Two more 128GB USB flash drive models now available
The launch of the first 128GB USB flash drive by Kingston has been quickly followed by the launch of 128GB drives by two other manufacturers. Edge tech now offers a 128GB DiskGo model (below left) at $390 and Patriot offers the Magnum (below right) – the price for this drive has not yet been announced.
Kingston appears to be trying to stay ahead of the counterfeit drives by releasing new ones with capacities that are not (usually) faked. They now (as of July 20, 2009) have announced a 256GB USB flash drive. It can be seen http://www.kingston.com/flash/dt300.asp.
It is very distinct in style and does not resemble either of the two fake 256GB drives I found listed for sale on the site madeinchins.com (pictures of the 2 faked 256GB drives can be seen on page 3 of my article ‘How to Identify Fake Flash Drives Before You Buy Them’) Http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/39985.aspx.
Currently the drive is only available in the UK, and when it makes its way to retailers (no one Kingston listed as carrying the drive has it in stock yet,)if will have a MRSP of over $900 USD. So even with the discounts that you can get from online retailers, I would not expect to see it below $700 for quite a while.
So anyone trying to buy it for a couple hundred dollars, or less, on eBay, should be very aware it is going to be a fake and land you with a very expensive drive with much lower capacity.
As of today, there are not any 512GB drives on the horizon- at least not that anyone at any of the major manufacturers is willing to mention to me when I ask.
Caveat Emptor- let the intelligent buyer beware, and do everything they can to make sure they know what they are buying.
Rebecca
Rebecca Scudder
July 23, 2009 at 11:54 pm
There are now more real 128GB flash drives to be aware of. Corsair and Super Talent Luxio both released 128GB drives this summer. They can be bought from the manufacturers, on Amazon, and from reputable sellers online such as Newegg.com. I don’t have a way to insert images into this post, but you can see pictures of all the current real 128GB drives I know of, as well as another picture of the Kingston 256GB drive in this article: How to Find the Biggest and the Best USB Flash Drive Available: Multiple Choices for 128GB drives, and a Single 256GB drive http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/reviews/33097.aspx . You can also see additional pictures and information on how to identify fakes by appearance, before purchase, in this article: How To Identify Fake USB Flash Drives Before Buying Them http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/39985.aspx
If anyone has additional information about other new real 128GB drives, or other information which should also be added to one of my articles, you can write me at rscudder@editors.brighthub.com.
Rebecca
Rebecca Scudder
September 11, 2009 at 5:45 pm