Verbatim 4GB Store 'n' Go Micro USB Drive Review
By: Michael Phrakaysone
Just how fast memory technology has advanced over the years, it never stops amazing me. It always advances at such incredible speed and when you think you have the best gadget, largest or fastest device, something other comes along that supersedes what was possible. You know those floppy disks of early years? Well that thing is totally extinct and along comes the trusty USB drive that we all utilize today. I believe that the flash based USB drive is “the greatest thing since sliced bread” and what more can be done to advance this innovation further? I mean the USB drive is so useful and practical that it’s erasing the need for CD media, DVD media and now even Blu-Ray media.
Verbatim is a trusted brand that has been at the forefront of data storage technology for over 39 years and today I will be reviewing one of their latest USB drives that will surely impress just about anyone and make you ask “how did they do that?”. Today I review the penny-thin and travel-tough 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive.
About Verbatim
“Since its beginning in 1969, Verbatim® has been at the forefront of the evolution in data storage technology. Today, more than 39 years later, Verbatim remains one of the most recognizable names in the data storage industry.
Customer-driven, Verbatim is known for adding considerable product value--above and beyond its competitors--to established media technology. As an industry pioneer, Verbatim is recognized for the role it plays in early product development and commercial product introduction of new technologies. Verbatim's leadership role is especially apparent in the evolution of optical media recording including MO and the CD/DVD family of products.
Along with its technological innovations, Verbatim has always been recognized universally for its superior manufacturing practices. Verbatim was the first media company to receive ISO certification, the de facto standard for quality management systems worldwide. This commitment to quality translates into consistent product performance and reliability. In addition, Verbatim provides toll-free technical support and service to enable its customers to maximize the performance of its products.
As a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, a recognized world leader in the chemical and computer industries, Verbatim is ideally positioned to take advantage of changes in the market while continuing to challenge the frontiers of data storage.”
Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB Drive Product Overview
“The Micro USB Flash Drive is lightweight and compact. Weighing a tiny 1.2g, and only 2.35mm thick, it is small in size but not in capacity! Available in capacities from 2GB - 8GB, it is versatile and easy to use. Simply drag and drop your folders and files. The Micro USB Drive also features password protection software and is enhanced for Windows® Readyboost TM.”
Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB Drive Product Features
- Tiny, rugged USB drive
- Resistant to dust, water and static discharges
- Password security for Windows users
- Enhanced for Windows® ReadyBoost™
- Bonus key ring lanyard for mobile phones or key rings
- Available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB
- Verbatim 2 Year Limited Warranty
Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB Drive Product Specifications
- Product Number: 47376
- Capacity: 4GB
- Write Speed: Up to 13MB/Sec
- Read Speed: Up to 30MB/Sec
- Dimensions: 30 (L) x 2 (H) x 12 (W) mm
- System Requirements: Compatible with Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS 9.x or higher, Linux kernel 2.6x or higher (Software compatible with Windows 2000 / XP / Vista)
First Impressions
The first thing you notice about the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is that it’s tiny! Have a look at the picture that I have scaled down to life-size for you to experience, that’s unbelievably miniature, that I can’t fathom how this small little USB drive can be offered with such large capacities reaching up to 8GB. The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is basically as long as your finger!
The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive comes in a small plastic package with the product smack in the middle being held by some person’s fingers. The package specifically states that it is enhanced for Windows Vista “ReadyBoost” technology if you want to utilize it as such, that it offers Windows users with password protection software that is preinstalled onto the device and that the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive comes with a 2-year warranty. Coming to the rear of the package we see more information regarding features and we see a small key ring lanyard that you can use around your mobile phones or car keys because with a USB drive as small as the Micro, it’s bound to be misplaced if you don’t secure it to something you use often.
Looking now at the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive we see the company logo at the top of the green colored casing. The green paint is semi-shiny and after two-three months of usage being inside pant pockets and being held with greasy hands, I can say it holds up to anything you throw at it. Verbatim is so convinced with its toughness and durability that it comes with no cap. The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is basically a naked USB drive.
Looking at the bottom of the device reveals that the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is perfectly flat, perfectly uniform with the case. You see the black PCB with lines of circuitry and you realize that there is no way you can open it, no way for water to seep in, no way for the golden contacts to rip off unexpectedly. This makes the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive resistant to dust, water and even static charges. It’s tough too exhibiting no flexing of any kind, it doesn’t feel cheap and flimsy but rather strong and able to withstand everywhere you place it and inspiring confidence that it’ll last a long time and that you won’t need to worry about it.
Being so tiny, I wondered if the miniature Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive had great speed and if it was actually any good. Is bigger actually better?
Performance and Results Testing
Let’s make this short and sweet. The 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is fast! Its advertised read speed is up to 30MB/second and testing through Flash Memory Toolkit, HD Tune and CrystalDiskMark reveals that it does indeed match what Verbatim says it can do! It even goes a little bit over with HD Tune saying a maximum read speed of 31.2MB/second.
Write speed is pretty fast too although not reaching the full advertised write speed of up to 13MB/second. Utilizing both Flash Memory Toolkit and CrystalDiskMark reveals that the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive can manage up to 7-8MB/second which is still very fast folks. It’s the fastest USB drive I’ve tested thus far.
For another test, I timed how long it took to copy over a 716MB video file and a 1.36GB file to the 4GB Store ‘N’ Go.
- 716MB to 4GB Verbatim Store ‘N’ Go = 1 minute, 19 seconds
- 1.36GB to 4GB Verbatim Store ‘N’ Go = 2 minutes, 44 seconds
Over the course of two-three months of using and testing the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive, I’ve come across no problems to report of and it has been just a joy to use.
Conclusion
I absolutely love the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive and I can wholeheartedly recommend this reliable USB drive to anyone looking for a speedy, small and reliable USB drive to transfer files from computer to computer without being worried about their information being lost. I’ve had some USB drives act up on me losing information or prematurely dying but I can say that the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive that I’ve tested is the best I’ve tested to date. And the fact that the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive is inexpensive to begin with, being priced around ($25US @ Amazon.com) makes it all the more worth it.
For all these reasons mentioned above, the 4GB Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Micro USB drive earns our Editors Choice Award!
Pros and Cons
- + Tiny and tough
- + Resistant to water, dust and static charges so you can place it virtually anywhere
- + Both read and write speeds are indeed very fast
- + Found it to be reliable with zero issues or problems during months of hard usage
- + Inexpensive
- - Small makes it easier to misplace – that’s why a lanyard attachment is included
