Kingston Unveils the World’s First 256GB USB Flash Drive

July 22, 2009

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Kingston Technology DataTraveler 300

Kingston Technology, the independent world leader in memory products, announced the launch of the world's first 256GB USB flash drive, the Kingston Technology DataTraveler 300. It allows users to carry around a whole digital world, from thousands of image files to a whole database of documents. Users will also benefit from quick transfer rates and the option to password protects their data.

The Kingston DataTraveler 300 is ideal for netbook users who want to extend the limited capacity of their machines. It can also be used by business consumers who work with large databases, or even designers who need to transfer large graphic files from one place to another.

“The DataTraveler 300 will enable users to carry huge volumes of data with them everywhere they go - up to 365 CDs for example. That’s one album for every day of the year, and it demonstrates how far flash technology has developed,” said Kirsty Miller, Product Marketing Manager - Consumer, Kingston Technology Europe. “Business users and consumers can also safeguard their data by initializing the Password Traveler software which will allow them to password protect their data in a privacy zone without the need of administrator rights.”

The Kingston DataTraveler 300 features a sleek cap-less design that will protect the USB connector when it is not in use and is enhanced for Windows Readyboost. The Kingston DataTraveler 300 is available only in 256GB and is backed by a five-year warranty. The Kingston DataTraveler is built to order only; customers who wish to purchase the drive can place an order with many reseller and e-tailers.

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Kingston DataTraveler 300

DataTraveler 300 Product Features and Specifications:

Capacity — 256 GB
Speed — Data transfer rates of up to 20 MB/sec. read and 10 MB/sec. write
Safeguarded — includes Password Traveler security software for Windows
Convenient — does not require Administrator rights to access the Privacy Zone
Dimensions — 2.78” x 0.67” x 0.87” (70.68 mm x 16.90 mm x 21.99 mm)
Operating Temperature — 32° to 140° F (0° to 60° C)
Storage Temperature — -4° to 185° F (-20° to 85° C)
Enhanced — for Windows ReadyBoost on Vista-based systems

Source: Kingston

• nick7201969 - Jul 22, 2009
  • Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
  Can you boot up an OS with this? If so, when will it replace hard drives (or SSD)? Its certainly a lot lighter.
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• antialias - Jul 22, 2009
  • Rank: 4.7 / 5 (3)
  @nick7201969: You can boot off USB stick if your BIOS supports it (Most do. There are several sites that show you how to install a bootable Linux or Windows on one). Howevere, boot speed from a HDD (and especially an SDD) is a lot faster since their transfer rates are much higher. With USB 3.0 booting fom USB-stick might become a viable option, though
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• SmartK8 - Jul 23, 2009
  • Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
  Awesome! Finally something small and robust enough with large transfer capacity.
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• th3filth - Jul 23, 2009
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  Can you boot up an OS with this? If so, when will it replace hard drives (or SSD)? Its certainly a lot lighter.

  
  
  I run Ubuntu Linux OS; a double boot at that, it lets me boot from a USB with no problems when I want/need to and it doesn't take long at all.
  
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• wuz - Jul 24, 2009
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  It seems to me this may be the perfect companion to a netbook or maybe even a palmtop computer. This could be the harddrive; seems like the best security you could ask for. Imagine if, instead of having to tranfer updates or what have you from work to your home computer, you could take your whole harddrive home in your pocket! Thinclients could become all the rage! ( :
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• jac7911 - Jul 24, 2009
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  price?
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• tansa - Jul 24, 2009
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  @nick7201969: With USB 3.0 booting fom USB-stick might become a viable option, though

  
  
  USB Bus speed has nothing to do with the R/W speed of flash memory. The current bottleneck is on the chip, not on the bus.
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• bmcghie - Jul 26, 2009
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  Tansa is correct. Along with Firewire 800, USB 2.0 never reaches it's max transfer speed of roughly 480Mb/s.
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• DozerIAm - Jul 27, 2009
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  Flash drives aren't ideal for running an OS. For one thing they can fail, and when they do, they do so completely, abruptly, and often unrecoverably.
  
  Flash drives have a finite number of read/writes possible (see http://en.wikiped...antages) so using them for anything with a lot of i/o isn't using the smartest tech for the task.
  
  Lastly, back up your thumb drives, back up your external hard drives, back up your internal hard drives - BACK UP YOUR DATA!!!
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• h2oenery - Jul 27, 2009
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  price?
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• Landrew - Aug 03, 2009
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  I'd never use a flash drive for ReadyBoost. I don't like the stick hanging out where it can get bumped. I prefer a memory card in the slot. Out of sight and out of mind.
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