Sony
Sony flash drives are showcased by the MicroVault series. They’re not just slim on the outside but also on the inside. That’s due to the Virtual Expander – Sony’s compression software that lets you save 3 times as much data. So when you have a 2GB Microvault you can actually turn it into a 6GB (!) flash drive. Who ever said working out doesn’t pay? So let’s step into the gym and check out the various models…
Micro Vault
Micro Vault Turbo
Micro Vault Click
Micro Vault Click Turbo
Micro Vault Tiny
Micro Vault USM-D plus
Micro Vault Elite
Micro Vault Elite Turbo
Micro Vault Fingerprint
Micro Vault (USM-J)
Memory Gymnastics: Sony MicroVault Classic (@ )
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- Black chrome body with silver edge
- Slidable USB connector
- 256MB (orange indication), 512MB (pink indication), 1GB (blue indication),
- 2GB (green indication), 4GB (purple indication), 8GB (red indication)
- Older models have different colored bodies with black edge
- Similar models are available in Japan as “Pocket Bit”
- James Bond Casino Royale limited edition also available
- High Speed USB 2.0
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- ReadyBoost incompatible
- LED (on slider switch)
- Strap hole
- Size: 67mm x 17.7mm x 8.3mm
- Weight: 10g
- 5 year warranty
Micro Vault Turbo (USM-JX)
Quicker Exercise: Sony MicroVault Classic Turbo (@ )
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- Pearl-white chrome body
- Golden, slidable USB connector
- 512MB – 4GB (golden indication)
- Up to 29 MB/s read, up to 23 MB/s write
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- ReadyBoost enhanced
- LED (on slider switch)
- Strap hole
- Size: 67mm x 17.7mm x 8.3mm
- Weight: 10g
- 5 year warranty
Micro Vault Click (USM-L)
Inner & Outer Expander: Sony MicroVault Click (@ )
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- Click mechanism reveals USB connector
- (without increasing size)
- Black plastic body with different colored slides
- Blue slide (1GB), green slide (2GB), purple slide (4GB),
- orange slide (8GB), red slide (16GB)
- Embossing prevents fingerprint marks
- Similar models are available in Japan as “Pocket Bit”
- 18 MB/s (read) 5 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- ReadyBoost enhanced
- Prism LED light (illuminates slide)
- Strap hole
- Size: 62mm x 17.4mm x 8.4mm
- Weight: 9g
- 5 year warranty
Micro Vault Click Turbo (USM-LX)
Faster Expander: Sony MicroVault Click (@ )
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- Click mechanism reveals USB connector
- (without increasing size)
- Silver plastic body with brown slide
- 1 – 8GB
- Embossing prevents fingerprint marks
- 31 MB/s (read) 11 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- ReadyBoost enhanced
- Prism LED light (illuminates slide)
- Strap hole
- Size: 62mm x 17.4mm x 8.4mm
- Weight: 9g
- 5 year warranty
Micro Vault Tiny (USM-H)
Carried like a Cell Phone: Sony MicroVault Tiny (@ )
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- Capless, transparent plastic body
- 256MB (orange), 512MB (purple), 1GB (turquoise),
- 2GB (green), 4GB (blue), 8GB (red)
- Similar models are available in Japan as “Pocket Bit”
- 12 MB/s (read) 7 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- ReadyBoost enhanced (2-8GB)
- LED
- Comes with soft, translucent carrying case
- (clippable & hookable, matching colors)
- Size: 32mm x 14.5mm x 2.7mm
- Weight: 1.5g
- 5 year warranty
Micro Vault USM-D plus
Working in Circles: Sony MicroVault USM-D plus (@ )
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- Silver plastic body with cap
- Different colored, capacity indicating circles
- 64MB – 2GB
- 12 MB/s (read) 7 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- LED
- Strap hole (on cap)
- Size: 55mm x 17mm x 9mm
- Weight: 8g
- Warranty
Micro Vault Elite (USM-E plus)
Former Elite: Sony MicroVault Elite (@ )
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- Different colored, transparent plastic body
- Black cap & casing
- 128MB – 2GB
- 12 MB/s (read) 7 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- LED (in the porthole)
- Strap hole
- Size: 78mm x 20mm x 11mm
- Weight: 13g
- Warranty
Micro Vault Elite Turbo (USM-EX Turbo)
Golden Brown: Sony MicroVault Elite Turbo (@ )
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- Brown, transparent plastic body
- Pearl white cap & casing
- Golden USB interface
- 512MB – 2GB
- 28 MB/s (read) 18 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- Strap hole
- LED (in the porthole)
- Size: 78mm x 20mm x 11mm
- Weight: 13g
- Warranty
Micro Vault Fingerprint (USM-F)
Dock & Cover: Sony MicroVault Fingerprint (@ )
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- Different colored, transparent plastic body
- Black docking station case
- 128MB – 512MB
- Fingerprint recognition
- Password locking
- Encryption
- 28 MB/s (read) 18 MB/s (write)
- Virtual Expander software
- (compress files to store up to 3 times more data)
- Size: 61mm x 20mm x 7mm (drive only)
- 80mm x 20mm x 13mm (with docking station)
- Weight: 8.5g (drive only)
- 10g (with docking station)
- Warranty
…on eBay right now:
[wordbay]sony +(flash drive,laptop) -(card,adapter,no-tax,nowy,chinese,warranty,wrty,post,netzteil)[/wordbay]
or
Click here to find more Sony flash drives
Check out other flash drive brands:
Corsair – EDGE - HP – Imation – IronKey – LaCie – Kingston
Lexar – Newsmy - Memorex - OCZ – Patriot – PNY – PQI
SanDisk - Super Talent Flash Drive – Kanguru
Toshiba - Transcend Flash Drive - Verbatim – Other/Generic
February 4th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I have a cool sony flash drive
February 5th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Which model is it?
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I have a 4GB and an 8GB USM-H MicroVault Tiny. They are a bit slower, but the thumbnail size is extremely convenient. While the size is perfect for ReadyBoost on your laptop, the speed isn’t. The rubber carrying cases they come with are next to useless. I haven’t used the VirtualExpander software much, as I don’t keep stuff on them for very long. I wish they would bring these back, make them larger, and increase the speed. Instead, I’ve graduated to an HP v115w 16GB.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Never heard of these before. So if I got a 4GB one, it’d become 12GB? If I expand the size of them, are they compatible with all devices that support USB? IE, I have a DVD player with a USB slot and DivX support, do you think it would be able to read the 12GB or only see it as 4GB?
.-= Bex´s last blog post ..Save £350 on Sony VAIO P range =-.
May 1st, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Bex,
yes, a 4GB would become a 12GB flash drive (+/-). Im not sure if the compressed files would be compatible with non-computer USB devices, probably not. I dont think they’re accessible that way, they first need to be decompressed again which happens automatically with the computer. Here’s more information on the Expander software: Virtual Expander
June 20th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Hey DT, didn’t see your reply till just now. Yeah that makes sense. Ah well, can’t be perfect :p lol. It is still very awesome though. Have just got a netbook for me and my partner to share. Is 250GB so more than enough but, will probably be some stuff we both want to transfer via USB on occasion and I think this’d be better than just getting a 4GB stick.
.-= Bex´s last blog post ..Share My Connection Coming to Vaio Y and Z Series =-.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Sony always makes such sleek and beautiful designs, as well as efficient too. I never knew Sony even made flash drives haha, will have to get my hands on some.