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The resource for reviews of what to buy, watch out for and run out and get.

It maybe small, but it carries 1 GB of data and has a lot of style as well as a high head turning element.

You will get noticed carrying this device with you.

Swissbit Swissmemory USB Drive

Saturday, May 14, 2005 

The Ruby Red Swissmemory USB Victorinox 

One Gig USB Flash storage device 

Web Site: www.swissbit.com

 Requirements

Windows XP, 2000 and ME

Mac OS 9 and higher

Linux Kernel 2.4 and higher 

Includes

CD Rom, with drivers and instructions in PDF format

Swissmemory Laynard

USB extension cord

Software for sync with Outlook Express

By Kurt von Behrmann 

Can you imagine mixing an all purpose utility knife with a USB flash drive?  Leave it to the resourceful Swiss to blend the old with the new in the form of the Rudy Red USB Swissmemory.   Vitorinox, official manufacturers of the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife, have actually married these two unlikely devices into one. Included in this very small package are an amazingly long range mini flash light, a pair of scissors, a ball point pen, a knife, a file and of course the USB flash memory that can be separated from the ruby red case. Looking almost identical to any other swiss army knife, it is on closer inspection that you realize the versatility of this diminutive sized combo. 

Shipping in a variety of sizes, the Ruby Red comes with a whopping one gig of memory and software to sync and keep private your files. In terms of weight, size and sheer breadth of features, something like this almost seems inevitable.  The logic of mixing the two makes a lot of sense. While this device doesn’t replace the standard old Swiss Army Knife of old, the idea of blending this features into one seems so obvious that you wonder why no one thought to bring more features into the standard USB drive. 

In the case of most, they serve as devices to hold data. Where the Rudy Red brings into place innovation comes in the added features that turn one device into several. Although the included pen may not get a lot of work, it is small and barely juts away from the body of the device, for quick notes, sketching out information quickly, having it just makes sense. 

Moving beyond the emotional factor, one has to take into consideration the novelty of having a USB drive that will quickly turn heads. The head turning appeal is fast, making this an excellent conversation starter. 

Included with the drive are drivers, applications, an instruction book, an extension cable for those sometimes difficult to reach USB ports and a lanyard to carry it around with you.  

All in all, this has to rank as the most interesting mini device to come out in a while, and well worth the time and energy of finding one. 

Hovering around $ 250 U.S. dollars for the 1 Gig version, there are smaller sizes and more modes price points available for this incredible little performer. 

Summation 

When it comes to interesting “gotta have just because I want it devices,” this one ranks very high and works well.  If you have to get a USB drive that can do double duty, this one truly stands out in a crowd.