U3

This new generation of USB drives makes it easier for you to take your applications and data with you wherever you go.

Instant Recognition

When you insert the drive, a U3 icon appears in the system tray. Click the icon to launch your U3 applications.

Launchpad

You launch U3 programs and manage the drive from the U3 LaunchPad.

Two Drives

U3 USB keys show up as two drives on the PC. The first drive (assigned the letter 'F:' on our PC) fools the system into thinking it's a CD-ROM drive so it can AutoPlay the LaunchPad manager. The second drive (G:) contains our applications and data.

What Would Windows Do

Once we added data to our U3 drive, Windows would ask us what we wanted to do each time we plugged the key into the USB port. Users may find this confusing.

Not Quite There Yet

Users will be able to pick apps from the U3 directory, but it wasn't very functional in our tests.

Add programs

Select Add Programs and you can install apps that you select from the U3 directory or programs that you already downloaded to your hard drive. Some keys add additional download sites to this menu.

Install

Select the U3 application to put onto the key.

Wizard

The Add Program Wizard confirms that the app was installed properly.

New App

Once installed, the app appears in the LaunchPad menu.

Big Updates

When we first ran McAfee's U3 Anti-Virus program, it downloaded six megabytes of updates.

Good Protection

McAfee's U3 Anti-Virus is useful for making sure that the files on your drive aren't infected. It can also check the host system's hard drive.

Free Photo Utility

The free PhotoBackPack Silver is a useful program for viewing, editing and managing images.

Synch Data

SanDisk's CruzerSync lets you synchronize your documents and Outlook data to your key. You can send and receive mail on any system, even if Outlook isn't present.

Program Info

In the Program Manager, you can get more information about your programs, pick apps to remove, choose which should launch automatically when the key is inserted, and reorder items in the LaunchPad.

Please Close

When we tried to eject the drive, we were warned that not all of the apps had closed down.

Memorex U3

256 MB Memorex U3 smart Mini TravelDrive ($29.99, www.memorex.com)

SanDisk U3

512 MB SanDisk Cruzer Micro ($54.99, www.sandisk.com)

Verbatim U3

1 GB Verbatim Store 'n' Go U3 Smart Drive ($99, www.verbatim.com

Kingston U3

512 MB Kingston U3 DataTraveler ($42, www.kingston.com)

U3