anti-Virus powered by McAfee for convenient on-demand scanning; and U Safe to enable password protection of the TravelDrive's contents.

The U3 Launchpad is accessible through the task bar icon, which also features a link to Windows explorer, a custom U3 program manager, settings control panel, an Add Programs tab, and a thoughtful Help and Support tab. U3 also features a number of compatible software products in a number of categories including Audio/Video, productivity applications, imaging software, email clients, games, Internet clients, and a mix of utilities. Keep your homework and schoolwork in perfect synchronicity while maintaining a personalized environment in places where you otherwise are forbidden to install your favorite applications. At the same time, keep an eye on your personal files as they come into contact with all manner of desktops and notebooks with enhanced malware detection using add-ons such as XOFTspy Portable Anti-spyware.

The TravelDrive is tiny - only 2.25" long, 0.85" wide, and 0.27" thick - and has a signature shape designed to curve around neighboring USB connectors and stow easily in your pocket or purse. It's available in sizes ranging from 256 MB to 2 GB, which is perfect for a variety of usage patterns. Plus, it comes with a lanyard to be worn around your neck and a protective transparent cap to protect the USB connector from dirt and debris. When paired with the U3 platform, you get on-demand accessibility with CD-ROM autoload-like functionality, something your standard USB key drive cannot do.