Corsair Flash Padlock 2GB USB Drive

Conclusion:

The Corsair Flash Padlock 2GB USB Drive performed very well in terms of transfer speeds and the security features it advertises. Setup is simple, the drive provides the reliability you would expect from a Corsair product, and they back it all up with a 36 month warranty on parts and labor.

A search of PriceGrabber finds the 2GB version of the Flash Padlock available for $35 and up, and the 1GB version available for $23 and up. Considering the rock bottom prices of other flash memory products right now, you are paying a significant premium for the added security features. Some 2GB flash drives could be had for half the price of the Flash Padlock, and even the acclaimed Corsair Flash Voyager can now be had for under $20.

The important question is whether this drive is worth getting? Based on the current price, I would have a hard time recommending it. The street price of $35 makes it more expensive than many other 2GB USB flash drives on the market, and its lack of any tangible security features out of the box makes the drive simply not worth the added size and price you will pay. If you can find a deal on the Flash Padlock that makes it competitive with other drives on the market, and you understand the limitations of what the security features can really provide, then it may be worth considering.

The drive performed as advertised, and as Corsair confirmed it is "not an enterprise secure device", but I have to question why a home user should expect to pay more for security features, and in the end only get marginally better security than could be available on a more typical drive? While I do agree that adding a product like TrueCrypt to the Flash Padlock drive does offer you additional security over running just TrueCrypt by itself, it doesn't justify the price, nor the potential hassle if you forget your combination.

Pros:

» Fast
» Security features work as advertised
» Easy to use

Cons:

» Costs more than other 2GB drives
» No encryption of data
» Logical protection only
» Security can be by-passed

Special thanks to Corsair for providing the Corsair Flash Padlock 2GB USB Drive to Bigbruin.com for review!