Sony fans and fashion mavens will love the Micro Vault's stylish design and Memory Stick expandability.As the name suggests, this Micro Vault variant is a USB flash memory drive that doubles as a memory card reader. The AU$199.95 Micro Vault with Memory Stick Reader/Writer integrates 128MB of portable flash memory storage with Memory Stick media, allowing users to transfer data from Memory Stick-dependent devices (like Sony PDAs and digital cameras) to USB-based computers with ease. You'll pay a little extra for the slick design and expandability, but as long as you're using a Sony digital camera or PDA, the Micro Vault with Memory Stick Reader/Writer is a compelling choice for fast and painless data transfers.
Measuring 30 x 15 x 104mm, this unit is the largest Micro Vault yet but still properly pocketable. Sony has sensibly retained the older models' sleek and compact design: The Micro Vault's curvy enclosure gives it an attractive look and feel while holes in its casing allow you to attach it to a neck strap or keyring for easy portability. In addition to its size, the Micro Vault with Stick Reader/Writer's in-built Memory Stick slot is another physical attribute that differentiates it from other models. Located at the edge of the unit, the slot is for inserting Sony's proprietary Memory Stick media so users can use both drive and media simultaneously.
The Micro Vault is compatible with all the current Memory Stick types, including newer variants like Memory Stick DUO, Select and even the huge 1GB PRO models. But the slot looks a bit overexposed, and considering the unit was designed to be carried around in daily use, some sort of protective cover or shutter would've been a nice inclusion. The lack of an extended USB cable also means more bending and stretching over for rear-echelon case users.
The software bundle is a more familiar affair: To protect your files from prying eyes, Sony provides Password Lock, a basic but effective security program that's also used by other Micro Vault models. This is pre-installed on the drive itself and also included on the Windows 98 driver disc. The downsides are that the application works on only Windows and if you forget your password you have to reset the whole drive. In short, you lose all data stored on the Micro Vault. Fortunately you can set a hint to help jog your memory.
When the device is attached to a computer's USB port, two drive icons appear in Windows Explorer so you can easily exchange files between the built-in memory and a Memory Stick. The Micro Vault supports Windows 98, Me, 2000 and XP, as well as Mac OS 9 or later, but if you're on Windows 98, you must install a driver and reboot the first time you use the device.
The Micro Vault's high-speed USB 2.0 support keeps it in good stead with other similar flash drive offerings in the market. File transfers via USB is brisk--at 0.9MB per second--meaning you can fill the entire 128MB device in less than three minutes. Less impressive is the Memory Stick reader performance. We expected faster transfer rates with USB 2.0's broad bandwidth support but the Micro Vault managed only an average 2min 25secs (or 0.8MBps) for a 120MB file transfer to a Memory Stick PRO, far less than the media's 1.8MBps rating.
Sony Micro Vault w/ Memory Stick Reader/Writer
Company: Sony Australia
Price: AU$199.95
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 137 669
4%
1%
