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      05-03-2008, 10:19 PM   #1
lib
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Just solved my USB storage problem at Fry's

I swung by Fry's tonight and found the perfect solution to my in-car USB problem. Since some of you were looking for a good solution I thought I'd pass this along.

Fry's currently has a sale on two versions of the A-Data ExpressCard/USB flash drives.
16GB $69.99
32GB $129.99

The drives are designed to fit an ExpressCard slot on one end (fast transfers if you have the right kind of slot) and and the other end has a mini-USB plug that fits a 6" USB extension cable that's included. It weighs only a few ounces and is 3" x 1.5" x 0.2".

The included cable is what finally closed the deal for me. You can never find them local and I didn't want to have to special order a short cable.

My plan is to pick up some velcro tape and stick it to the bottom of the outside of the center arm rest.

I wanted to avoid a spinning HD and don't need 40+ GB so this works perfectly for me. If you're looking for more than 32gb then you're still stuck with the USB hard-drive option.






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      05-03-2008, 10:30 PM   #2
alexp1_tx
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I just used a usb portable harddrive 160gb
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      05-03-2008, 10:39 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexp1_tx View Post
I just used a usb portable harddrive 160gb
Yep, that's the solution if you need a lot of storage.

Some of us want to avoid spinning drives for a few reasons and this is the best flash drive solution I've seen so far. Cheap, light, small and comes with the 6" extension cable.
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      05-04-2008, 01:26 AM   #4
coolguy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexp1_tx View Post
I just used a usb portable harddrive 160gb
Which model is it? Thx
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      05-04-2008, 02:46 AM   #5
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Thanks for the discovery, lib! I have a portable hard drive (WD Passport), but I prefer to use solid state for this setup likewise--more hardy, smaller form factor, better power efficiency, and lower access times...even if the difference is marginal.
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      05-09-2008, 03:16 AM   #6
professor
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these are rather nice too. http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10802
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      05-09-2008, 10:49 AM   #7
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Good find...

Something people sometimes overlook is you can use an ipod as a hard drive, they don't need a separate power adapter and you can get a used one sometimes for cheaper than a new hard drive by itself.
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      05-09-2008, 11:25 AM   #8
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you can get soild state 120gb hard drives put they cost alot and not worth it for this lol
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      05-09-2008, 12:33 PM   #9
lib
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbenington86 View Post
you can get soild state 120gb hard drives put they cost alot and not worth it for this lol
Yep. Larger SSDs get expensive quick. As a device for storing mp3's the costs currently outweigh the benifits for most people once you pass 16 to 64 Gb (Depending on the deals you can find and how much music you have).

Give it a few years though and we'll all have dirt-cheap 100+ GB solid state drives at our disposal.
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      05-09-2008, 05:14 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by john970 View Post
Good find...

Something people sometimes overlook is you can use an ipod as a hard drive, they don't need a separate power adapter and you can get a used one sometimes for cheaper than a new hard drive by itself.
Yeah, a refurbished older series iPod is probably an ideal solution. That's effectively what my current iPod will be in this car now. I'll take it out with me when I fly and want more music, but it's going to live in the car I think. If it dies, it's more than 2 years old and way out of warranty and AppleCare, so I'd be looking for an upgrade anyway.

amy!
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      05-10-2008, 08:25 AM   #11
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I'm planning on picking up a 160gig iPod Classic, or whatever is it's replacement if there's one before I get my car. It will be a permanent solution for the car as I have an iPhone for on the go music, I just can't be bothered to plug it in and out all of the time, and I will just put my whole library on the car-pod because it doesn't all fit on my iphone.

Tim
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      05-10-2008, 10:31 AM   #12
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I just picked up a new IPod (mainly for the ease of playlist control), but if I hadn't I would be all over this. Good find.
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