256GB
Updated: February 25
(DataTraveler 310 released as US version)
Well, what do you know. Just a few weeks ago Kingston stunned us with the release of the world’s first 128GB Flash Drive. And before we even have room to breathe they top it off with the world’s first 256GB flash drive. That’s right – 256GB of space in a tiny portable USB disk. We surely live in crazy, fast-paced times! So on that note, say hello to the DataTraveler 300.
Again a World’s first: Kingston´s 256GB Flash Drive (@ 
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or ( 
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Specs:
- Durable, black plastic body with gray, enveloping plate
- Retractable USB connector (slider is on top)
- Transfer rate: 20MB/sec. read & 10MB/sec. write
- Password protection of up to 90% content (Password Traveler)
- Vista ReadyBoost compatible
- Keyloop?
- (A keychain can probably be hooked up at the plate’s protrusions)
- LED indicator?
- Length x width x height: 2.78″ x 0.88″ x 0.65″
- (70.68mm x 22.37 mm x 16.45mm)
- Warranty: 5 years
- Release date: late July 2009
At first this miracle of modern technology was only available through direct ordering which made sense given the 1K price tag. But then the DT 300 became openly available in Europe, Africa & Asia while the US was left out. Why? Because as it turns out, Kingston refined their focus for this specific market and came up with a completely exclusive American design. The result is the DataTraveler 310:
Born for the USA : Kingston DataTraveler 310 (@ 
)
or (
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Specs:
- Durable black plastic body with red metallic framing
- Cap fits on rear (ideal during use)
- Transfer rate: 25MB/s read, 12MB/s write
- Password protection of up to 90% content (Password Traveler)
- Vista ReadyBoost compatible
- LED?
- Keyloop
- Length x width x height: 2.90″ x 0.87″ x 0.63″
- (73.70mm x 22.20mm x 16.10mm)
- Weight: ?
- Warranty: 5 years
- Data retention: 10 years
- Release date: late February 2010
I don’t know about you, but to me it definitely has a US-feel to it. It actually reminds of a 60s Corvette merged with a modern Yukon XL. So you gotta wonder what resumes the architects at Kingston can boast with.
You may ask yourself of course, why would I need a 256GB flash drive? Well, maybe you’d like to back up your laptop, or both of them or all three of them. Or maybe you’d like to copy your entire DVD-collection or/and/or/or/and. The endless storage possibilities of this amazing capacity can be marveled at in the list below. But don’t hold your breath – maybe the DataTraveler 3000 is just around the corner.
Image capabilities
| MP | MB | Amount of Jpgs |
| 0.2 (480 x 360) | 0.040 | 6400000 |
| 0.3 (640 x 480) | 0.075 | 3413333 |
| 0.8 (1024 x 768) | 0.150 | 1706666 |
| 1 (1280 x 960) | 0.250 | 1024000 |
| 2 (1600 x 1200) | 0.850 | 301176 |
| 3 (2048 x 1536) | 1.2 | 213333 |
| 4 (2372 x 1804) | 1.9 | 134736 |
| 5 (2560 x 1920) | 2.5 | 102400 |
| 6 (3264 x 1836) | 3 | 85333 |
Music capabilities
| Bitrate | Approximate min. | Amount of Mp3s |
| 128 | 266666 (4444h 26min) | 66666 x 4min. |
| 160 | 213333 (3333h 33min) | 53333 x 4min. |
| 192 | 177777 (2222h 57min) | 44444 x 4min. |
Movie capabilities
| GB | Amount of Avis | Approximate hours |
| 0.100 | 2560 | 512 |
| 0.175 | 1462 | 548 |
| 0.350 | 731 | 548 – 609 |
| 0.700 | 365 | 548 – 730 |
| 1.4 | 182 | 546 – 728 |
| 2.1 | 121 | 484 – 605 |
| 4.5 (entire DVD as vob) | 56 dvds | 168 – 224 |
 | US $859.99 End Date: Friday Apr-09-2010 10:19:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $859.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
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December 3rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I remember i had a 500mb hard drive, as big as a brick 16 years ago. Now we have 256gb (612 times larger) USB sticks. Incredible
January 27th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
If my calculations are right you should be able to fit about 320 movies on there! It’s crazy and its getting smaller and smaller, whats it gonna be like in 10 years time?
January 28th, 2010 at 1:26 am
It depends on the movie lengths and file format, see my list above. In 10 years we probably dont even have flash drives anymore, but some holographic storage!
February 10th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Our technology is realy fast paced isn’t it? I remember my first 20 Gb. Hard drive about the size of a block and now we can see a 250 Gb. flash drive in sticks. What more can we expect for the next 5 years? maybe a Terabyte on a microstick is next.
February 15th, 2010 at 7:11 am
i need 256gb flash drive its very necessary 4 my online working
February 18th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Wow, I can’t believe how much memory you can squeeze into these things nowdays, it really is amazing!
February 19th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Dennis,
I probably ought to have posted this here instead of on the 128GB page.
Well, a couple of days after I received word that Kingston had no plans to make available the 256GB flash drive in the U.S., I read this today (on the DT310):
http://www.kingston.com/press/2010/flash/02d.asp
It’s simply astonishing to me how fast the technology for data storage is progressing.
February 19th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I just hope it doesn’t get ripped out like my last one!
Paul´s last [blog post] ..Online CNA Classes
February 20th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for the information, Scott! So that explains why the DataTraveler 300 hasn’t really been available in the US. I guess that model didn’t fly as well as in other countries so Kingston has come up with a smaller, refined design just for the American market. I will update accordingly! Once again thanks, you’ve been a great resource for the past few days Scott.
February 20th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Paul, what do you mean with “ripped out”? Are you saying you actually had a 256GB flash drive and it broke?
February 20th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
DT,
You’re welcome. I am having fun researching what’s out there these days. I must say, I am tempted to bid on some of those 128GB Kingston drives on Ebay. We’ll see.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:32 am
If you do, please report back and tell us if you got the real deal.
February 22nd, 2010 at 11:49 am
Hey, has anyone bought one of these yet? I’m interested to know reliability and transfer rate etc.
Cheers, Donny
March 1st, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Donny, as you can glean from the post, the DT300 has a transfer rate of 20MB/s and 10MB/s (read/write) while the DT310 is a bit faster with 25MB/s and 12MB/s respectively. As for reliability, I’m pretty sure Kingston has put a lot of effort into that. Of course one can never be absolutely certain and user experiences usually vary. But just the fact that they give out a 5 year warranty speaks for it IMO.
March 4th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
who needs a warranty when in a year or 2 you will get one twice as big and half the price
March 5th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
DaveH,
I seriously doubt that in a year or so you will be able to buy a 512GB flash drive for only $500.
March 6th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
“moores law”