SanDisk 8GB Micro Cruzer - Retail Pack

First of all, I'd like to mention that I've owned by Cruzer Micro for about 2 years - I only have the 2GB version but thought I'd review on here seeing as this is an awesome price for a high quality memory stick.

Ever since getting this bit of kit its worked a treat, despite being plastic, its VERY durable. By being plastic, its also VERY light, I've many times thought I may have lost it, as its so small and light in my pocket! Not sure if thats a good thing!

Also, the USB slider feature is very good - one would think that the slider may get a bit flimsy and loose after much use, but this is not the case, its still as tightly locked and good to use as the first day I got it.

And beleive me, I got this about half way through my college course and it got very vigorous and rough use - being slapped in and out of many machines - and it has never been a problem.

It has always been attached to my key ring along with many other keys and the small metal key ring attached to the stick is still in one peice - I think because it is metal, and so small - it is actually stronger than it looks.

When the USB section is snugly tucked away, it is still exposed to air, but its concealed enough to be safe, and what harm is a little dust going to do, I've NEVER once had to blow dust out of the end of mine and it still works first time every time.

One thing I'd also like to mention is that someone mentioned if you google "sandisk cruzer doesn't work" then you get lots of hits... most of these hits are about problems with the U3 technology and on various models of memory stick.

I never really used the U3 features so can't comment on that.

Hope this helps.

5/5 for sure.

I own the 4GB version with the identical plastic case and retracting USB. The plastic case has survived months of continuous use, and even kept working after I accidentaly kicked and broke it while it was in one the floor level USB slots and snapped, the plastic case was able be clicked back together and now is as good as new. Even the retracting thing still works. For the first couple of days after I first bought it, I kept accidentally retracting it by gripping the white slidey thing while plugging it in, but am now well used to it and hugely prefer it to having a cap which I always lose within a week of ownership of devices like this. When plugged into a powered USB2 hub it goes like greased lightning. Only annoying thing for me is actually the U3 CD thing which I never use but which keeps coming up with a list of "what do you want to do with this device" everytime I insert into a PC running Windows. Works perfectly for Mac however where the U3 thing is not such an annoyance, easy to transport files from one OS to the other, and read and write on both without a reformat being necessary.

The SanDisk Cruzer Micro 8GB U3 Readyboost Flash Drive.
I bought this flash drive recently for the U3 Portable applications and file storage, and it works well. The ReadyBoost with Vista also appears to work fine; I don't really know how much it speeds up the system. ReadyBoost can be set to use up to 4GB of the memory, leaving the rest for the portable applications and storage.
The portable applications are great; the PIM is good for remembering birthdays! Firefox is good for making favourites portable, etc.
In terms of value for money it is more 5 star than 4. Time will tell how robust it is for 5 stars.
The system Information for windows is a great portable utility: apart from anything else, I didn't realize how many usernames and passwords were so easily discovered! I've made my system a little more secure now!