Today at Tekbunker we'll be looking in more details on two USB memory sticks which we have received from our kind sponsors - takeMS.

This time I won't say much about the takeMS company, since I've done in my first review of takeMS DDR2 memory modules here .

I can only say that the company is oriented to consumers - and giving them the best ratio between price and performance. takeMS in their product portfolio have memory modules, USB-flash products, multimedia/mp3 players and flash cards.
 
The package was again delivered by UPS service. I don't know if someone from UPS reads reviews of computer hardware (like my previous takeMS DDR2 memory review at Tekbunker :-) but they have improved their service to that level that I was (pleasantly) surprised. It took two days to arrive this package from Germany, and this time there wasn't any problem with customs clearance!

Impressive - I must add.

Now let's take a look at the packaging: 

On the left side you can see mem-drive firewall, and on the right side its mini hi-speed USB stick. They look very similar, since only the color (transparent red and blue) differs firewall stick from the hi-speed stick. the mem-drive firewall has orange activity light, while mini hi-speed USB stick has green activity light while it's reading or writing data on it.

I personally adore this transparent kind of look, where you can see the internals chips.

I've decided not to take the whole 'pictorial' of those modules from various angles. In last couple of years there were tons of different design solutions.... and now USB sticks are competing in price/performance/features!

The USB sticks are really not much different then other solution on the market. I'm sure that everyone has seen one by now :-)
 
USB sticks are built in a very good way, round-metal swivel can be rotated by 360 degrees around USB stick and you won't have to worry that if you lose the cap or not.

I like this sort of solutions, since this metal swivel can really keep your data on USB stick safe. And I've lost so much caps for my USB stick, that I can't remember how much spare caps I've used until today on my old USB stick. This metal protection is also good, if the USB stick accidentally falls on the floor, and can protect against various types of shocks and kicks.
 
After unwrapping from plastic packaging USB sticks are ready for use. One addition that comes with them is blue keychain with takeMS print on it. One other thing worth mentioning here is that USB drive - firewall comes with full version of ’secure it easy' software - and the installation key is written inside the package.

Other software included is 'carry it easy' and user manual for 'secure it easy' software in adobe PDF format. 4Gb USB mini hi-speed stick comes with preinstalled 'Carry it easy' and 'takeMS slideshow' software.
 
'Secure it easy' is a nice software add-on. This software protects USB ports of all PCs or notebooks and is independent to the takeMS MEM-Drive. It is developed for users who emphasize to protect data and of course the PC.

Secure it easy is software which protects your data from unauthorized use of unwanted USB Flash Drives, digital cameras, portable music players or external hard disks. Only portable storage devices that the PCs administrator authorizes are allowed to read or write to your PC.

These devices that you authorize for use on your PC are classified as TrustedDevices and will be included in a white list. In case an unauthorized device is connected to your PC you will instantly receive an e-mail notification about this attempted security breach.

'Carry it easy' software takeMS edition is installed on every single takeMS USB-Drive. So all takeMS USB-drives are protected it the user work with this software. The encryption is not caused of the Secure it easy but of the Carry it Easy. 

Latest version of the Carry it Easy+Plus software is there to make job much easier. Found an interesting website at work and want to bookmark it at home too? No problem, with just a few clicks you can synchronize your Internet favourites with your takeMS MEM-Drive and take them home.

Whether you use the Internet Explorer or Firefox, with Carry it Easy+Plus you can synchronize both browsers' favourites. With Carry it Easy +Plus you can synchronize Microsoft Outlook on several PCs or just make your Outlook data portable when you are off on holiday. This saves you having to take your notebook.

And to ensure that the data stored on your MEM-Drive Firewall Flash Drive is safe, all data stored on the MEM-Drive will be protected with 128 bit AES encryption. 

Here are the specifications of those modules (both hardware and software datasheets):

takeMS MEM-Drive Mini HighSpeed or PDF
 
Technical Features:

• Windows2000, XP, Mac OS as of 8.6
• Linux as of Kernel 2.4.10 needs no drivers
• maximum reading speed: 12 MB/sec
• maximum writing speed: 8 MB/sec
• USB 1.1 and 2.0

takeMS MEM-Drive Firewall or PDF

Technical Features:

• Operating systems: Windows2000, XP
• Data transfer rates up to 480Mbit/sec.
• Erase Cycles: 1.000.000 times
• Data retention time min. 10 years
• Read: >50x Write: > 20x
• Shock resistance max. 1000G
• Weight: 13g
• Dimension: 51mm/17mm/9mm (l x w x h)
• USB 2.0 (compatible to USB 1.1)
• No external power is required
• Power consumption: Write: 39,1 – 39,4 mA, Read: 35,0 – 36,1 mA
• Bootable capability

The software that is already installed on USB sticks:

• USB Firewall Software Secure it Easy(tm):
• Acts as Firewall for your USB Ports
• Prevent data theft through your USB Ports
• Prevent unwanted data intrusion through USB Ports
• Control/Permit USB Devices (White List)
• Sends e-mail notification of unauthorized devices
• For Windows Vista, XP and 2000 (SP4)

Carry it Easy + Plus:

• Portable Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Sync for Outlook 2000/2002/2003
• Portable Microsoft Outlook Express
• Favourites synchronization (Internet Explorer & Firefox)
• No Trace Browsing with Internet Explorer & Firefox
• Desktop, Folder to Folder and My Documents synchronization
• Data Compression
• 128 bit AES Data Encryption
• USB Drive Lost & Found
• USB Drive information
• Multilingual user interface (14 languages)

Next, testing.