Verbatim TUFF-CLIP 8GB USB Drive

If you are going to carry your data around with you in the form of a USB flash drive, you will want to make sure that the drive itself is sturdy and will survive the bumps and bruises from daily use. In additional to durability, easy transport and fast performance are of high importance to all types of users who utilize USB drives for storing their files.

The Verbatim TUFF-CLIP 8GB USB drive aims to fill all of these needs as a daily use portable storage device. The TUFF-CLIP uses a belt-clip type of clip to attach itself to a backpack or keychain - which is the key selling point that differentiates it from other USB drives. Today we’ll take a close look at the TUFF-CLIP to find out how well it meets these design and performance goals.

Design

The TUFF-CLIP is similar in size to other USB drives, but is made of a plastic material called ABS. ABS stands for “Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene” and is a common plastic used in many other consumer products, most notably in Legos. This provides the sturdy outer casing that keeps the drive from cracking or getting scratched.

The main feature of the TUFF-CLIP is, of course, the clip that can be used to attach it to just about anything. It flips open fairly easily with the push of a finger, and stays locked even when attached to a backpack, belt clip, etc. and is bouncing around. The drive also features a retractable slider over the USB connector, which is a nice touch to make sure that the USB connector does not get damaged.

With support for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, the TUFF-CLIP provides cross-platform compatibility and a convenient way to transfer files between various computers.

Also included with the drive a pre-loaded password security software for Windows systems. It protects sensitive data in a user-defined private zone, while allowing a public zone for open access and sharing of non-sensitive files.

The TUFF-CLIP drive measures 2.90” x .45” x .90” and weighs slightly less than 2 ounces.

Features

• Portable USB drive with rugged clip for backpacks or key rings
• Durable easy slider protects USB connector
• Password security feature for privacy protection
• Enhanced for Windows® ReadyBoost™
• Works with all USB connections
• Compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000, Mac OS 9.x or higher, Linux kernel 2.6x or higher
• Available in either 4GB or 8GB

In the Box

• TUFF-CLIP drive
• Warranty card

Performance

To test the performance of the TUFF-CLIP USB flash drive, I used the HD Tach benchmark program as well as HD Tune benchmark program. These tests will give a clear view of the overall speed of the USB flash drive.

One other note - this USB flash drive has been verified to support the “ReadyBoost” feature on Windows Vista. While I won't be testing Vista here, this is certainly an attractive feature of the drive if you are using Vista as your operating system.

Testing was performed using the following system:

- Motherboard: ECS KN1 SLI Lite
- CPU: AMD Athlon X2 3800+ Dual-Core
- Memory: 2GB Corsair TWINX (2x1GB) DDR RAM
- CPU Heatsink: Spire VertiCool IV
- Video card: EVGA 7900GT
- Hard drive: Western Digital 250GB SATA2 16MB cache
- Optical drive: NEC 8X DVD-R DVD burner
- Power supply: Ultra XVS 700W
- Case: Ultra Grid

As you can see from the test results, the TUFF-CLIP is certainly no slouch in the performance department. The average read speed of 31.6MB / sec and the average write speed of 23.1MB / sec are right up there with the fastest USB drives we have tested, so you’ll have no trouble running applications or loading large-sized files with the TUFF-CLIP.

Portability and Other Considerations

Small size and a tough external casing make the TUFF-CLIP a dependable and easy-to-carry storage device. To make sure that it was as rugged as claimed, I attached it to my keychain and carried it around with me to and from work and also around the house. I dropped it a few times on purpose to simulate normal accidents, and I’m happy to say that it never skipped a beat during all of the time I used it. The drive continued to work just like it did out of the box, even after I put it through the paces.

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Verbatim TUFF-CLIP 8GB USB Drive

The TUFF-CLIP 8GB USB flash drive is an easily portable and dependable storage device, and it offers plenty of storage space in the 8GB size. It provides zippy performance for both reading and writing of data, and proved to be reliable at keeping data safe and secure despite the day-to-day thrashing that I submitted it to.

Overall, there’s really no major drawbacks to this USB drive and I can heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a new USB storage device.

Pros: Dependable, fast read and write speeds, security software included, reasonable $49.99 retail price.

Cons: Only available in turquoise color for the 4GB version, and black color for the 8GB version.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

www.verbatim.com