I am thinking of getting the SanDisk Cruzer Micro U3 16GB Readyboost memory stick. Is it all its made out to be? It seems to be a great solution instead of carting my laptop about. Is U3 the way ahead?

Hi Sellio;

There's an unlimited choice of USB sticks on the market....as an alternative to U3, cruise through the USB Software listings and look at alternatives.

Personally, I just purchased 2 x 8GB Kingston sticks at an unbelievably low price (like 4GB), and highly recommend a winPenPack suite or a standalone manager/launcher like ASuite.

Also, check this out: USB Image Tool

Thanks, Chachazz.
I read that the Kingston stick was slow to read and write. How do you find it? I am going to check out your links though.
Cheers
Sheila
PS How do you make the smileys work?

Just click on 'em....

Click to view attachment

Hi sellio



@U3 stick and related products
I bought such an U3 stick long time ago to test it. Handling is easy but frankly said most of the interesting programs must be bought before using them. The security issues are fair, but there are other but freeware based solutions out at the web avaiable;).

@Readyboost sticks
Microsofts idea behind that Readyboost technic is, to enhance the already mounted RAM of a computer. Should make it working faster then but you won't find more mb RAM in any kind of monitoring or hardware testing tools. You can't start a Vista box without regular memory sticks but only using such an USB stick.

But what does Vista do with that additional memory? Well Vista can add it as a so called External Memory Devices, short EMD. This kind of memory gets used by Vista f.e. for the swap file.

Mounting such a Readyboost stick is as simple as mounting a usual one. After a demanded installation of a device driver Vista offers a new menue entry at the Autoplay-List called 'Speed up my System. Here you can define how much memory Vista should use for its cache and some more options. A file named readyboost.sfcache on the stick will show a successful installation.
The final result of a speed test (f.e. copying an amount of files and noting the time it needs) didn't give a satisfying result. My facit: Readyboost might be a way to boost up a system... but not with sticks. Therefore really expensive SSD or Solid State Disks are needed.

My advice: mount as much memory as you can afford and as much your OS/mainboard can handle. 2GB RAM are ok when running a 32-bit system. When you are on a 64-bit Vista, 2GB are ok, 4GB a solid base for nearly all works at the computer and 8GB (depends on the mainboards limitations) are simply said great ;)


Greetz
Bubba

Thanks for all that good information. I'm going away to digest it all and think about what to buy.

Me again

If you really want to go for Readyboost here a short "How-2-do-Readyboost" in example for a Buffalo USB stick

http://www.buffalo-technology.com/knowledg..._id=1&sid2=

Perhaps few things to think about, before buying a stick:

1. Make sure you're going to buy a first quality brand. There'd been lot of "cheap" offers here in Germany (and worldwide) selling huge USB sticks at unbelievable prices during the passed month. Fact: lot of those cheap offers lost nearly all the stored data by third/ fourth party memory chips

Some brands I'm running at home are from Buffalo, Corsair, Samsung/Sony, PNY, SanDisk, Transcend. One supplier a look and try worth is www.memory4more.com/

A really good stick for Readyboost issues will come more than 50 bucks!

2. Look out for some test results. Don't look at the price only when deciding a buy.

3. Think over if you shouldn't save the money for such a stick but using the money for more and larger memory modules (my personal hint!)

Byee
Bubba

Don't know about the speed - it's not an issue for me....they work and don't lose data...so far!
And the compatible RAM upgrade for my laptop was Kingston sticks so I thought it's a fair product. Maybe they are slow...nothing to compare to but an older MicroX 1GB stick that was gift from a sweet friend that worked just fine too.

The Sentinel has good advice there. U3 has those limitations he mentioned and there is a wealth of free, portable softs, utilities and 'packs' to use on a stick.

Now, I'm going to give that USB Image Tool a run! that's great.

Hi Sheila

If you want a nearly detailed search results about readyboost, have a look here and here

If you want to be sure about buying the correct hardware look out for 'Certified for Windows Vista hardware'

Greetz
BU