S ome days it seems as if I have seen just about every form a USB flash memory device could take, but every now and then a product will come along and make me think “hey, that was a great idea!” The Brando USB Flash Card is just such an item.
Measuring 3.4″ long x 2.1″ wide x 0.15″ thick, the USB Flash Card is the exact size of a credit card, and the approximate thickness of three.
This one’s for all the DaVinci Code buffs. 
The USB Flash Card is available in 1GB size, and unlike the Walletex memory card I reviewed last year, it does not have an exposed USB dongle and it is less expensive; the tradeoff is that it is slightly thicker.
Specifications:
USB Revision 2.0 compliant
USB 1.0 backward compatible
Plug and Play – Supports Windows 2000 and up without additional drivers
Supports Linux Kernel v2.4.10 and up without driver
Supports Mac OS 8.6 and up without driver
Part of the reason for the thicker size is that a full-size USB plug has been built into the card.
The USB plug is attached to a 1.5″ dongle which swings out of its built-in receptacle…
When not in use, the USB plug is held in place by a plastic ridge in the card’s receptacle.
The Brando USB Flash Card is available in several patterns including flowered, a Christmas scene, the Mona Lisa, and plain white. It is also possible to get your own logo or image on the card, which would make it one of the most useful company give-aways I’ve seen in some time.
When the card is plugged in to a USB slot, the LED on the upper left will flicker, showing that the flash memory is being accessed. It will glow solid red when the card is plugged in but not being used.
Transfer time for the 448MB Mission Impossible III movie file was 3 minutes and 26 seconds from my computer to the USB Flash Card. Transfer from the card back to computer took 42 seconds.
The Brando USB Flash Card is sized to conveniently fit in almost any pocket. It manages to hold and carry large amounts of information, but there is one caveat. Although the packaging mentions that there is a “security function”, I could not find any built-in security software or a secret switch that would render the card unusable to anyone other than its proper owner. With that said, this would make a handy and attractive stocking stuffer for the student on your list.
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The Brando USB Flash Card is available directly from the manufacturer.
MSRP: $39.00
What I Like: Shaped like a credit card, fits in any pocket, attractive, can be personalized
What Needs Improvement: Some people might need built-in security or password capability, this card has none
[eminimall]
