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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating -
Average user rating:
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Product summary
The good: The JumpDrive Mercury has a handy capacity meter that requires no power supply or host-based software. In addition, the drive comes preloaded with Lexar's Secure II software, which works on both Macs and PCs.
The bad: The JumpDrive Mercury is slow to write data.
The bottom line: The JumpDrive Mercury provides a handy feature we have yet to see on a thumbdrive: an external capacity meter that lets you know at a glance how much space is left on your drive.
Specifications: Memory type: Flash; Flash memory form factor: USB Drive; Memory storage capacity: 2 GB See full specs
Price range: $39.33 - $55.00
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 06/05/2006
- Released on: 01/04/2006
Lexar's JumpDrive Mercury is tiny and lightweight, as thumbdrives should be. It's about the length and width of a pack of gum, though it's about half as thick. The ends of the silver-colored drive flare out a bit, and there's a hole in the cap for looping a lanyard through. The front of the drive has a long, narrow window, marked off in increments of 20, up to 100 percent. As you fill the drive, the capacity meter will adjust to reflect approximately how much space you're using. The capacity meter is made by a company called E-ink, which makes electronic paper. Because the meter is nonvolatile, it doesn't require a battery or external power to maintain its readout. Additionally, the meter doesn't require software on the host computer, as everything it needs is contained on the drive itself. Also preloaded onto the drive is Lexar's Secure II software (for PCs and Macs), which uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your files. The Secure II software lets you create password-protected partitions called Encrypted Vaults. Any file you drag into the Vault is automatically encrypted. Secure II also has a file shredder that renders deleted files unrecoverable.
The 1GB JumpDrive Mercury gave an uneven performance in our anecdotal data transfer tests. It took about 5 minutes to write a 406MB folder of mixed file types to the drive but just under a minute to read it back. Of course, your results will vary depending on your system and the types and sizes of files you're transferring.
Lexar backs the JumpDrive Mercury with a two-year warranty, generous for a USB thumbdrive. (The capacity display is covered for only one year.) Free phone support is available on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, though you'll have to pay toll on the call. Fortunately, Lexar's Web site also gives you the option of chatting online with a live support person 24/7. The site has FAQs, downloadable drivers, and a link to e-mail tech support.
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- Lexar Media Inc.,
- capacity,
- space
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Where to buy
Lexar JumpDrive Mercury (2GB):
$39.33 - $55.00
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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$43.48 | No |
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$39.33 | Yes |
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MemorySuppliers
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$55.00 | No |
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